Day 2 of the annual meeting of the Water Sommelier Union!

Jens Bunzel (1st Chairman) and Peter Schropp (Managing Director) led the attending members through the 13th ordinary general meeting of the WSU. They took this opportunity to express their sincere thanks to Marion Schropp (previously 2nd Chairwoman) for her tireless commitment. Marion has shown particular passion in her commitment to the numerous concerns of the Watersommelier Union e.V. and has been of inestimable value for the further development of our professional association.
Gerlinde Mock (previously assessor) will serve as the 2nd chair for the remaining term of office of two years. We wish her every success!

The Mineral Water Celebration Day is always an integral part of the annual meeting and took place after the general meeting.
After the mineral water darts, in which the participants were able to demonstrate their sensory abilities, a series of lectures followed with interesting current topics from the (mineral) water sector:

In his lecture, Dr Peter Schropp talked about the new trend of ‘alkaline water’. In Asia and America, many suppliers promote both natural and artificially produced water with the slogan ‘alkaline’, associating it with numerous health benefits. Peter also addressed the term ‘alkalinity’ and explained why, although some suppliers claim it is the same, alkalinity has nothing to do with the pH value of water. With the help of analyses he carried out on numerous types of water, he was able to prove this statement and show that a high level of alkalinity in natural water must always be accompanied by a high concentration of hydrogen carbonates or carbonates.

Microorganisms in food are usually viewed negatively. But is this necessarily the case? In his lecture „Living Waters“, Dr. Paul Jacob focussed on ‘positive’ microflora, which can also occur in water.These resilient beings adapt to an oligothrophic existence, where nutrients are scarce and organic matter is a rarity. Numerous scientific studies were presented in this context. Perhaps it will one day even be possible to determine the origin of a mineral water with the help of this positive flora. A very exiting presentation and for all Water Sommeliers a new perspective on water!

Finally Jörg Berger reported on the possibilities of „Water Design“. Water with customised mineralisation is very much in vogue, and the demand for individual flavours and functional additives with health-promoting effect is also increasing. The technology offers the opportunity to create customised water for defined target groups, particularly in countries where there is no natural underground water. Jörg explained the sophisticated technology developed by KRONES in a clear and vivid way and showed some examples from Asia and the Middle East, where this technology has been successfully implemented.

Last but not least, Peter Schropp addressed the current topic of Micro- and Nanoplastics. Many consumers are concerned about the high amount of microplastic particles in bottled water reported in the press. Compared to tyre abrasion and other sources, the contamination in bottled water is extremely low. Peter was also able to show that the analysis is still very complex and not comparable. Therefore, these press reports must always be viewed with caution. The health effects have also not yet been sufficiently researched.

A great lecture programme for all water enthusiasts! Many thanks to all the speakers for these extremely interesting presentations!
The Watersommelier Union is already looking forward to the meeting in 2025!