In chemical terms, the full form of pH is the “Potential Of Hydrogen“. It is a scale that is used to understand if the liquid is acidic or alkaline.
Pure drinking water is neither acidic nor alkaline. But is that really possible to get 100% pure water? If not, what is the allowable limit of pH level in drinking water? Let’s learn that in this article.
But before that let us learn what basically pH level is.
What Is pH Level?
pH level is basically a scale of 0-14 that determines if the liquid is acidic or alkaline. The number 7 on the scale is neutral.
That means that 100% pure water should have a pH level of 7. If the pH level is below 7, then it’s acidic. if the pH level is more than 7, then it’s alkaline.
For Example, carbonated drinks like Coca-Cola have a PH value of 2.5, which means its acidic. Similarly, orange juice has a pH value of 3.5, Milk has a pH value of 6.2.
On the flip side, baking soda water has a pH value of 8.5, which means its alkaline.
Effect Of pH Level On Drinking Water
If you get 100% pure water which basically has a pH value of 7, then it’s the best. But getting 100% pure water is really difficult unless you use a RO water purifier.
Based on the pH value there are three different types of water that we usually consume.
- Acidic Water ( pH<7)
- Alkaline Water ( pH>7)
- 100 % pure water ( pH=7)
Acidic Water
If the pH value is less than 7, then it’s acidic water. Drinking too much acidic water is bad for our health. But for occasional consumption it is ok.
For example, we drink coca-cola or lemon juice which is too acidic. But too much consumption is not at all good for health.
One more thing you need to know is that acids are known for reacting with metals. So if you are consuming acidic water, there are chances that you might be consuming metal particles too.
Over a period of time, those metal particles accumulate and can cause a lot of health issues. That is why it is always advisable to use an RO water purifier.
- Acidic water has potent antimicrobial properties. Thus, it might help to treat inflammatory skin conditions
- Can improve the taste of water
- Hair and scalp have a more acidic pH. Hence acidic water is beneficial for your hair, reducing dandruff and preventing hair loss.
- Can cause a lot of health issues
- Can disturb the immune system
- Acidic water might be bad for your teeth
Alkaline Water
Alkaline water does not taste good. It tastes bitter. If the pH value is greater than 7, then it is alkaline water.
You can use chlorine to reduce the pH value of alkaline water. However, too much chlorine is also not good for health.
Therefore it is essential that we use a water softener to reduce the hardness of water and a water purifier to purify the water.
- Alkaline water has anti-aging properties
- Supports the immune system
- Skin detoxifying properties
- Forms scaling on appliances and utensils
- Salt deposit on bathroom fittings
- Makes water taste bitter
- May decrease calcium in the body
- Causes hair fall, skin diseases
pH Level In Drinking Water
We all may know that 100% pure drinking water does not have any taste. Also, it misses the essential minerals. In other words, 100% pure water which basically has a pH level equal to 7 is also not good for health.
Ideally, if the pH level in drinking water is between 6-8.5, then it is considered good for health. One thing you need to remember is that the pH value is not the only parameter that determines if the water is healthy or not.
For example, our stomach secretes Hydrochloric acid which has a pH value of 1-3.5. So our body is capable of digesting acidic water.
Here is the table that shows the pH level of water that we get from different sources.
| Source Of Water | pH Level |
|---|---|
| Ocean water | ~ 8 pH |
| Rain Water | ~5-6 pH |
| Tap Water | ~7.5 pH |
| Bottled water | ~6-7 pH |
| RO water | ~5-7 pH |
Conclusion: pH Level In Drinking Water
Getting 100% pure water is a big problem and it does not have essential minerals too. So, don’t look for a perfect pH level of 7 in drinking water.
Instead, a pH value between 6-8.5 is very good for drinking. Most RO water purifiers can easily achieve that.
