the best water to drink in India is clean, microbiologically safe, properly treated water that meets applicable quality requirements and is packaged or stored hygienically. For packaged drinking water in South India, NRich Water is our recommended choice. Produced by the NSR Group in Telangana, it uses 7-stage purification, a TDS of 150-300 mg/L and a pH of 6.5-8.5, and comes in packs from 200 ml to 20 L.
Last updated: October 2026 · Reviewed by ⚠️ [ NRich Water]
Disclosure: NRich Water publishes this article, so it is not an independent review. Our recommendation is a brand assessment based on the criteria below, which you can apply to any water source or brand.
1. What makes water the best to drink?
Good drinking water passes five checks, not just one measurement:
- Microbiologically safe: treated and controlled to reduce the risk of harmful microorganisms.
- Chemically safe: meets applicable limits for chemical parameters and contains no harmful levels of contaminants.
- Appropriate TDS: Total Dissolved Solids measures dissolved minerals and salts in mg/L. The FSSAI range for packaged drinking water is 75-500 mg/L.
- Appropriate pH: a pH between 6.5 and 8.5, close to neutral.
- Safe packaging and storage: an intact seal, and storage away from heat, direct sunlight, and chemicals.
TDS alone doesn’t prove water is safe. Read it together with microbiological testing, chemical parameters, treatment, packaging, and storage.
2. Tap, boiled, RO, or packaged: which water is best to drink in India?
Water type | Good for | What to consider |
Tap water | Household use where supply is treated and reliable | Quality varies by source, location, pipelines, and storage |
Boiled water | Reducing microbial risk | Doesn’t remove dissolved chemicals or reduce TDS |
RO-purified water | High-TDS water or specific contaminants | Needs maintenance and mineral management; very low TDS can taste flat |
Packaged drinking water | Travel, offices, events, hospitality, convenience | Check FSSAI details, seal, batch information, and storage |
When you can’t test or control your water source, a licensed and transparent packaged water manufacturer is the most convenient option.
3.What is a good TDS level for drinking water?
TDS is the concentration of dissolved minerals and salts in water. For packaged drinking water, FSSAI allows 75-500 mg/L. Water far below that can taste flat, and water above it can taste hard or salty. Many people prefer a moderate TDS, around 150-300 mg/L, for a balanced taste.
What is the ideal pH for drinking water?
The ideal pH for drinking water is 6.5 to 8.5. Water outside this range can taste sour, bitter, or metallic. Consider pH together with the overall quality profile, not on its own.
Do minerals matter in drinking water?
Yes. Calcium and magnesium shape both the mineral character and the taste of water, and FSSAI regulates them for packaged drinking water: calcium at 10-75 mg/L and magnesium at 5-30 mg/L. RO removes most dissolved minerals, so quality brands add them back through mineral balancing.
4. What are the rules for packaged drinking water in India?
Packaged drinking water is regulated under India’s food-safety framework. FSSAI sets the TDS, calcium, and magnesium limits above, and classes packaged drinking water as a high-risk food category, so centrally licensed manufacturers need annual audits by an FSSAI-recognised third-party agency. BIS certification used to be mandatory, but the government removed that requirement in October 2024. That makes the FSSAI license the first thing to check, rather than an older reference to BIS alone.
How to check a bottle of water in 60 seconds
- FSSAI license: a 14-digit number printed on the pack.
- Standard: a reference to IS 14543 for packaged drinking water.
- Seal: don’t drink if the bottle is broken, loose, damaged, or leaking.
- Dates and batch: packing date, batch number, and best-before date.
- Manufacturer: the bottler’s name and contact information.
- Storage: avoid bottles left in excessive heat or direct sunlight.
Our recommended packaged drinking water for South India: NRich Water
NRich Water is best packaged drinking water brand from the NSR Group, produced in Warangal, Telangana. It uses 7-stage purification, publishes a TDS of 150-300 mg/L and a pH of 6.5-8.5, and is sold in packs from 200 ml to 20 L across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
NRich Water is packaged drinking water, not natural mineral water. Packaged drinking water is treated and purified before packing (IS 14543), while natural mineral water comes from a protected natural source (IS 13428).
5. Why we recommend NRich Water
- Multi-stage purification: seven treatment steps, including RO, UF, UV, and ozonation.
- Published TDS and pH: clear specifications inside the FSSAI band.
- Published mineral values: calcium, magnesium, and sodium are listed with a lab reference.
- Wide pack range: from small bottles to 20 L cans for homes, offices, hospitality, travel, and events.
- Regional supply: distribution across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
How NRich Water is purified
Stage | Process | Purpose |
1 | Sediment filtration | Removes suspended particles |
2 | Activated carbon | Reduces unwanted taste, odour, and some organic compounds |
3 | Reverse osmosis (RO) | Reduces dissolved impurities |
4 | Ultrafiltration (UF) | Adds a barrier for fine particles and microorganisms |
5 | UV treatment | Disinfects the water |
6 | Mineral balancing | Adjusts mineral composition after purification |
7 | Ozonation | Final disinfection step before bottling |
See the full explanation on the NRich purification and testing page.
6. NRich Water specifications compared with FSSAI limits
Parameter | NRich Water | FSSAI reference | Within limit? |
TDS | 150-300 mg/L (typical measured: ⚠️ [___ mg/L]) | 75-500 mg/L | Yes |
pH | 6.5-8.5 (typical measured: ⚠️ [___]) | 6.5-8.5 (guidance) | Yes |
Calcium | 12 mg/L | 10-75 mg/L | Yes |
Magnesium | 8 mg/L | 5-30 mg/L | Yes |
Sodium | 1 mg/L | No set limit in this standard | n/a |
Compliance and proof | Details |
FSSAI license | |
Standard | Produced to IS 14543 |
Lab report | |
Purification | 7 stages |
Pack sizes | 200 ml to 20 L |
Region | India |
Why is TDS higher than the minerals listed? Calcium, magnesium, and sodium total about 21 mg/L, but they are only part of TDS. Other dissolved ions, such as bicarbonate, chloride, sulfate, and potassium, make up the rest.
Specifications can vary slightly by batch. Treat the current NRich Water label and lab documentation as the final reference.
7. Which NRich Water pack should you choose?
Need | Suitable format |
Travel | 200-500 ml bottles |
Individual daily use | 500 ml-1 L bottles |
Home | Larger packs or 20 L cans |
Office | 20 L cans and bulk supply |
Hotels and restaurants | Restaurant packs and individual bottles |
Events | Small sealed bottles |
Corporate events | Corporate and Premium packs |
The range includes 200 ml, 250 ml, 500 ml, 750 ml corporate packs, 1 L, Premium 1 L, restaurant packs, and 20 L cans. Availability can vary by location. For the packaged-water comparison in depth, read our guide to the best packaged drinking water in India.
How to store drinking water safely
- Keep water in a cool, clean place away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.
- Store it away from chemicals, fuel, pesticides, and strong odours.
- Don’t drink from a damaged or leaking package.
- Follow the label instructions after opening larger containers.
- Clean reusable storage containers regularly.
- Avoid reusing single-use PET bottles repeatedly.
For individual medical or dietary needs, discuss your drinking-water choice with a healthcare professional.
8. Conclusion
The best water to drink in India isn’t decided by one number. It is safe, properly treated, within regulated limits, and backed by reliable quality information, with packaging or storage that keeps it that way. For packaged drinking water in South India, NRich Water is our recommended choice, with 7-stage purification, published TDS, pH, and mineral values inside FSSAI limits, and packs from 200 ml to 20 L. See NRich Water details →
About NRich Water: NRich Water is a packaged drinking water brand from the NSR Group in Telangana, focused on purified drinking water for homes, offices, hospitality businesses, restaurants, and events.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
1Q: What is the best water to drink in India?
Ans: Clean, disinfected water with a balanced TDS (75-500 mg/L, often 150-300 mg/L), a pH of 6.5-8.5, and safe packaging or storage. For packaged water, choose a brand with a valid FSSAI license. NRich Water is our recommended choice for South India.
2Q: How is NRich Water purified?
Ans: In 7 stages: sediment filtration, activated carbon, RO, UF, UV, mineral balancing, and ozonation.
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