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Alkaline Water Ionizers: Facts and Fiction
There’s a lot of buzz these days about alkaline water and the multi-thousand dollar water ionizers that produce it. The following is some info on what these machines do, what they do not do, some pointers to cut through the marketing hype, and an inexpensive, though less convenient, alternative for making alkaline water.
Antioxidant water and ORP
Despite the fact that all the fuss is about pH, a better name for alkaline water ionizers would be ‘electrolyzed reduced water makers’ because their ability to lower ORP (oxidation-reduction potential) is their most significant asset.
Through an electrolysis process ionizers lower ORP, thus making antioxidant water. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals in the body. Ionizers accomplish this while driving pH values up to pH 11 and higher.
ORP is a little confusing to understand. It’s an electron exchange process that is constantly happening in and around us. You can find out more about it here.
Please note that some important antioxidants, like vitamins C and E, do NOT have a low ORP value.
How water ionizers work
All water ionizers function using the same basic mechanism, originally developed in Russia and Japan long before current-day brands were conceived.
They are appliances that require a connection to an electrical outlet, a cold water supply line and access to a drain for the waste water they produce. You can select and change the pH of your water by conveniently pushing a button.
After passing through a built-in water filter cartridge, an electrical charge is applied to the water, splitting it into two streams –one alkaline, the other acidic. The alkaline water is what people drink for health benefits.
The acid water can be captured for sterilizing surfaces and for its astringent properties that are good for hair and skin. It’s a chemical-free alternative to commercial cleaners and skincare products that are often laden with toxic ingredients. However, given the pace of modern life, most of this acid water ends up going down the drain.
The health benefits associated with drinking alkaline water (actually low ORP water) are what motivate people to purchase these machines. Despite its uses, one is not likely to spend thousands of dollars (up to $5K) just for the acid water, especially as similar results can be had from good old vinegar (acid) and baking soda (alkaline).
Testing ionized water for pH and ORP levels
Water ionizers come with a pH test kit so that the purchaser can monitor the level of alkalinity of the water that their machine is putting out.
Measuring and checking ORP levels is a little more challenging as it requires the use of an ORP metre – a finicky piece of equipment that costs about $100. Disturbingly, we have repeatedly encountered different ORP metres producing different readings from simultaneous samplings of the same water from the same machine. This makes it challenging to confirm, with confidence, the actual ORP level of the finished water from a particular machine. It seems lay users and ionizer sales people are not aware that ORP metres require calibration and careful maintenance of their delicate probes.
Some ionizers have a built-in digital display showing pH and ORP levels. Although these readings may be relative to the characteristics of the source water being used, they are unlikely to be accurate. Water varies greatly in its mineral content from one location to the next. An ionizer’s electrolysis process is sensitive to, and dependent upon, that mineral content for the degree of ionization it can produce.
Online comparison videos do not accurately reflect local results
There are numerous contradictory online videos comparing the results of different brands of ionizers. These brand and model comparisons have little meaning unless they are performed using the water from your own tap.
Instabilty of pH and ORP adjustment
The pH and ORP levels of alkaline ionized water will quickly revert back to the levels of the original water – usually over a period of 24 hours. This process can be slowed down if the water is kept cool, covered and in the dark.
So it is recommended to drink ionized water immediately. Otherwise it is best stored in a tightly covered glass container. Contact with metal will quickly neutralize the benefits of ionization.
Micro-clustered water molecules
Ionizers produce ‘micro-clustered’ water. This means ‘finer’ water that permeates the body’s cells more easily than ‘regular’ water. Micro-clustered water has a distinctly lighter, silkier texture. You can drink lots of it without getting a bloated, heavy feeling.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance analysis shows that tap water consists of clusters of 10 or more H20 molecules. Electrolysis reduces the size of these clusters to 5 or 6 molecules.
Contaminants: Are water ionizer filters effective?
Water treatment should start with contaminant removal. Finessing water quality with pH and energetic adjustments are secondary to making it safe and clean.
Effective contaminant reduction must address local contaminant issues. Each water source (district) has its own characteristics and challenges. Ionizers and their filter cartridges are designed and manufactured in Asia and shipped all over the world. Their one-size-fits-all filter cartridges are not capable of prolonged and comprehensive contaminant reduction – in fact, most of them are only capable of fine mechanical filtration and reducing the taste and odour of chlorine. This may leave a host of chemical compounds, organic and inorganic toxins and gases in the water entering the ionization chamber.
Some ionizer models now include a second built-in filter –usually a 5 micron sediment filter. Unfortunately, under-informed distributors and customers do not realize that this expensive addition has no ability to improve the water quality or effectively protect the machine from fine turbidity such as is found in Metro Vancouver.
A better solution would be to pass the water through a thorough and locally-appropriate water filter before it enters the ionizer. Please note that a reverse osmosis system or water distiller cannot be used for this purpose as both these methods strip all mineral content from the water. The ionization process is dependent on the presence of minerals in the water.
Recommended ionizer for Vancouver
We recommend the Melody by Jupiter as the ionizer of choice for the Metro Vancouver area for these reasons:
- it’s effective
- relatively affordable
- outperforms more expensive Jupiter models using Vancouver’s water
- incorporates the Biostone filter (best of the ionizer filter cartridges)
- undersink installation option
- serviced in Western Canada
- CSA approved
- Jupiter is an established company with a long term reputation
Magnesium Prill Beads – an affordable alkaline alternative
Alternatively, alkaline water can be produced with Magnesium Prills. After thorough filtration using a high quality filter suited to the local water conditions, water can be placed in a glass or ceramic container along with these beads. The water will quickly become alkaline, micro-clustered and pleasing to drink.
This method does not have the push button convenience and pH selection range of an ionizer. Nor does it drop the ORP levels to the same extent that ionizers can. However it provides an affordable, somewhat portable, and thoroughly filtered alternative for producing your own alkaline, micro-clustered water.
© watermatters 2009
Disclaimer
The information on this website is for information purposes only. It is not designed to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. It should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken based solely on the contents of this website. Readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information and opinions provided here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the authors, but readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries. The statements made here have not been evaluated by Health Canada. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.
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