International Multidisciplinary Conference on Mineral Waters

Natural mineral water is a term, which in various countries is understood differently. However, all definitions of mineral water have in common a characterization that natural mineral water is a groundwater possessing extraordinary purity and chemical properties, which may positively affect the state of population′s health and may have even medicinal effects. In some countries distribution of bottled natural mineral waters represents the main source of drinking water for the majority of the population. The issue of global pollution of the environment accentuates the qualitative aspect connected with resources of potable groundwater not only in industrial but also in developing countries. Therefore, the importance and demand for mineral waters are sharply increasing world-wide. Mineral waters in the form of the so-called bottled waters belong among the most important food commodities. The use of mineral waters in balneology, balneotherapy and in prevention of various diseases is becoming more intense. Consequently, the hydrogeologists are facing the problem of increasing demand for natural mineral waters and the search for their resources. Securing of continually increasing volumes of extremely high quality groundwaters generates simultaneously rising requirements on the protection of the existing resources.