Alkaline Drinking Water Health Benefits Make Alkaline Water at Home

Make Your Own Alkaline Water at Home – Go Bottleless !

Alkaline water is slightly less acidic than regular drinking water and contains alkaline minerals with a pH > 7.  Alkaline water has a higher pH level than most tap water  and well water sources that are used for drinking water. In fact, in Pennsylvania, a primary problem with well water is that water is acidic and corrosive to the piping and it is recommended that a whole-house water treatment system a neutralizer be installed. Most tap water has a pH from about 6.5 to 7.5, but alkaline water may range from 8 to 9. Alkaline water tends to have a high alkalinity and mineral content that includes calcium and magnesium as the dominant positive cations, but in some cases a natural water may be high in sodium or potassium.   As the pH of the water increases, the redox potential (Eh) of the water becomes more negative, but the degree of change is not just a function of the pH it depends on the water ionic chemistry.

In drinking water, “redox potential  is a measure of the tendency of the solution to either gain or lose electrons in a reaction. A solution with a higher (more positive) reduction potential than some other molecule will have a tendency to gain electrons from this molecule (i.e. to be reduced by oxidizing this other molecule) and a solution with a lower (more negative) reduction potential will have a tendency to lose electrons to other substances (i.e. to be oxidized by reducing the other substance).” (Source: Wikipedia)  The redox potential of the water can be measured using an 0xidation‐Reduction Potential  (ORP) sensor.  The Eh of the water is related to the ORP measurement based on the type of sensors used in the ORP meter.

Oxidation‐Reduction Potential (ORP) is a measurement  of the relative oxidizing or reducing condition of water and is typically monitored using a handheld voltage meter that measures the electrical potential between a platinum electrode and a reference electrode.   When the ORP value is positive this indicates an oxidizing environment while a negative value would suggest a more reducing condition.  The Eh, or redox potential,  can be used to estimate the reduction potential for your drinking water.

If the sensor is made using an Ag/AgCl reference electrode with a 1 M KCl fill solution the correction factor is + 236 mv.

If the sensor is made using an Ag/AgCl reference electrode with a saturated KCl fill solution the correction factor is + 197 mv.

For example, the Orp Sensor is a platinum ‐ Ag/Ag Cl electrode where the reference electrode is filled with 1 M KCL and you get a reading on the sensor of  – 125 the actual EH of the fluid is:

-125 mv + 200 mv = 75 mv

DIY Alkaline Water systems are designed to initially provide a physical barrier to remove contaminants and purify the water to remove chlorine by-products, particles 5 micron or greater, and heavy metals.  An alkaline water system manufactured by Crystal Quest has a GAC and anionic resin to pesticides & herbicides, volatile organic compounds, pharmaceutical by-products & other inorganic substances such as petroleum byproducts. The final filter increases the calcium and magnesium content of the water and the water pH.

Alkaline Water Counter Top System

Alkaline Water Under the Counter System

There is a lot of controversy related to the consumption and use of alkaline water and ionized water.   The following is a taste of some of the available information on this topic.

We are not advocating for the consumption of either approach, but we think the user and customer should have the facts and available information and make a choice that meets there needs and their personal preferences.    The Keystone Clean Water TEAM and the Know Your H20 Team are not ADVOCATES or Warriors Just Scientists.  We provided this information to address questions asked as part of our education and outreach efforts.

If you do not want to Go Bottleless and you do not want to buy distillation equipment (distiller) and filtration equipment- you may want to try ” Smartwater Alkaline Water 9+ pH – Vapor Distilled Premium Water

Controversy

Many health professionals say there isn’t enough research to support the health claims made by alkaline water advocates.

Drinking Alkaline Water potential side effects??

Personal – Adults get to make a choice and we all have personal preferences and slightly different sensors when it goes to the smell and taste of water.

More Blog Posts

Chlorophyll Water – New Clean Label Certification– Chlorophyll Water is a purified water beverage enhanced by nature with the addition of Chlorophyll, a key ingredient and the vital green pigment in plant life. Chlorophyll Water is a refreshing introduction to the many benefits of Chlorophyll along with the added health benefits of Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C and Vitamin D for enhanced hydration.

Feedback and Analysis on the Safety of Fluoride in Drinking Water -Part of the KnowYourH2O Team philosophy is adherence to the scientific method. We are open to having our existing knowledge and any information we provide examined for the benefit of improving our own knowledge and in turn sharing it with our audience.

The Relationship Between Water and Weight Loss– Drinking enough water is one of the most important things that can be done for one’s health. With the right quantity and quality of water, you can stay well hydrated to ensure that bodily functions run smoothly. This includes weight loss, as numerous sources, including the National Health and Nutritional Examination surveys, reveal that there is a link between hydration levels and weight. Evidence suggests that those who are more chronically dehydrated are likely to have higher body weight.

Well Water Safety

Well Water Safety

If your water comes from a private well, you know that the safety of your drinking water is up to you. Most states have regulations related to private well construction and placement and a few states have regulations that quality of water from the private well water or require that the water is regularly checked.  The CDC and EPA does recommend that you test your well water at least once a year. You may want to check the quality of your water more often if there are known problems with wells in your area or if you have experienced any flooding or land disturbances near your well. Indications of a change in water quality include cloudiness, odor, and unusual taste and if you interested we helped develop a Know Your H20  phone app and the Water Diagnostic Web App.

Another low cost option for tracking your water quality is the use of the TestAssured’s Well Water Testing Kit. This kit is a great screening test to help you determine the quality of your water by you running a screening test in your own home. This single kit includes all of the following water tests:
• Chlorine
• Copper
• Nitrates & Nitrites
• Iron
• Alkalinity
• pH
• Hardness
• Bacteria (total coliform)

Specially designed for people on well water, the Well Water Testing Kit includes 8 tests for a complete water analysis. You’ll be able to identify the presence of chemicals, metals, and even bacteria like E. coli. These easy to use tests will give you results within 10 minutes, with the exception of the bacteria test which takes 48 hours for full results. There’s no need for expensive equipment or to mail samples to a lab. Each test is calibrated to the EPA standards. Once you have your results, compare them to the EPA recommendations and guidelines for water quality limits.

If you are looking for well water testing, check out the NTL Program and Tap Score.

Recommended Reading:

Wells and Septic Systems Paperback

Drinking Water and Surface Water Testing From Throughout The USA !

DIY – Do it Yourself- Citizens are screening the quality of their drinking water and private water wells .     With thousands of customers around the world, where starting a new project where everyone can share their results & then view other results submitted from around the world.    We currently have the surface water testing calculator complete and we are working on the drinking water calculator (looking for donations).

Get a DIY City Water Testing Kit or Well Water Testing Kits

The Keystone Clean Water Team (KCWT) -Carbon County Groundwater Guardian Program (CCGG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer, environmental education organization which provides homeowners with information on private wells, water quality and quantity, and septic systems. We are dedicated to protecting private well owners from illnesses caused by our drinking water. We advance good groundwater stewardship by raising awareness on a variety of groundwater issues that affects everyone with a private water supply. We can help you get your water tested at the lab of your choice or use our Mail Order Program, plus explain the test results –Get our Educational Booklet.

Well Water City Drinking Water Quality Screening Test – DIY at Home

Complete Water Testing Kit – Because it is important to KnowYourH20 

Whether you have well water or municipal water, you won’t know what you’re drinking unless you test it.  Crystal clear water can contain a number of contaminants from chemicals to metals and even bacteria.  Many of the contaminants that are cause for concern can easily go undetected. They are colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

Safe Home Complete Water Analysis Test Kit includes 10 tests that are easy to administer and give you results within 10 minutes with the exception of the bacteria test which takes 48 hours. This single kit includes all of the following water tests:

  • NEXT GENERATION of drinking water test kits for 2024, with patented technologies for testing any drinking water supply (City Water or Well Water).
  • INCLUDES 27-testing mechanisms that provide testing for 14-different parameters (302 Total Tests/Kit). See attached image of package-back, for a complete list of parameters to be tested.
  • EXCLUSIVE BRAND of water test kits to earn the Good Housekeeping Seal. Named one of the Top-10 New Products at the National Hardware Show. Includes trilingual instructions. Made in the USA!
  • YOU GET MORE BENEFITS for your dollar with Safe Home – Our team guides you before, during, and after testing. See details on attached image with this listing.
  • YOUR PURCHASE MAKES A DIFFERENCE in people’s lives. Safe Home donates a portion of every test kit sale to clean water initiatives around the globe. See attached video to learn more!

These tests allow you to quickly and accurately analyze your drinking water and are compatible with well water, city/municipal water, tap water, residential drinking water, ground water, spring water sources, and bottled water. The results are fast and easy to read by following along with the color-coded charts and instruction manual. Testing can easily be done in your home, classroom, school, office, or anyplace else where you would need to test water quality.

If you looking for more information on water quality and drinking water, please visit the Water Research Center.

What is in your well water? Well Water Testing is Critical Know Your H20

What is in your well water?

If your water comes from a private well, you know that the safety of your drinking water is up to you.  At the federal level and in most states there are no regulations that govern private wells, but the CDC and EPA does recommend that you test your well water at least once a year. You may want to check the quality of your water more often if there are known problems with wells in your area or if you have experienced any flooding or land disturbances near your well.  Indications of a change in water quality include cloudiness, odor, and unusual taste.

You can quickly and easily test your well water for a variety of contaminants with Groundwater City Water Well Water Testing Kit (Safe Home).  This kit is a great screening test to help you determine the quality of your water.

A DYI Well Water single kit includes all of the following water tests:

  • Chlorine (Just in case the well was shock disinfected)
  • Copper
  • Lead
  • Nitrates & Nitrites
  • Iron
  • Alkalinity
  • pH
  • Hardness
  • Bacteria

These easy to use tests will give you results within 10 minutes, with the exception of the bacteria test which takes 48 hours for full results.   There’s no need for expensive equipment or to mail samples to a lab.  Each test is calibrated to the EPA standards.  Once you have your results, compare them to the EPA recommendations and guidelines for water quality limits.

If you would rather a more detailed chemical analysis of your Well Water or City Water.   We would recommend the  specially designed water testing kits for people on well water, the Well Water Testing Kit includes over 70 water quality  tests for a complete water analysis or City Water (over 80 parameters) .  You’ll be able to identify the presence of chemicals, metals, and even bacteria like E. coli.

Please review and share some of our PSAs on Well Water.
Get our New Educational Booklet on Drinking Water Quality for Private Well Owners.
Corrosion Index, LSI, Hardness and Alkalinity – Do you have a problem??
Well water testing kits or City water testing kits

Industrial Test Systems Science Fair Water Testing Kits

Science Fair / School Project Test Kit  – Free Chlorine, Total Chlorine, Iron, Copper, Nitrate, Nitrite, pH, Alkalinity, Total Hardness

If you’re looking for a science fair project, Industrial Test System Science Fair is perfect for students.

  • EASY TO USE: Minimal preparation and safe to use materials makes this kit the perfect teaching tool. Easy to follow activity CD-ROM included
  • COMPLETE KIT: Includes enough materials for a classroom of 30 to perform eleven educational activities and experiments
  • HIGHEST QUALITY: ITS, manufactures test strip products in their USA facility in an environment that allows for reproducibility, accuracy, and traceability based on Good Manufacturing Practices
  • ACCURATE AND RELIABLE: Components are tested by Quality Control personnel at each step and are rejected if they are outside of specifications. Standards are prepared using calibrated equipment, and concentrations are confirmed by recognized reference methods
  • DETECTION LEVELS: Free Chlorine: 0. 0, 0. 1, 0. 2, 0. 5, 1. 0, 2. 5, 5. 0 ppm; Total Chlorine: 0. 0, 0. 1, 0. 2, 0. 5, 1. 0, 2. 5, 5. 0 ppm ; Iron (Fe+2): 0. 0, 0. 05, 0. 1, 0. 3, 1. 0 ppm; Copper: 0. 0, 0. 1, 0. 5, 1. 0, 2. 0 ppm; Nitrate (as N): 0, 2. 0, 10, 20, 50 ppm; Nitrite (as N): 0, 0. 3, 0. 5, 1, 3 ppm; pH: 5. 0, 6. 5, 7. 0, 7. 5, 8. 0, 8. 5, 11 pH; Total Alkalinity: 0, 40, 80, 120, 180, 240, 720 ppm; Total Hardness: 0, 50, 120, 180, 250, 425 ppm

We would also suggest you reviewing the following:
1. Water Quality Index (WQI) Calculator – Surface Water Quality Data
2. Watershed Monitoring Website  
3. Drinking Water Index Calculator