ABSTRACT
The title of this chapter indicates that the treatment of water is the key process of soft drinks manufacture. This is because water is the major component of a soft drink. A carbonated soft drink can contain about 87 to 92% water, whereas a bottled water product may be pure 100% natural spring water. As such, the quality of the water used in a beverage has a critical impact on the taste of the drink, its appearance, and its physical and microbiological stability on the shelves in the store. The water used by soft drink manufacturing facilities may come from two main types of sources. The most common source is the municipal water supply, but there are also water sources that are privately owned wells. The source water before it is treated in the factory is often referred to as “raw water,” a term that is used in this handbook.
