Is Fiji Water Really From Fiji? See The Actual Source

Most people see bottled water as a necessary convenience. And this may continue in the future. It’s understandable why we prefer it, as you won’t need to wash a glass or rush to the faucet for water. Just grab the can of water and drink whenever and wherever you want.

However, if you constantly consume bottled water, you may be wondering where some of the waters come from. It’s dangerous to drink unclean water, as it can mess up your entire system, making you sick.

So, it’s wise to scrutinize every bottled water you’re about to consume. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Fiji water or another brand. Just ensure the water you’re drinking is clean and healthy. That’s all.

Now, here’s something many people have been asking.

Is Fiji Water really from Fiji?

Yes, the Fiji Water comes from the Yaqara Valley on the Viti Levu, the main island of the Fiji Islands. Fiji is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. It consists of about 333 islands, which are between South America and Australia. However, people occupy only 106 of the islands.

It’ll take about a 10-hour flight from Los Angeles to get to Viti Levu. The island has an artesian water supply from an underground natural reserve.

Also, the island has a unique ecosystem such that the equatorial wind that goes across the pacific purifies the rainfall. And so, the underground aquifer is free from environmental pollutants and acid rain that are common with spring waters. That’s why Fiji Water claims to be the healthiest water on earth.

The water is from pure rainfall, which also filters through volcanic mountains. Then it flows to the artesian aquifer and is bottled without any contaminations.

The artesian water is from a vast opening with layers of rock and clay deep within the earth. To access the water, the Company has a bottling facility at the top of the aquifer.

Is Fiji Water Filtered?

The rainwater filters through layers of volcanic rocks to get to the aquifer. That’s because the aquifer is under a volcano. That lets the water go through a natural filtration process. The process gives Fiji Water its unique taste and quality compared to other major brands.

The filtration process also ensures the water is rich in essential minerals in healthy quantities. Some of them include silica, calcium, and magnesium.

Because the Company has exclusive access to the underground aquifer, the water remains unique. In addition, since the facility is on top of the aquifer, the water gets bottled without human contact. Their sealing system also prevents contaminants from getting into the filled bottle.

Benefits Of Fiji Water

Convenience:

Fiji Water keeps you hydrated, and it’s convenient. Because it’s bottled water, it’s easy to access during an emergency, like when there’s an electricity issue. That way, you have access to water even when your tap is out.

It’s convenient, as it’s easy to grab a bottle from the fridge.

A source of important minerals:

Fiji Water contains minerals and electrolytes. One liter of Fiji Water contains 17.9mg of calcium, 14.7mg of magnesium, and 93.4mg of silica. It also contains some other mineral nutrients like potassium (4.9mg), fluoride (0.2mg), sodium (17.8mg), and chloride (9.3mg).

The minerals are healthy, and Fiji Water contributes to your daily nutrients intake.

For instance, calcium is good for healthy bones and cardiovascular functions. The daily recommended intake for calcium is 1000mg for healthy people aged 19 to 50, and one liter of Fiji Water meets 1.79%.

Contain less contaminant:

Some regulations from the Food and Drink Administration (FDA) ensure that it’ll be safe to drink bottled water. That makes it safe to drink Fiji Water, as it contains more minor contaminants than tap water.

The Fiji Water boasts a significantly low level of arsenic, nitrates, and barium, considered lower than the FDA’s limit. It doesn’t contain aluminum, cyanide, benzo(a)pyrene, and other harmful compounds.

Disadvantages Of Fiji Water

Environmental impact:

The bottles are PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastics that are recyclable. But plastic bottles have the potential to harm the environment. That’s because they may end up in the soil or water.

The fact remains that a large percentage of such plastics don’t get recycled.

Additionally, green gas emissions increase because of plastic bottle production, thereby harming the environment. This issue doesn’t occur with Fiji Water plastic bottles alone. It occurs in other plastic bottle packaging products.

Has one source:

In as much as the single source of Fiji Water is an advantage as it aids its uniqueness, it’s also a disadvantage. If anything goes wrong with that source, it’ll no longer have that uniqueness.

For instance, when the Fijian government increased the taxes on bottled water on the island, the Company stopped operation for a day.

Price Ranges For Fiji Water

Fiji Water comes in different sizes of plastic bottles. They include 1.5 liters, 1 liter, 700ml, 500ml, and 330ml bottles.

The 1.5-liter size comes in a case of 12 bottles with an average price of $28. The 1-liter size is also 12 bottles per case and costs about $23. Consequently, the 700ml (case of 12) costs $22 on average.

However, the 500ml comes in a case of 24 bottles and costs about $20, while 330ml with 36 bottles per case costs about $36.

Furthermore, if you don’t drink Fiji Water often, you can pick up a single bottle from grocery stores around you. It costs about $2.18 per 1-liter bottle at Walmart.

Why Is Fiji Water Expensive?

The bottle:

Fiji Water comes in square plastic bottles with a stylish design that’s easy to spot. Because of the requirements by the FDA, companies have to use appropriate plastics for food and drinks.

The requirements and the environmental effects of plastics have led to expensive challenges for such companies, and Fiji Water isn’t left out. The Company uses polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics that FDA recommends. The plastic is safe for food, drinks and is recyclable.

The bottling process:

Fiji Water uses a closed system bottling process that uses specialized equipment. It aids the bottling without human contact with the water; hence, their popular phrase, “untouched by man.” The process also increases the cost of Fiji Water.

Marketing strategies:

The Company utilizes lots of marketing strategies and advertising. They put in a lot of money into letting you know why they are the best.

You’ll find Fiji Water in luxurious places like resorts and classy hotels. It’s also the preferred water by most high-profile people and celebrities.

Even though Fiji Water has higher prices than its competitors, it still has a large customer base. And it’s so because people tend to associate high prices with quality and a sense of status.

Transportation and distribution:

It takes a lot of energy and time to transport Fiji Water from the Viti Levu. About half of the wholesale cost of Fiji Water covers transportation. So, transport and distribution costs also make it expensive.

The price of transporting Fiji Water from 7000 miles away to your grocery store is part of what you pay for.

Sustain the environment:

Fiji Water keeps putting in money to enhance practices that deplete non-renewable resources to sustain the environment. It’s due to the many negative press releases about the use of plastic bottles.

The Company keeps putting in money to reduce its carbon footprint. That inevitably increases the price of the water. And the cost of sustaining the environment passes to you when you purchase one.

Water source:

Fiji Water comes from one source and has no alternative sources. The underground aquifer is not connected to any stream and does not flow naturally. Hence, it requires the Company to tap directly into the aquifer to access the water.

Tapping the water is an expensive endeavor. That’s why the Company has a plant in Fiji, even though its headquarters is in Los Angeles. Since the electricity in Fiji cannot handle such feat, the plant runs on diesel-fueled generators.

The plant does operate 24 hours per day to ensure continuous water distribution.

Contents of the water:

Fiji Water contains no contaminants. It has many minerals and natural electrolytes. The presence of minerals means that the water doesn’t just keep you hydrated; it is also healthy and contributes to your daily nutrient intake.

The presence of electrolytes gives the water the ability to maintain your body’s acid and base balance. It has a PH of 7.7, considered an average water PH level. That makes it more alkaline than acidic.

Employee salaries:

The Company employs more than a thousand Fijians and has to pay their wages. Employee costs are essential to run the factory, and it includes both salary and benefits. Such benefits include retirement and health care.

The company employees’ salaries are slightly above average wages. The wages and benefits go into the overhead cost.

People demand it:

Fiji Water is expensive because people keep paying for it. The price will remain high as long as people continue to pay for it. The reasons for the uniqueness and quality of the water make people pay willingly.

The demand for Fiji Water keeps increasing. And as you know, when the demand for an item increases, so will its price. That’s why Fiji Water remains among the most imported bottled water in the United States. And as long as consumers in the country keep paying, the price will remain high.

Conclusion

Fiji Water is from Viti Levu in Fiji Islands. Its source and processes of production are unique and have quality. So, you don’t have to worry about its purity when you drink the water.

However, its level of quality and purity comes with a price, and that’s why it’s expensive. It’s healthy, rich in minerals, and has a status that many high profile people choose. That’s why it’s worth the price.