Composition and health · 6 min · 17 September 2026
Table, medical table and medicinal water: what to drink daily
Three categories of mineral water and how to combine them sensibly.
In short: table water can be drunk without limits, medical table water in moderation and in courses, and medicinal water only on a doctor's prescription.
How does table water differ from medical table and medicinal water?
Mineralisation decides the category. Under GOST R 54316-2020, water below 1 g/l is table water: you drink it like ordinary water and cook with it. From 1 to 10 g/l it is medical table water, which covers Narzan at 2–3.5 g/l and Essentuki No. 4 at 7–10 g/l. From 10 to 15 g/l it is medicinal, Essentuki No. 17 for example. Water with a lower mineralisation can also fall into these categories if it contains biologically active components such as boron, silicon or iron.
- Up to 1 g/l: table water
- 1–10 g/l: medical table water
- Above 10 g/l: medicinal water
How much mineral water can you drink in a day?
The bulk of the day's volume should come from table or ordinary drinking water: EFSA considers 2 l a day adequate for women and 2.5 l for men, counting water from food, and Phuket's heat calls for more. Medical table water sits alongside that, a 150–250 ml glass up to three times a day, usually with meals. Keep an eye on sodium: the WHO advises adults to stay under 2 g a day, and a 0.45 l bottle of Essentuki No. 4 supplies 0.9–1.35 g of sodium plus potassium.
- The bulk of the volume: table or drinking water
- Medical table water: with meals, in small servings
- In the heat and under exertion, keep track of how much sodium adds up over the day
When you need a doctor
There are cases where the choice of water stops being a matter of taste. Kidney and heart conditions, high blood pressure and any salt-restricted diet: medical table and medicinal waters are not for drinking without medical advice in those situations. For pregnant women and small children, such water is prescribed by a doctor rather than picked off a shop shelf. This article gives a general picture based on standards and producer data, and does not replace a consultation.
- Kidney and heart conditions, blood pressure problems
- Pregnancy and childhood
- The article is for general understanding and does not replace a doctor's advice
Sources
According to the producer. Not a medical recommendation.