Demystifying the pH of Drinking Water

Can understanding the significance of the pH of drinking water help you choose better water for you and your family?  Yes.  When you are choosing between bottled, tap, filtered or not, or distilled vs. purified water, understanding the role that water plays assisting your body in its quest to maintain proper pH at 7.365 is critical.

The pH level of a substance tells you whether it is an acid, a base, or neutral.  On the pH scale, which is 0-14, things with a pH of 7 are neutral, higher than 7 are basic, and lower than 7 are acidic.  Water is often considered neutral, with the normal range for surface water systems ranging from 6.5-8.5. At the proper pH of 7.365, your body is not only hydrated, but is better able to flush out toxins and waste products.

Water with a pH lower than 6.5 is acidic and “soft.”  While soft water is great for getting soaps and detergents to lather, it can be a sign that your water contains metals such as iron, manganese, copper, lead, and zinc, all of which can be harmful when ingested in large quantities.  Water with a very low pH often tastes metallic and can leave blue-green stains on sinks and drains.

Water that has a pH higher than 8.5 is basic and “hard.”  Hard water generally doesn’t pose the same health risks that soft water can, but it can taste bitter and make it difficult for soaps and detergents to lather.
When considering pH, it is also helpful to consider water’s alkalinity.  Alkalinity is a measure of the capacity of the water to resist a change in pH that would typically make the water more acidic.  This resistance to change is one of alkaline water’s benefits.

Along with the pH level, it also helps to understand the difference between distilled vs. purified water, because things like minerals found in the water can have an effect on its pH.  Technically, distilled water is a form of purified water, but it is differentiated by the method used to remove impurities.  Distilled water is heated until it boils and turns into a vapor, and then the vapor is cooled until it again reenters a liquid state.

During this process, virtually all impurities are left behind when the water turns to vapor.  This creates very pure water, but because it has no additives, it tastes awful, and can actually pull minerals from your body when you drink it, so it shouldn’t be used as drinking water on a regular basis.  Purified water is water that has gone through any form of purification process, often some form of filtration.  Because the methods of purification are varied, the pureness of the water also varies greatly.

To make sure that you are drinking the best water for your health, a purified water system that provides alkaline water in your home as well as removes harmful substances from your drinking water is your safest and most economical solution.


King Soopers
English Cucumbers $1 ea
Spinach $1 a bunch
Lettuce $1 ea


Albertsons
English Cucumbers $1 ea
Lettuce $1 ea
Hot House Tomoatoes $1 lb
Petite Sirloins $3.99 lb
Chicken Breast $1.99 lb

Sunflower
Lettuce .99 ea
Celery .99 ea
Beef Steak Tomoatoes .99 ea
Hot House Cucumbers .99 ea
Strawberries 2 for $5
Chicken Breast 1.99 lb