sweetwater

Sweetwater is a term used to describe non-saline water, i.e., freshwater, as opposed to seawater or brackish water. In hydrology and environmental science, sweetwater refers to water sources that are not chemically salty and may be suitable for drinking, irrigation, and ecological processes. The word reflects the historical value of clean, drinkable water in settlement and agriculture, though its use extends to engineering and resource management contexts.

There are several places named Sweetwater in the United States, including towns in Texas and Tennessee, and Sweetwater County, Wyoming. These names derive from local water features and the presence of non-saline water sources in the region.

In commerce and culture, the name Sweetwater is used by a number of organizations. Notably, SweetWater Sound is a major U.S. retailer of musical instruments and recording equipment, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and SweetWater Brewing Company is a craft brewery located in Georgia. The term also appears in other brand names and place-names around the world.