Water quality is of the utmost importance when serving carbonated fountain beverages. Microscopic dirt particles that may be found in water will drive carbonation out of a beverage, leaving it stale and unappealing—leading to a much different flavour than that of bottled beverages. Untreated water can also lead to abrasion, clogging and equipment damage.
Heavy metals in water refer to heavy, dense, metallic elements that occur in trace levels, but are very toxic and tend to accumulate.
Most heavy metals are too rarely found in water to justify government regulation, but a few have been given an MCL (Maximum Contaminant Limit) by the EPA...