France’s multi-billion euro mineral water companies are under the spotlight because of climate change and growing concerns about the industry’s environmental impact.
At issue is whether some world-famous brands, notably the iconic Perrier label, can even continue calling themselves “natural mineral water”.
A decision in the Perrier case is due in the coming months. It follows revelations in the French media about illicit filtration systems that have been widely used in the industry, apparently because of worries about water contamination, after years of drought linked to climate change.
The story hit the headlines a year ago in France after an investigation by Le Monde and Radio France revealed that at least a third of mineral water sold in France had been illegally treated, either with ultra-violet light, carbon filters or ultra-fine micro-meshes commonly used to screen out bacteria.
The issue was not one of public health. The treated water was by definition safe to drink.
The problem was that under EU law, “natural mineral water” โ which sells at a huge premium over tap water โ is supposed to be unaltered between the underground source and the bottle. That is the whole point of it.
Is Perrier as pure as it claims? The bottled water scandal gripping France https://t.co/zMdxEyphfr
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 8, 2025
