The market for bottled water has grown rapidly since the early-1990s, and numerous bottled-water and soft drinks companies are now significant players in a strong market. Key to the successful establishment and maintenance of a bottled-water business is a detailed knowledge of the physical resource, that is, the raw water itself. Where does it come from? How can its quality and quantity be assessed and secured? How do its characteristics relate to international and national bottled-water legislation? Schlumberger Water Services can provide advice and solutions in the following areas:

• Source identification, including the location and potential yield of aquifers.
• Source characterisation, covering both quality (chemistry and microbiology) and quantity.
• Source development, including borehole drilling, testing and commissioning.
• Source protection; monitoring, security and risk assessment.
• Source registration and verification; advice on abstraction licensing and other legislation.

Project Examples:

Title:	Due diligence on bottling facility
Location:	UK
Client:	Confidential (international bottled-water and soft drinks company)
Description:	Schlumberger Water Services was commissioned to conduct an environmental audit of a bottling plant, as a prelude to the client purchasing the bottling company and expanding production. The scope of work included inspection of abstraction licence and water quality data to check conformity with UK and European legislation; detailed inspection of the borehole headworks, focussing on potential routes for contamination; walk-over reconnaissance survey of the recharge zones for the boreholes; hydrochemical review of groundwater quality data; intrusive site investigation of the immediate surroundings of the bottling plant and analysis of soil samples.

Title:	Source protection for a natural mineral water borehole
Location:	UK
Client:	Confidential (international bottled-water and soft drinks company)
Description:	Schlumberger Water Services carried out a hydrogeological investigation into the risk of groundwater contamination connected with the spreading of organic waste onto land within the catchment area of a borehole used for natural mineral water supply. The investigation included a review of the composition of the waste, the geology and hydrogeology of the area, and the relevant legislation, and liaison with the Environment Agency over the interpretation and enforcement of the regulations.

Title:	Feasibility study for spring or natural mineral water
Location:	UK
Client:	Confidential (supplier of specialist highly-mineralised water)
Description:	Schlumberger Water Services carried out a hydrogeological and environmental investigation into the groundwater catchment area of a source of spa water. The overall aim was to search for and define any potential threats to the long-term stability of the groundwater quality, and to investigate the feasibility of achieving recognition as spring or natural mineral water. The project included desk study of the geology and hydrology of the catchment area; consultations with local land owners and statutory agencies; field investigation of an old mining area; assessment of the scope of any site designations, such as SSSI, SAC, or National Park, applying to the catchment area.