On a daily basis, you need water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and various other purposes. While the quality of the water used for cleaning is not something you might think about twice, the quality of the potable water may certainly bring some questions to your mind. You may have heard about the pH value of water and probably wondered why it should affect you.
Let us delve further into this discussion and understand what the pH level in water is and its implications on your health.
The potential of Hydrogen, also known as pH, is the intensity of the acidic or basic property of water. In water chemistry, the measurement of pH is an important indicator of water quality and is necessary for various processes since the treatment of water, water softening, disinfection, etc., relies on the pH. [1]
The pH value of water can influence and also get affected by the different characteristics of water, such as taste, turbidity, total dissolved solids, smell, and temperature. For example, a change in water temperature weakens the ionisation equilibrium of weak bases and acids in the water, thus affecting the pH value of the water. [1]
It may come across as surprising, but the pH levels in the human body are responsible for helping the body function normally. The normal pH level in the human serum is between 7.35 to 7.45, which is essential for survival. [2]
Excessive high and low pHs can be detrimental to the use of water. The pH in drinking water also needs to be maintained so that the water tastes palatable and the body’s pH is balanced. Very high pH levels in drinking water can make the water bitter and pollutes water pipes and appliances with deposits. For this reason, chlorine needs to be added to the water to balance the pH. On the other hand, a low water pH corrodes the pipelines. [3]
As per global health regulations, drinking water’s pH range should be 6.5–8.5, based on the disinfection process and other factors. This was considered because it was noted that a high pH could give the water a bitter taste, while a lower pH makes the water feel slippery and tastes like soda. [1]
The pollution caused by the corrosion of metals in the water supply disturbs the natural balance of essential minerals in the water; thus, balancing the pH in drinking water helps reduce that.
The alkaline min-tech filter in A. O. Smith water purifiers balances the pH value of the water between a healthy range of 7 – 8.5, along with the retention of essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, etc.
1. Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document – pH
2. The Alkaline Diet: Is There Evidence That an Alkaline pH Diet Benefits Health?
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