All soft beverages consist very largely of water. The water which is used in the manufacture ought to be potable and pure. No suspected waters or those contaminated in any possible manner should be employed in the manufacture of these drinks. It would not perhaps be advisable to say that the water used in the manufacture of these soft drinks should be pure distilled water, because it is evident that the natural state of water used as a beverage by man is not of that description. If a pure spring or well water of good potable quality should be secured for the manufacture of beverages of this kind, it would probably, in most instances, be as acceptable and unobjectionable as pure distilled water. At the same time, such water would contain the natural but minute quantities of mineral substances, which not only improve the taste of water but add much to its nutritive qualities. From the chapters on water in this book it is easily-seen what kind of waters should be avoided.

It is particularly important that the water should be free of organic matters, as well as mineral matters, which may render it either unwholesome or unpalatable.