In 1888, Otis Hinckley and George J. Schmitt founded what would become Hinckley Springs Water Company. At that time, most Chicago residents drank raw, untreated water from Lake Michigan, and epidemics of water-borne diseases, such as typhoid, cholera and dysentery, were common. Schmitt, a pharmacist's assistant, observed that many health-conscious customers were purchasing spring water with their prescriptions. He joined with Hinckley, who was a route deliveryman for White Rock Corporation's spring water, and the two purchased water from White Rock and delivered it to customers. As time progressed, their services increased: they pioneered the development of water cooler service to offices.
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Bottled Water of the World 
