An insight into the depths of Römerquelle

What Distinguishes Natural Mineral Water

In Austria, natural mineral water is one of the most strictly regulated food products. While tap water can come from various sources and may be treated or disinfected under certain circumstances, natural mineral water must be of original purity. It comes from underground deposits protected from contamination and must not be altered in its character.

The path to the market is long: before a water may be designated as “natural mineral water,” it must undergo official recognition by the Austrian Ministry of Health (Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection). This process requires comprehensive expert reports (geological, hydrological, hydrogeological, nutritional-physiological and hygienic) and examinations (physical, physico-chemical and chemical) of the water throughout all four seasons in order to guarantee a constant composition of minerals and trace elements.

Origin in the Depths in Edelstal and Prellenkirchen

The wells in Edelstal (Burgenland) and Prellenkirchen (Lower Austria) form the source of the popular traditional brand Römerquelle. Here, the water is obtained from an aquifer. The wells reach impressive depths: while well RQ1 extracts from about 36 meters, well RQ17 reaches as deep as 215 meters below the earth’s surface.

On its journey through the layers of rock, the water is not only naturally filtered but also absorbs valuable minerals. Römerquelle is particularly characterized by a high content of calcium and magnesium, which gives it its characteristic, slightly sweet and neutral taste.

Less Extraction than Regeneration

Less water is always extracted from the ground than is naturally replenished through precipitation. To ensure this, the officially determined extraction quantities are based on complex pumping tests and mathematical simulation models. To absorb peaks in production without overloading the wells, the plant relies on clever and safe storage in cisterns.

Quality without Compromise: Continuous Controls

To ensure that the quality is right in every sip, the water is continuously monitored. Permanent measurements record the discharge, the water level in the wells, the temperature and the conductivity. In addition, daily analyses take place upon entry into the facility. Parameters such as nitrate content, hardness, pH value, turbidity and color are checked.

Responsibility Beyond the Source

While Römerquelle is bottled directly from the deep wells, Coca-Cola HBC Austria requires treated tap water from the local water supply association for the production of other beverages such as Coca-Cola or soft drinks. For the entire production process, resource are used efficiently. A central indicator for this is the Water Usage Ratio (WUR), i.e. the amount of water consumed per liter of finished beverage.

The WUR makes it possible to identify savings potential, to measure the success of implemented measures to reduce water consumption, and to compare the plants within the company in terms of their resource efficiency.

In 2025, this freshwater consumption was 1.61 liters per liter of finished beverage. Between 2013 and 2025, we were able to reduce our water consumption per liter of finished beverage by 41 %.