THE BALLYGOWAN SOURCE IS LOCATED WITHIN ANCIENT CARBONIFEROUS LIMESTONES OF SOUTH WEST LIMERICK, IRELAND
The water of the source emerges at the surface from a Well that is over 235 metres (770 feet) deep. Scientific studies have shown that this water can take up to 750 years to percolate through the 355 million year old limestones and dolomite fractures and joints before being drawn to the surface. The groundwater dissolves the minerals out of the limestones and dolomites to give Ballygowan its particular hydrochemical attributes.
THE BALLYGOWAN SOURCE WAS ORIGINALLY DISCOVERED IN THE 12TH CENTURY BY THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
They named it St. David’s Well and settled in the area and eventually this community became the thriving town known as Newcastle West in Co. Limerick. St. David’s Well became the exclusive property of Ballygowan in the 1980’s and our bottling plant sits beside the Well, in the picturesque surroundings of the Castle Demesne. It is this rich history that earns Ballygowan a special place, deep within Irish history and mythology.
CLOUDS GATHER OVER THE ATLANTIC SEA AND ARE CARRIED EAST BY THE GULF STREAM. UPON HITTING LAND, RAIN PRECIPITATES OVER GREEN FIELDS IN NEWCASTLE WEST, CO. LIMERICK, THE HOME OF BALLYGOWAN
Each drop embarks on a remarkable 750 year journey through mineral-rich limestone, where it eventually joins a lively underground aquifer of refreshing water, deep within the Irish land. Thanks to the 750 year journey made by every drop, Ballygowan has a unique mineral profile - low in sodium and with a uniquely refreshing taste.
BALLYGOWAN WATER HAS A UNIQUE MINERAL CONTENT, THE RESULT OF 750 YEARS OF NATURAL FILTRATION THROUGH MINERAL-RICH LIMESTONE
It is these minerals that give Ballygowan Water its uniquely refreshing taste. You can see the Mineral Composition broken out below. All values are provided in milligrams/litre.
| Element | mg/l |
|---|---|
| Calcium | 100 |
| Magnesium | 20 |
| Sodium | 16 |
| Potassium | 3 |
| Bicarbonate | 400 |
| Chloride | 28 |
| Sulphate | 15 |
| Nitrate (as NO3) | 9 |
| pH at source | 7.2 |
RAINFALL, DRIFTING IN FROM THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO THE WEST, FALLS ON THE UPLANDS OF CARRIGKERRY AND KNOCKADERRY BEFORE INFILTRATING INTO THE GROUND AS RECHARGE AND MOVING DOWNGRADIENT TO THE SOURCE
The groundwater, over the hundreds of years, moves from the East and West through fissures and faults in the limestones and dolomites beneath thick glacial and alluvial deposits. The water percolates downwards beneath the protective strata of Namurian shales, picking up calcium and magnesium, potassium and sulphates, bicarbonate and other salts. The groundwater eventually emerges in the Ballygowan source in the centre of the Newcastle West syncline.
We pride ourselves on adhering to the highest quality standards in the water cooler industry
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
ISO 9001 Quality Management System provides improved customer satisfaction levels, internal efficiency and process consistency.
ISO 14001 Environmental Management System
ISO 14001 Environmental Management System ensures we meet our environmental obligations, and improves our environmental performance.
European Drinking Water Cooler Association
Ballygowan Water Cooler is a member of the EDWCA. An annual audit is carried out by this body. This audit standard brings a uniformity of service in the supply of dispensers and bottled water by the EDWCA members. The standard is based on the strict standards used by the Food Industry.
Ballygowan Water Cooler delivers a scheduled sanitisation service for its bottled water coolers in accordance with EDWCA & IS432:2010.
BALLYGOWAN IS ON A MISSION TO BECOME IRELAND’S MOST SUSTAINABLE BOTTLED WATER
