Water Alkalinity: An Overview

Pure water, or H2O, has a neutral pH, but water does not naturally exist in pure form. Certain substances are always present in it, and these substances affect its pH, though minimally. Water treatment procedures remove much of these substances, so water coming out of your tap no longer contains appreciable amount of impurities. There are still some minerals and ions present though. Remaining trace impurities in tap water can be removed through distillation, carbon filtration, or reverse osmosis. Some people also buy ionizers, which convert regular water to alkaline water.
Water alkalinity is a condition when the H2O pH reads above 7, which is the neutral pH. The alkalinity of water can be measured by the amount of acid it can neutralize. Of course, there are simple tests that can determine this. A pH meter can quickly determine the acidity or alkalinity of water.
Water that has alkaline properties can neutralize acids. It has been said that this type of water can balance the pH of the human body, which is often slightly too acidic. You do not perceive the alkalinity because it is not that high. Its pH value is still very close to 7 so that it does not have the properties of true alkalis, which can be as dangerous as strong acids.
Presence of certain ions in water can raise its pH and turn it slightly alkaline. Water can turn alkaline if it has an appreciable amount of hydroxide and bicarbonate ions, but the alkalinity is usually due to the presence of calcium carbonate, a substance that is present in rocks. Groundwater may contain some amount of calcium carbonate as well as other metals, phosphates, and sulphates. The presence of various kinds of ions in groundwater may keep the water pH from becoming too acidic or too alkaline. On the other hand, water sent to communities goes through treatment processes that remove contaminants, thereby neutralizing the pH of water. Water needed for most purposes needs to have a neutral pH.
H2O with slightly high pH is said to have healing properties. That is why some call it healthy water. Alkaline H2O is one of the types of available water that is advertised to have therapeutic benefits. This type of water has been produced through ionization and yields a pH around 9. This gives it the ability to neutralize acids in the body.
Companies that promote alkaline water assert that water that has a high pH is the recommended type of water. According to them, it removes toxins in the body and aids in the cleansing of the large intestines. This type of water is said to improve digestion. High-pH water also has high electrolytic properties according to the proponents. Thus, it enhances transmission of signals along the body's neurons. The proponents believe that people should drink 3 - 4 liters of this healthful water a day.
While high-pH H2O is available now in containers of various sizes, consumers may produce it from tap water. There are water ionizers that are said to convert plain water to high-pH water. These machines may come expensive, and some experts are doubtful whether they work. However, there are many people who testify that water from ionizers have improved their health.