About Alive Water

Alive Water was born from a simple desire to reconnect people with fresh, natural spring water.

The story began in the summer of 2014, when founder Chris Sanborn was studying health and learned more about the importance of spring water. He discovered that many conventional spring-water delivery companies heavily processed their water for shelf stability, which inspired him to search for a different approach.

Chris began traveling to natural springs and collecting his own water. His first regular journey took him from the Topanga Canyon area near Los Angeles to the mountains of Big Bear, where he discovered the experience of drinking cold alpine spring water directly from the source.

He began sharing the water with friends and neighbors. As interest grew, Chris purchased large glass jugs, built a wooden trailer, and made regular trips to collect and deliver spring water.

Finding Better Springs

As demand increased, Chris realized that a new source would be needed. He met Ara Bedian, who later became his business partner and helped with deliveries while Chris spent time exploring the West Coast in search of high-quality spring sources.

That search led to Opal Springs in Central Oregon. According to Alive Water, the spring offered a mineral profile and flow rate that met the company's standards, along with its commitment to testing for industrial-age contaminants.

Designed Around Fresh Spring Water

The original large three- and five-gallon containers were practical but cumbersome. This inspired Alive Water to develop its own 2.5-gallon glass jug, creating a smaller and more convenient way for customers to receive spring water.

The company continued developing custom glass products, including matching water dispensers, portable one-liter and one-gallon glass bottles, and carrying cases designed to make transporting and enjoying spring water easier.

Today, reusable glass remains an important part of the Alive Water experience. The company says its glass is manufactured in Italy, is lead-free, and is designed for indefinite reuse.

Quality and Transparency

Alive Water places strong emphasis on water quality and testing. The company states that it tests its water for a broad range of potential contaminants, including heavy metals, microplastics, glyphosate, VOCs, PFAS, and radioactive isotopes, and makes its water analysis reports available to customers.

The company also searches for spring sources that meet its standards for mineral content and overall water quality, while maintaining refrigerated handling from bottling through delivery.

More Than Water Delivery

Alive Water's mission extends beyond delivering spring water to customers. The company aims to increase access to natural spring water while encouraging people to reconnect with the natural sources from which it comes.

In 2019, Chris acquired Find A Spring, the resource he had originally used to locate natural springs. Alive Water describes the organization as an environmental conservation initiative and continues to support its development.

The company has also contributed more than $300,000 to the Find A Spring Foundation, which works to help people reconnect with nature and natural water sources, including through educational experiences for young people.

Sustainability and Community

Sustainability is an important part of the Alive Water model. The company has committed to carbon-neutral deliveries and uses reusable glass rather than relying on disposable plastic containers for its water delivery system.

Alive Water also focuses on its own team, stating that it provides wellness programs and continually evaluates opportunities to improve wages and employee well-being.

Our Vision

Alive Water's vision is centered on making access to natural spring water easier while protecting and honoring the sources themselves.

From a single founder making long trips to collect spring water for friends and neighbors, Alive Water has grown into a spring-water delivery company with custom reusable glassware, multiple delivery markets, and a broader mission connected to conservation and education.

At its heart, Alive Water remains committed to a simple idea: bringing people closer to fresh spring water while caring for the natural sources and communities connected to it.