Before bottled water became a billion-dollar industry, before wellness retreats filled mountaintop resorts, and before the term "alkaline water" ever appeared on a grocery shelf, there was Berkeley Springs. Tucked into the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, this small town holds a distinction shared by no other place in America: it is the nation's very first spa town, built around a spring that has never stopped flowing.

At Family Springs, we don't just know about this spring. We drive to it every single month to collect the same water that has drawn people seeking healing, clarity, and nourishment for over two and a half centuries. This is the source story behind every bottle we deliver to Hampton Roads.

A Spring That Shaped American History

Long before European settlers arrived, the Cacapon people (Indigenous residents of the region) had already discovered what the land offered. They called these lands sacred and gathered at the warm mineral springs for ceremony, healing, and community (Wight, 2018). The spring sits at a consistent 74.3°F year-round, a natural thermal anomaly that signals deep, ancient origins within the earth.

By the mid-1700s, word of the spring's properties had reached the colonial frontier. In 1748, a young surveyor named George Washington visited Berkeley Springs as part of a land survey, and he returned again and again throughout his life. Washington was so taken with the waters that he eventually purchased property there (Berkeley Springs State Park, n.d.). The town he helped put on the map would later be incorporated as Bath, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1776, the very same year the nation declared its independence.

By the late 18th century, Berkeley Springs had become a social gathering place for American society. Presidents, statesmen, and families made the journey to "take the waters," a phrase that referred to bathing in and drinking the mineral-rich spring water as a form of health practice. The tradition of the American spa was born here (Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau, n.d.).

What Makes Berkeley Springs Water Different

The free-flowing artesian spring at Berkeley Springs rises naturally under its own pressure, carrying minerals acquired over decades underground.

Not all spring water is created equal. What distinguishes Berkeley Springs is the geological path the water takes before it reaches the surface. The spring draws from a free-flowing artesian aquifer, meaning the water rises naturally under its own pressure without pumping. As it moves through limestone and sandstone formations deep within the Appalachian Mountains, it absorbs minerals that give it a clean, naturally balanced mineral profile.

The water that emerges carries naturally occurring calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate. These aren't additives; they are minerals the water picked up on a journey that takes decades underground. The result is a pH of approximately 7.8, a soft mineral texture, and a clean finish that processed or municipal water simply cannot replicate.

It is also worth noting what Berkeley Springs water does not contain: no chlorine, no fluoride, no PFAS treatment additives. At a time when the EPA's proposed rollbacks on PFAS regulations are raising concerns across the country (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2026), the value of a clean, traceable, chemical-free source has never been more relevant.

The International Water Tasting Competition: Berkeley Springs Proves Itself

Each year, Berkeley Springs hosts the International Water Tasting, the world's longest-running and most prestigious water competition. Since 1991, expert judges from around the globe have gathered in this small West Virginia town to blind-taste municipal waters, sparkling waters, and still spring waters from dozens of countries (Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting, n.d.).

The competition is taken seriously in the water world. Entries come from the United States, Europe, Asia, and beyond. Waters are judged on appearance, aroma, taste, and mouthfeel. The event has awarded top honors to entries from France, Canada, New Zealand, and repeatedly to American spring sources, including entries from the region surrounding Berkeley Springs itself.

The Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting — the world's longest-running water competition, held annually in Berkeley Springs, WV since 1991.

Learn more about the International Water Tasting and its history directly from the source:

• Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting: Official Site
• Visit Berkeley Springs, WV: Town and Travel Guide

The fact that the world's foremost water judges convene in Berkeley Springs every year is not a coincidence. It is a reflection of the town's deep, centuries-long identity as a place where water quality is taken seriously. When Family Springs chose this spring as our primary source, we weren't just selecting a water supply. We were aligning with a legacy.

Our Monthly Collection: The Tradition Continues

Every month, our team makes the five-to-six-hour round trip through the Appalachian Mountains to collect directly at the source.

Every month, a member of the Family Springs team makes the five-to-six-hour round trip to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. We collect directly at the source, transporting the water back to Hampton Roads, Virginia where it undergoes our full quality process before reaching your door.

Why We Do It This Way

We do it by hand because that is the only way to guarantee what's in your bottle. Commercial water distribution chains introduce distance, time, and intermediaries between the spring and the consumer. By collecting the water ourselves, we maintain full chain-of-custody from the moment it leaves the ground to the moment it reaches your home.

Once collected, the water goes through double filtration (1-micron and 0.20-micron), UV light treatment, and ozonation. No chemicals, no additives. The mineral content remains intact. What you drink is what the earth produced.

Traceability You Can Trust

Family Springs provides full source transparency on every order. We believe you have the right to know exactly where your water comes from, how it was processed, and what's in it. Our Waternomics and Glossary resources at familyspringswater.com break down the science in plain language, because an informed customer is a healthier customer.

More Than Water: A Community Mission

Family Springs was founded on the belief that access to clean, traceable, mineral-rich water should not be a luxury. Our membership model donates a portion of every membership to nonprofit and community fundraising organizations in Hampton Roads. Through our "Follow the Drip" network, we also connect customers to local water hubs and Black-owned water brands across the region.

When you order Family Springs water, you're not just hydrating. You are participating in a supply chain that starts at an ancient spring, runs through the hands of people who care deeply about what they deliver, and ends in a community that deserves the best.