With more than 30 years’ experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Mark Nelson is a Class 1 Drinking-Water Operator and a CBWA (Canadian Bottled Water Association) Certified Plant Operator. As founder and president of Nelson Water in Ottawa, Mark focuses on dealing with challenging water treatment system designs for problem water. He also heads the largest water bottling plant in the city of Ottawa with a delivery network throughout the Valley.
The pH levels of water have become a source of interest for many people looking for healthier drinking water for their homes. The pH level of the water you drink and/or consume in your cooking can have a dramatic effect on your health. But, this can be a confusing topic and many people want to know how the pH levels can affect their bodies. In this article, we will examine this issue in more detail to help you make informed decisions.
A Brief Primer on pH Levels
The term “pH” can stand for the potential or power of hydrogen depending on where you live in the world. Essentially, this means the same thing, it’s the number of hydrogen ions (H+) or charged particles that are present in a solution. There is a pH scale that goes from 0-14 and the higher concentrations of H+ will result in a lower pH reading on the scale and vice versa. A pH level of 0-6 would be considered acidic and a pH level of 7-14 would be alkaline. A solution can be measured for alkalinity by its capacity to resist any changes to its current pH level to prevent it from becoming more acidic.
How Do These pH Levels Affect You?
The pH levels and alkalinity of a solution can be measured to determine if it is corrosive. Some measurements of common drinks on the pH scale can demonstrate these differences:
- Milk has a pH level of 6.2
- Black coffee is 5 pH
- Apple juice is 3 pH
As you can see, apple juice and black coffee are more acidic than milk. If you ever suffered from acid reflux or heartburn issues after drinking black coffee, you may be more sensitive to acidic drinks and beverages.
What About the pH Levels of Water?
Both acidic and alkaline water can have a number of effects on you and your home.
Acidic Water
If water has a pH level under 6.5 it is considered to be corrosive and soft in nature. You may notice that acidic water tastes sour or metallic and it may contain high concentrations of toxic metals, including: lead, copper, iron and zinc. Water is a naturally effective solvent and when it’s corrosive it can add the properties of materials it comes into contact with to its makeup. Acidic water is harmful to your health and it can damage your plumbing pipes and fixtures too.
Alkaline Water
Water with a pH level of 8.5 or more is considered to be very alkaline and hard. When water is very hard it has an unpleasant taste and odor and it can cause damage to your plumbing system and water using appliances. The best way to remove hardness is to install a water softener and there are a number of methods available for home use. The most effective method is an ion-exchange system that swaps the mineral ions for sodium or potassium which are salts. The water is then easier to use and kinder for your home.
Does Alkaline Water Have Health Benefits?
In recent years we have seen an increase in the number of people extolling the virtues of drinking alkaline water, many people state that water with a higher pH level is better for hydration, it improves the digestion process, help to develop stronger bones and it makes skin feel softer and healthier, But, more research is needed on this topic and there are no proven health benefits when it comes to drinking alkaline water.
What is the Optimal pH Level of Drinking Water?
The prevailing opinion of medical practitioners is that we should drink water that is neither too alkaline nor too acidic. Most experts agree that water in a health pH range of 6.5 up to 8.5 is acceptable for human health. In fact, most sources of surface and ground water fall naturally into this range with a pH level of 7 being neutral. It’s fair to say that the more important consideration for optimal health is the cleanliness and purity of the water.
How Can I Get High Quality Drinking Water at Home?
As you can see, the pH level of the water is important but most sources fall into the natural range for health without any intervention from us. The more pressing concern should be the quality of water that we drink and use in our cooking. It is true that acidic and alkaline water at the extremes of the scale can affect our homes in a negative way. But, this is rare and higher than normal alkalinity or hardness issues can be resolved with a water softener.
When it comes to better quality drinking water there are a few options to consider. The exact method you choose will depend on a number of factors, such as: your location, the water quality, local geographical features and more. A laboratory water test is a great way to discover the water quality and you may have access to local reports too. It’s a great idea to speak to your local water treatment specialist because they understand the water quality issues in your area.
Municipal water is cleaned and filtered to a basic level, but contamination can still occur. Certain contaminants are not considered to be dangerous to human health and they are not removed at all. Other contaminants can enter our water supply via cracks and breaks in the water delivery infrastructure. Under investment over the last few decades and an aging pipe system means that contamination is more likely and this could be a more serious problem in the future. For these reasons many homeowners have invested in a water filtration system which acts as a final barrier for their home.
In Conclusion
The pH level of your drinking water is important, but it’s unlikely that it would fall into the upper or lower ends of the scale. The more vital gauge of the healthiness of your water should be the purity and cleanliness. Adding a whole-house or single point-of-use filter to improve the quality of your drinking water makes good sense. If you want to learn more, contact your local water treatment specialist today.