Alkaline Water – Hype Or Healthy?

April 14, 2020

You might have seen bottles of ‘alkaline water’ in a shop and wondered why they’re so expensive.

You could have read that many celebrities have been drinking it and are swearing by it for making them feel healthier.

Alkaline water is a peculiar thing when you’re looking at it from the perspective of being in the water industry. It is something of a trend in water right now – and water isn’t usually trendy.

While some tout about it having miracle benefits, others aren’t so sure that putting water with a high alkaline level in your stomach (which is acidic) is a good thing. There’s also the question of whether it has practical benefits when a business installs an alkaline filter into their water systems.

Before you go getting an alkaline filter installed on your taps, you might want to know a bit more about what it is, what it does and whether you like the idea or not.

In this blog, we will break down everything you need to know about alkaline water and dispel some of the myths popping up online.

What is Alkaline Water?

It is water that has been ionised to raise its pH level. This is done through electrolysis. By adding an active element like calcium or bicarbonate ions, and charging the water, the PH level rises.

Although it sounds quite scientific, it is actually quite an easy process.

Can I drink Alkaline water?

Yes. The water you drink from the tap should sit right in the middle of the pH scale at 7, however, alkaline water sits just above that, at around 8 or 9. When drunk occasionally, it shouldn’t do any harm.

Does Alkaline water taste different?

You would be unlikely to notice a difference in taste unless someone pointed out that you were drinking water with a higher pH.

Can I make water alkaline?

On a micro level and simply to try it out, you could raise the pH level by adding the tiniest amount of baking soda to water (the ratio would be close to ¼ of a teaspoon of soda to 500ml of water). Please note, this is not recommended for regular consumption as too much baking soda can cause health issues. Another way to make water alkaline is popping some pH drops in water and letting it dissolve, but it does take time.

Homes and businesses could have the ability to raise alkaline levels in their water through installation of water pumps. These pumps add a little magnesium or calcium and get it charged in the system before use.

Is tap water alkaline?

7 is the magic number when it comes to tap water and should be the level of ph your tap water is at when you drink or use it. It’s right in the middle of the pH scale and is known as ‘neutral’. What’s at either end of the scale you ask? PH readings of 1 mean that the substance is the most acidic and PH readings of 14 point to high alkaline.

What can alkaline water do to the body?

There’s no hard evidence or research on alkaline water since it’s a relatively new area of interest for food scientists.

It’s best to think of it as a new choice of water to drink. You’ll usually only see a bottle on the shelf, in a shop amongst a dozen other water brands, as another drink competing for your attention.

Are there risks with drinking alkaline water?

If drunk every once in a while, you shouldn’t see yourself running into trouble when consuming alkaline water.

Again, research can’t pinpoint any significant problems that alkaline water could cause. Still, there is some worry that if a person was to drink it every day or a few times a week, they might run the risk of giving their digestive system a tougher time and irritating their skin.

It’s also useful to remember that the stomach needs acidity to kill bacteria and break food down, so continually having a higher alkaline level in there isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Can you have too much alkaline in your body?

Yes, it’s called alkalosis and gives kidneys a hard time functioning.

Does alkaline water have practical applications?

Yes, it does! It’s not uncommon now for businesses to have pumps and charging systems which can create water with a higher or lower pH level.

Acidic water can help with cleaning and working on antibacterial services, while alkaline water can be used for drinking, cooking and making tea & coffee for catering and hospitality businesses.

How can I make sure drinking water is safe?

Any water coming through your taps should be safe to drink, no matter where in the UK you’re located.

If you were concerned about the pH level of water you’re serving, you might want to get a filter attached to the taps. In small business, using a jug with a water filter will help clean out some impurities, but it won’t do much to change pH levels – that’s all determined from water at the source.

Want better water solutions? Get in Touch

Feel like you’re not getting the best service from your current water provider? Castle Water can help you save money and water. As the UK’s leading independent water retailer, we’re committed to providing businesses with great-value water services.

Call us on 01250 718 700 or via our contact page to find out how we can help your business.