Is Mountain Valley Spring Water Bottled Water Safe? PFAS + Contaminant Testing Results (2026)
Mountain Valley Spring Water Company brand. Glass bottles, single protected source, transparent testing.
Quick answer
Mountain Valley Spring Water is spring water from Mountain Valley Spring Water Company, bottled at Hot Springs, Arkansas. PFAS testing status: PFAS not detected in published testing. KnowYourExposure rates it A - Glass bottles, single protected source, transparent testing. No bottled water is a reliable long-term PFAS fix: a certified reverse-osmosis or NSF 53 filter removes PFAS from any tap or bottled source for a fraction of the cost.
How we rate: we report published third-party testing, primarily Consumer Reports' 2020 bottled water PFAS investigation, plus brand-published water quality reports. We do not test products ourselves, and where no independent PFAS testing exists we say so rather than estimate.
Quick facts
- Trust rating
- A (Glass bottles, single protected source, transparent testing)
- PFAS testing
- PFAS not detected in published testing
- Water type
- spring
- Bottled at
- Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Parent company
- Mountain Valley Spring Water Company
What we know about PFAS in Mountain Valley Spring Water
Mountain Valley sources from a single protected spring in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, bottled at the source since 1871. Mountain Valley publishes detailed water quality reports including PFAS testing - no PFAS detected above reporting limits. Glass bottles eliminate microplastic concerns. This is consistently among the cleanest-tested bottled waters in the US.
Packaging and microplastics
Glass bottles (best-in-class for microplastic and chemical leaching avoidance). Some PET options exist for travel sizes.
Known issues, recalls & lawsuits
- Premium pricing (~$2-4 per bottle)
- Glass bottles are heavy - higher shipping carbon footprint
- Limited retail distribution outside major US metros
Safer alternatives to Mountain Valley Spring Water
- If price is a concern: filtered tap in a glass bottle is functionally similar
- Saratoga Spring Water (NY) is a similar glass-bottled option
- Reverse osmosis + remineralization at home gives equivalent purity
- For sparkling: Mountain Valley sparkling or San Pellegrino in glass
Brands to compare: Saratoga Spring Water (rated B), Icelandic Glacial (rated B).
Frequently asked questions
- Does Mountain Valley Spring Water contain PFAS?
- Mountain Valley sources from a single protected spring in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, bottled at the source since 1871. Mountain Valley publishes detailed water quality reports including PFAS testing - no PFAS detected above reporting limits. Glass bottles eliminate microplastic concerns. This is consistently among the cleanest-tested bottled waters in the US.
- Where is Mountain Valley Spring Water bottled?
- Mountain Valley Spring Water is bottled at Hot Springs, Arkansas. The parent company is Mountain Valley Spring Water Company.
- Is Mountain Valley Spring Water safer than tap water?
- Not necessarily. Mountain Valley Spring Water comes from a specific source, but most US tap water is held to similar EPA monitoring requirements. A certified home filter removes the same contaminants without the plastic packaging.
- What's the safest alternative to Mountain Valley Spring Water?
- Mountain Valley Spring Water consistently tests clean for PFAS and is bottled in glass. For everyday use, a Clearly Filtered or AquaTru reverse osmosis system removes 99% of PFAS from any tap source for a fraction of the cost.
- Has Mountain Valley Spring Water been recalled?
- Yes – known issues include: Premium pricing (~$2-4 per bottle); Glass bottles are heavy - higher shipping carbon footprint.