Alkaline Water Benefits

Alkalinity tells how much acid water can receive without changing pH. Alkalinity is related to water "hardness"--too much calcium or magnesium can foul pipes and make soaps and detergents less useful. Mineral waters often have higher alkalinity and offer several health benefits. For your health, drinking mineral waters with higher alkalinity and calcium and magnesium can be beneficial.

The Facts

Pure water is prone to rapid pH changes. The pH of water is a measure of how acidic it is. When exposed to air, water will absorb carbon dioxide and become more acidic. For general household use, it is usually beneficial to have a low concentration of buffering salts in the water--buffers are able to neutralize excess acidity and keep the water at a neutral pH.

With higher alkalinity, water is less prone to pH changes. Across the U.S. there are natural sources of water with low alkalinity along the East and Gulf Coasts, in Washington, Oregon, Central and Northern California, and the Rocky Mountain states. Natural water sources have become increasingly acidic due to acid rain over the past 150 years.

Considerations

When the alkalinity of water is made with salts that contain a lot of calcium or magnesium, it is called "hard water." Calcium interferes with soaps and detergents, meaning you have to use more to get the same effect as with softer water. Calcium in hard water also forms deposits in pipes, water heaters, boilers, and all metal fixtures. Natural sources of the hardest water in the U.S. are found in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Arizona, and Southern California.

Home or industrial water softening systems remove calcium and magnesium from water. They use an exchange system to replace these minerals with sodium or potassium. It's best to make water "softer" with these salts because they will not form deposits. However, sodium salts can interfere with your septic tank and are less friendly to the environment than potassium salts (which are also slightly more expensive to use). But drinking softened water can increase your daily sodium intake.

Benefits

Mineral waters can offer health benefits such as aiding digestion, softening your skin, promoting healthy bones and teeth, preventing kidney stones, boosting your immune system and easing stress. Mineral waters can be classified as diuretic, cathartic or anti-inflammatory.

Prevention/Solution

Certain diseases such as diabetes cause pH imbalances in the body that tend to cause acidic conditions. Drinking water with the pH-buffering alkalinity can help to offset those conditions. It is important to discuss with your doctor whether you might benefit from drinking mineral water with higher alkalinity. Increased salt intake can affect your blood pressure and kidney function. Different mineral waters can have compositions based on bicarbonate, sodium chloride or sulphur.

Warning

Water softening systems remove calcium--while calcium is bad for your pipes it is an essential nutrient for healthy bones and teeth. Make sure your diet contains the FDA minimum daily requirement of calcium.

References

• Alkalinity of Natural Sources in the U.S.
• Water Softener Systems
• Mineral Waters