OUR VALUES & PURPOSE
In New Zealand and Māori culture, we embrace the concept of Kaitiakitanga—the sacred duty of guardianship and protection.
Water is not something we own; it is the connective tissues of life, entrusted to our care. Our responsibility is to safeguard it, ensuring its purity and abundance for future generations.
We have worked closely with iwi (indigenous Māori tribes), environmental engineers, and hydrologists to deeply understand and protect this aquifer.
As the guardians of Source water, we are committed to taking only what can be naturally sustained and replenished.
Guided by the principles of Te Ao Māori and tikanga, we honour practices that preserve the sacredness of this water, and minimising interference with its natural state. Our process is deliberately limited (whilst compliant), ensuring the water remains as pure, vibrant, and untouched as the moment it emerges from the aquifer.
Our purpose is clear — to uphold these principles so that this extraordinary water may flow to those who need it most: wellness seekers, spiritual seekers, and people facing health challenges.
Source is both high alkaline and structured; a rare and exceptional combination
NOURISHING
This sacred water is naturally structured and carries a negative charge, a property often associated with antioxidant potential and the formation of an ‘exclusion zone.’
In this ordered state, the water can more closely resemble the water inside our cells, supporting cellular hydration and renewal
WHY IS STRUCTURED WATER IMPORTANT?
Energy storage and release
Structured water has been observed (for example, by Dr Gerald Pollack’s lab) to store and release energy. In our own process, Source can appear to glow fluorescent blue for hours after being pumped — a visual indication of the light and energy it may hold.
Higher vibrational charge
Structured water is often described as carrying an elevated vibrational charge, which some people associate with enhanced well-being.
Rich in negative ions
Like the negative ions present at the beach or when walking barefoot on earth, structured water is said to provide a refreshing effect and may support mood.
Cellular support
Some researchers and customers believe structured water may support faster cellular recovery and assist the body’s natural healing processes.
Detoxification
Structured water is reported to help the body’s natural detoxification processes, including responses to environmental stressors such as chemicals or electromagnetic fields.
Stress and energy
By supporting overall organ function and resilience, structured water is believed to aid stress management and provide a natural energy boost.
Hydration
Its unique structure is thought to allow for better absorption, which could lead to improved hydration.
Immune support
Structured water has been associated with improved nutrient transport, which some people believe may optimise immune system performance.
WHAT MAKES STRUCTURED WATER DIFFERENT FROM ORDINARY WATER?
Structured water is often described as distinct from ordinary water because of the following observed or proposed properties:
Molecular order
Research by Dr Gerald Pollack and others suggests that water adjacent to hydrophilic surfaces (eg membranes of cells, or blood vessels) can form a more ordered, lattice-like arrangement compared with bulk or tap water.
Negative charge
This structured zone carries a negative charge and shows a negative oxidation–reduction potential (ORP), indicating an increased ability to donate electrons — a property often associated with antioxidant potential.
Viscosity
Structured water has been reported to feel more viscous — almost plasma-like — with a softer mouthfeel that people sometimes describe as “like butter.”
Light absorption
Pollack’s experiments indicate that structured water absorbs and stores light energy more readily than bulk water.
Exclusion Zone (EZ)
According to research by Dr Gerald Pollack’s lab, water adjacent to hydrophilic surfaces — including cellular structures — can form an ordered “exclusion zone” (EZ) that repels solutes. This zone carries a negative charge while protons accumulate in the surrounding water, creating a battery-like charge separation. Pollack describes this structured water as having a composition he denotes H₃O₂, distinct from bulk H₂O.
Why this matters: This ordered, charged layer is thought to play a role in how cells store and use energy, move nutrients, and maintain healthy function. In other words, structured water may help explain how water inside our bodies supports life at the cellular level.
These properties mirror the structured water naturally present inside our cells. Source embodies these same characteristics.
To learn more, you can watch Dr Gerald Pollack’s talk on ‘Fourth Phase Water’ — his term for structured water — or explore his peer-reviewed publication available through the National Library of Medicine (2020)
“Our cells are filled with structured ”EZ water”, and that EZ water is necessary for function. If our cells are deficient of EZ water our cells are not functioning properly.
Water plays a central role in our biology. We’ve learnt about the importance of having your cells filled with EZ water. And what we need to do to build function is to build the EZ through drinking more water, or the right kind of water...
”
REVITALISING
With a naturally negative charge (around –175 ORP), compared with the more neutral readings of most waters, drinking Source may help support healthy cell function and hydration by replenishing the structured water inside cells and mitochondria.
Many people choose Source as their everyday water to complement the revitalising effects of their wellness practices and during times of increased need, reporting that it feels smoother and easier to drink and that it helps them maintain their energy and sense of balance.
WHAT PEOPLE TELL US:
Many people choose Source for wellness, routines, water-fasting, and times of increased health need. Customers often describe Source as smoother to drink and say it helps them feel more hydrated, more energised and more balanced. Some of the experiences they’ve shared include:
- easier hydration during periods of stress or treatment
- improved energy and general well-being
- feeling clearer-skinned and more vibrant
- supporting their fasting or weight-management goals
- sleeping better and feeling more refreshed
Hydration is especially important during times of stress or medical treatment; for example, cancer foundations encourage patients to drink 2–3 litres of water daily. Research on structured water and the “exclusion zone” suggests that negatively charged, ordered water may play a role in processes such as detoxification, nutrient transport and cellular replenishment. Many people tell us that Source’s smooth taste helps them meet their hydration goals at these times.
If you’d like to hear directly from our customers, you can read their reviews on the Shop Online page of this website and watch their video testimonials on our Instagram (@nzsourcewater).
These statements reflect individual customer experiences and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
You can enjoy Source at any time of day or night. For those seeking its potential benefits, we suggest drinking it about 30 minutes either side of meals, on an empty stomach.
We like to start our own day with a few glasses before food — a simple practice that helps us feel hydrated and energised from the outset. Filling a reusable bottle ensures you have Source with you throughout the day without inconvenience.
“If the pH of the water you drink is too low (too acidic), it will not move as quickly from your gut into the other regions of your body...
It is true that water that is more alkaline can move more readily across the aquaporin channels....higher pH water is going to be absorbed more quickly...including rapid hydration of your brain-cells which can greatly enhance cognitive function. There is also growing evidence that it can adjust the function of certain cells within your immune system and thereby reduce certain inflammatory responses.
”
NATURALLY pH9.5
Source is drawn from an ancient aquifer containing one of the highest naturally occurring alkaline waters known, with a pH of about 9.5. Research suggests that higher-pH water may be absorbed differently, allowing it to move more easily through aquaporin channels and potentially support improved hydration.
Some commercial water brands advertise pH levels as high as 10, but these levels are usually created artificially and can fluctuate depending on the source water used. In contrast, Source’s alkalinity is naturally generated and stable. We have even stored our water for over seven years and had it tested by independent laboratories; the pH remained unchanged, reflecting the stability of its natural structure
INDEPENDENT STUDIES OF THE SOURCE AQUIFER
The Source aquifer is a naturally replenishing underground river holding more than 600 million litres and renewing itself each year, making it a sustainable resource. Our submersible pump draws from a depth of 147 metres, and the aquifer’s total annual availability has been calculated at around 676 million litres.
Its naturally high alkalinity arises from a unique Miocene-aged rock bed deep below the surface. As the water flows through layers of sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, conglomerate, limestone and volcaniclastic rock dating back approximately 5–23 million years, it takes on the distinctive mineral profile that gives Source its high alkaline character and nourishing qualities.
Independent assessments of the aquifer were carried out by Jacobs Engineering in 2015 and 2020 — Jacobs is consistently ranked among the world’s top engineering firms and is a Fortune 500 company.
PRISTINE PURITY
Over the past year, three independent scientists have examined Source water — without our knowledge until after the fact. They specifically sampled water from our BPA-free bladders after it had been stored for weeks. Under high-powered microscopes they were astonished to find it completely free of microplastics. In fact, they were eager to share what they didn’t find.
While we expected the aquifer’s depth and age to produce exceptionally pure water, they told us it is highly unusual not to detect anything at all — they didn't detect microplastics or any microscopic organisms, which they claimed was incredibly unusual.
This gives us strong reassurance that our BPA-free bladders do not leach microplastics even after long-term storage. Combined with our rigorous testing and the aquifer’s purity, it means you’re drinking nothing but clean, uncontaminated water.
Our Story
The aquifer on our property was first tapped in the 1980s to support a kiwifruit orchard, and later served only the homestead. In 2014, when we—Ross and Shona Grundy—acquired the land, we decided to test the water. To our surprise, it had a pH of 9.5. Curious about its source and stability, we enlisted Jacobs Engineering for environmental and hydrological tests. With the results confirming its quality, we began the process of obtaining commercial consent.
During this journey, in 2016, water researcher and author Veda Austin visited us unexpectedly. She asked, "Do you know how special your water is?" We replied, "Yes, it’s highly alkaline." She smiled and said, "That's true, but there’s more."
Veda shared her incredible story: after a car accident had left her body with internal injuries, drinking our water triggered a profound detoxification process, expelling 27 shards of glass over 10 days. While we were initially skeptical, we allowed her to continue collecting water from the aquifer. This sparked a decade-long relationship, with Veda regularly visiting and sharing insights from her ongoing water research.
It was Veda’s encouragement in April 2023 that inspired us to share our water with the world, and so, Source water was born. The rest, as they say, is history
Water Experts
We work closely with water researcher, author and crystallographer Veda Austin who has over a decade of experience studying and photographing the qualitative aspects of water. Source is the very water that healed Veda after a devastating car accident that impacted her health for more than two decades.
Veda is also mentored by Dr Gerald Pollack, the world's leading water scientist and author of "The fourth phase of water"
Veda says:
"I have personally been drinking this water for several years and it is my water of choice. Of all the waters in New Zealand I believe it is the best overall. I find it has great cleansing benefits, it has a lovely light viscosity about it. Clarity is excellent and the taste is slightly sweet."
Follow Veda and her work on Instagram.
