The dubious science of Dr. Luke's Core brand: inside the premium bottled water industry

While celebrities like Katy Perry, Diplo and Adam Levine are pushing premium Core water, experts say few of the touted benefits are real

You may have seen Core water in any number of music videos. Katy Perry has been quoted as endorsing the "nutrient enhanced" bottled water, which advertises its "science based ingredients". You may even have bought it at a nearby Whole Foods or 7-Eleven, where the company claims it is "locally made" from nearby municipal tap water.

Manufacturers of premium bottled waters in the US bend over backwards to differentiate themselves. The brand Smartwater positions itself as high-tech: "We one-up mother nature by adding in electrolytes for a clean crisp taste", reads the product description. Essentia bottled water claims that it is "hydration perfected".