What is pH?
If you’ve ever tried to buy water at the grocery store, you’ve probably noticed that the types of water available range from “pH balanced” to “alkaline.” This is because pH has become a key indicator of drinking water quality in recent years.
But what is pH? And why does it matter? You may have heard the word “pH” used to describe drinking water quality, but do you know what it means?
pH is a measurement of electrically charged particles in a substance. It indicates how acidic or alkaline (basic) that substance is. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14:
Acidic water has a pH lower than 7. Strongly acidic substances can have a pH of 0. Battery acid falls into this category.
Alkaline water has a pH of 8 or above. Strongly alkaline substances, such as lye, can have a pH of 14.
Pure water has a pH of 7 and is considered “neutral” because it has neither acidic nor basic qualities.
What pH is safe for drinking water?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in charge of monitoring public drinking water quality across the United States.
pH isn’t a quality that falls under EPA regulation because it’s considered an aesthetic quality of water. However, the agency recommends that municipal drinking water suppliers keep their water supply at a pH of 6.5 to 8.5.
The EPA also states that if you live in an area where your water is naturally acidic, it’s best to use neutralizing products as opposed to raising your water’s pH level artificially, which can cause health problems down the road.
If you want to know more about ph of drinking water, check out our article on how pH affects your health
What does a changing or unsafe pH mean?
Water pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline water is. It’s normally expressed as a number between 0 and 14, with 7 being neutral (neither acidic nor alkaline). The lower the number, the more acidic the water is; the higher the number, the more alkaline it is.
The pH of freshwater varies across the world depending on weather patterns, human activity, and natural processes. Water with a very low or high pH can be a sign of chemical or heavy metal pollution.
Water that doesn’t fall in the “safe” pH range of 6.5 to 8.5, particularly if it’s alkaline, isn’t necessarily unsafe. However, very alkaline water can have an unpleasant smell or taste, and it can also damage pipes and water-carrying appliances. Acidic water with a pH of less than 6.5 is more likely to be contaminated with pollutants, making it unsafe to drink. It can also corrode (dissolve) metal pipes
Alkaline water: A new trend
Alkaline water has become a popular drinking water choice over the past few years. Some people say that drinking slightly alkaline water — with a pH between 8 and 9 — can improve your health. They say it may make you age more slowly, maintain a healthy pH in your body, and block chronic disease like cancer.
Despite the many health claims made by alkaline water drinkers and sellers, there’s little to any scientific evidence that alkaline water is healthier than other kinds of drinking water. There are some studies that have found slight benefits in certain areas, but none have shown that it will improve your overall health or prevent chronic illness.
What is Alkaline Water?
To understand what alkaline water purifiers is, it helps to know what pH is. PH stands for “potential hydrogen” and refers to the acidity or basicity of something on a scale from 0-14 (0 being extremely acidic and 14 being extremely basic). The average human blood pH ranges between 7.35 and 7.45; if your blood was too acidic or too basic, this would be dangerous to your health.
