HEALTH initiatives promoting the restorative properties of drinking water has helped the bottled water industry beat its forecast for the year.

The market for bottled water is on target to achieve year-on-year volume growth of more than 20 per cent by the end of the year.

The figure was announced at the UK Bottled Water Industry conference held in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The two-day conference was attended by more than 60 delegates, including senior managers of bottled water companies and buyers from the UK's supermarkets.

Harrogate Spa Water hosted a lunch and a tour of its £3m bottling plant.

Paul Martin, managing director, said: "The growth in water consumption is obviously very good news for us.

"The eight glasses a day message is really getting through to people who are choosing water over other soft drinks on an increasing number of occasions."