I am blessed to live in an area that has an abundance of natural mineral springs. For many years, the springs near my home have been out of commission but recent years have brought back their revival to the good fortune of residents and tourists alike. Of course the mineral springs and the land surrounding it were considered sacred by the Native Americans where they believed the spirit of the gods and humankind interacted. The Nations of the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Kiowa designated this sacred area as neutral ground for all. However, with the acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and President Jefferson ordering several military surveys of the area, the springs were discovered by the white men and all the turbulent history typical of the Wild West unfolded. Sad, and unfortunately true.

Touted as possessing enormous health benefits even 200 years ago, each spring has its own unique mineral content. Believed to be several thousand years old, the water rises naturally from aquifers deep below ground where it absorbs minerals in high concentrations, sometimes 2 to 3 times the amount found at more familiar springs. But it is the bubbles though… that intense effervescence caused by high concentrations of carbonic acid that makes the water here a cut above.

Off the beaten path, one of the lesser known mineral springs is called Twin Spring, a local favorite. Really… it so unobtrusive you almost miss it unless you know it is there. Called Happy Water or Feel Good Water by well versed locals, it is known for its lithium content. Clocking in as a mere trace of lithium (I think 22 ppm), it is probably the rich calcium and potassium concentrations, as well as other minerals that are really responsible for that 'feel good' factor. Or maybe it’s just the bubbles. It is purported to make the best lemonade in the known universe. All I know is that it is the most sublime water I have ever tasted. Straight from the spring (which flows continuously), it is the perfect temperature, cool, and tangy… and oh so bubbly in that gentle effervescence of naturally sparkling mineral water. This water is also known for its diuretic effects so I do limit myself to one glass per day.

I have been indulging in this special… and dare I say… FREE treat now for a couple weeks. Being unbottled water, it does lose its delightful bubbliness after a day or so. And after about a week the taste begins to lose its tang and go flat. Perhaps my plants will enjoy it at that point. I must say though… to have such a delightful and free mineral water at my disposal... definitely Feels Good to me.