Once upon a time, the promise of gold and silver lured miners to La Maná, Ecuador, a volcanic region rumored to have cosmic ties to ancient civilizations. These days, the region is better known as the source of Splendor, heralded for its award-winning flavor. To learn about this magical water from South America, we tapped partners Sara Couch and Collins Pugh to speak to Splendor's rise to refreshment.
HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO BOTTLE WATER? HOW DID SPLENDOR COME TO EXIST AS A COMPANY?
Scientist Guillermo Sotomayor first discovered Splendor water after traveling to La Maná in the 1980s to extract minerals such as gold and silver from the region. He found over 300 ancient artifacts buried on the Splendor property, one of which was a stone pyramid believed to be a “cosmic antenna” activated by ancient civilizations in areas of energetic significance. Coupled with stories of the water’s restorative powers, these discoveries led Sotomayor and his predecessors to study the water on a scientific level, thereby shedding light on its unique properties. Sotomayor stopped mining and started bottling the water, making it his mission to distribute this special water, which he believed was responsible for healing his daughter’s degenerative disease at the time.
Since then, the company has been passed down through various leaders and has been undertaken by a group of doctors across Latin America who strongly believe in its quality and overall power to heal, using Splendor in many of their treatments. A family friend of ours within this group of doctors first introduced us to this powerful water, inspiring us to become involved in its growth and protection, and in helping to share it with the world.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR SOURCE. HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT HARVESTING VOLCANIC WATER?
Splendor's water is naturally filtered through the basalt and lava rocks of the Cotopaxi Volcano, before being bottled at its natural aquifer source in La Maná, Ecuador. Thereafter, it's protected to maintain its natural state, energy, and properties until the moment it touches your lips.
To facilitate this process, we transport our water through surgical-grade steel pipes lined with ionized magnets which keep the molecules in motion along the way. Our dark blue bottle then contributes to preserving its natural composition, structure, and energy from external elements such as light and heat from the sun. Indigo blue was also chosen by the water’s discoverers for its representation of the sixth chakra, known as the "third eye," which represents intuition and higher consciousness.
TELL US ABOUT SPLENDOR'S ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS.
We are the first company in Latin America to bottle in 100% recycled PET bottles. As we aim towards becoming a Circular Economy certified company in Ecuador, Splendor is committed to recovering and reusing at least 80% of our bottles over the next five years. Our focus is on developing long-term philanthropic ventures to better our world and in doing so have become a 1% for the Planet Member and have attained Rainforest Alliance certification.
We are also working toward carbon neutrality by overhauling our energy efficiency practices at the plant and investing in projects across Latin America to offset our remaining carbon footprint. Additionally, we are working feverishly to conserve the land surrounding our plant, and expand protections in the area in order to safeguard it from the detrimental effects of illegal mining in the region of La Maná.
WHAT IS THE MOST UNIQUE THING ABOUT YOUR WATER?
Splendor is the only water in the world with naturally present colloidal gold and silver, which it amasses naturally as it filters through the Cotopaxi — one of the oldest and highest active volcanoes in the world. It’s also perfectly balanced with natural electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium to optimize hydration. These minerals — along with Splendor’s extremely natural purity, low surface tension, and carefully preserved natural structure and energy — all work in tandem to powerfully detoxify and more deeply hydrate at the cellular level. It’s truly powerful.