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Light & Low Mineral Waters in Europe
Discover mineral waters with low mineral content, based on official label data.
Fixed residue is the amount of dissolved minerals remaining after water is evaporated at 180°C. Under EU rules, waters at or below 50 mg/L may be labelled ‘very low mineral content’, while those at or below 500 mg/L may be labelled ‘low mineral content’. Some alpine sources fall below 20 mg/L.
Lightest Mineral Waters in Europe (Top Selection)
These are among the mineral waters with the lowest mineral content in Europe included in the h2oMatch database, based on fixed residue at 180°C.
| Water | Country | Fixed Residue (mg/L) |
|---|---|---|
| Lauretana | 🇮🇹 Italy | 14 |
| Plose | 🇮🇹 Italy | 22 |
| Sant'Anna Sorgente Rebruant Naturale | 🇮🇹 Italy | 22 |
| Montcalm | 🇫🇷 France | 32 |
| Mont Roucous | 🇫🇷 France | 33 |
Lauretana’s fixed residue of 14 mg/L places it among the least mineralized waters in the h2oMatch database.
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Get your h2oMatch recommendationUnderstanding Low Mineralization in European Waters
Geology explains much of the difference between light and highly mineralized waters. Water filtering through hard, poorly soluble rock such as granite generally picks up fewer dissolved minerals, while longer contact with limestone, chalk or volcanic formations can produce much higher mineralization. This helps explain why several of Europe’s lightest waters come from alpine and granite-based sources in Italy and France.
With fewer dissolved minerals, these waters generally have a more neutral taste and can interfere less with the flavor of coffee, tea and food.
Want to understand what fixed residue means? Read our guide on fixed residue in mineral water →
Light Mineral Waters by Country
Explore low mineralization waters available in specific countries.
France
France offers some of the lightest mineral waters in Europe from Pyrenean granite sources.
View Waters 🇩🇪Germany
Explore low mineralization waters in Germany
View Waters 🇮🇹Italy
Discover light and low mineral waters available in Italy
View Waters 🇷🇴Romania
Find low mineralization options available in Romania
View Waters 🇬🇧United Kingdom
Explore the lightest mineral waters available in the UK market.
View Waters 🇪🇸Spain
Discover the lightest mineral waters in Spain, including BEZOYA - one of the lightest in Europe.
View Waters 🇨🇭Switzerland
Explore light mineral waters in Switzerland
View Waters 🇦🇹Austria
Explore light mineral waters in Austria
View Waters 🇺🇸United States
Discover the lightest imported European mineral waters available in the United States
View WatersFAQ
What does "fixed residue" mean and why does it matter?
Fixed residue (also called "fixed residue at 180°C") is the mass of dissolved solids remaining after a liter of water is evaporated at 180°C. It measures the combined total of all dissolved minerals - calcium, magnesium, sodium, bicarbonate, sulfate, and others. A fixed residue of 14 mg/L (Lauretana) means only 14 milligrams of minerals per liter. A fixed residue of 3000 mg/L (some highly mineralized waters) means 3 grams per liter - water that tastes strongly mineral and should be consumed in small quantities. EU law requires this figure on all mineral water labels, making it the most reliable single number for comparing overall mineral content.
Is lighter mineral water always better for you?
Not necessarily - it depends entirely on your goals. Very light mineral waters are ideal if you want to minimize mineral intake from water, prefer a neutral taste, or are preparing food and beverages where mineral interference would be unwanted. However, if you are looking to supplement calcium, magnesium, or bicarbonate intake through water, a more mineralized water is a better tool. The "best" water is whichever one fits your hydration needs, taste preferences, and nutritional goals - light and heavily mineralized waters serve genuinely different purposes.
Why are the lightest European waters almost all from Italy?
Italy's dominance in ultra-light waters is geological. The Italian Alps - particularly the western and central sections in Piedmont, Valle d'Aosta, and South Tyrol - contain large formations of granite, gneiss, and other crystalline metamorphic rock with very low mineral solubility. When rainwater or snowmelt filters through these rocks quickly at high altitude, it picks up almost no minerals before emerging at spring outlets. Countries like Germany, France, and Romania have fewer high-altitude crystalline rock environments of this type, which is why their lightest waters tend to sit somewhat higher on the mineral scale.
Which is the lightest mineral water in Europe?
Lauretana (Italy, 14 mg/L) is the lightest mineral water in Europe - from Monte Rosa granite springs, where geology naturally produces almost mineral-free water.
All values are based on official mineral water labels and the h2oMatch database.