All water isn’t created equal. It would be nice if faucet water could be completely trusted, but that isn’t the case.
Thankfully, there are ways to ensure that the H2O you’re consuming is safe. To learn more about drinking water pH levels, take a look at the information below.
What Is pH Within Water?
The word pH describes the quality of drinking water quality, and it’s a measurement of the electronically charged elements in a substance. It suggests how acidic or basic that substance is. Overall, pH advises whether water is hard or soft.
What pH Level Should Drinking Water Be?
The pH scale spans from 0 to 14. Acidic water has a pH under 7, and the most acidic material of 0. On the contrary, alkaline water has a pH of 8 or above. Alkaline elements such as lye have a pH of 14.
But pure water has a pH of 7, which is considered neutral because it doesn’t contain acidic or basic properties. A normal pH range for water should be between 6.5 to 8.5, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Testing Drinking Water pH Levels at Home
If you buy distilled or bottled water, there’s no need to test it. Water suppliers make sure they keep the water’s pH level around 7. However, it’s a good idea to test the faucet water. If you notice that the pipes around your home have a red, blue, or white color that’s an indication that something is wrong.
Also, discolored drinking water is a sign of corrosion created by acidic water. You can purchase a home test kit, which is available in different forms and prices.
One of the best ways to test water is by using a pen. Just dip it in a cup of faucet water and allow a few moments to get the result of the pH reading. It’s that simple!
Although testing the water is helpful, corroded pipes need to be evaluated by a professional and replaced if necessary.
Negative Effects of Acidic Water
Drinking water pH levels under 6 could cause some serious consequences. Not to mention, it also has a murky taste to it. With that said, here are some negative side effects of drinking low pH water.
Exposure to Heavy Metals
Acidic water causes pipes to corrode, which leads to damage that puts elements like iron, zinc, and copper within the water. Consuming heavy metals could lead to poisoning and illness.
Unhealthy for Children
Children should avoid drinking acidic water because they have a higher risk of illness. Their bodies absorb elements quicker than adults, which is harmful when consuming contaminants. It causes diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, liver disease, and kidney disease. It could even be debilitating or fatal for some children.
Damage to Teeth
Your mouth already contains natural acids that break down food and bacteria. Drinking or cleaning your mouth with acidic water causes an overload of acidity.
It makes your mouth work harder and damages teeth quicker. It weakens soft gums as well.
Lower Calcium Retention
Your body can’t absorb calcium with high levels of acidic water. Without the proper amount of calcium, bone loss could increase over an extended period. It also causes other health issues due to calcium deficiency.
Gastrointestinal Issues
The metals found in acidic water create gastrointestinal side effects. Exposure to pipe residues like zinc and other heavy metals causes nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
You could also experience these symptoms if you’re exposed to copper.
Greater Exposure to Contaminants
When pH drinking water levels go down, it creates many health issues. Acidic water means a larger presence of contaminants like parasites, bacteria, and high amounts of ammonia. It even causes fish to die when acidic water is found in bodies of water.
Negative Side Effects of Alkaline Water
Drinking alkaline water has become popular these days. While there are many benefits to it, overexposure could cause negative side effects. For instance, it lowers the natural acidity within the stomach which helps to kill bacteria and block harmful pathogens from entering the bloodstream.
Furthermore, too much alkaline leads to gastrointestinal issues and skin problems. It imbalances your body’s normal pH levels which could lead to alkalosis. Some of the most common symptoms of alkalosis are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Hand tremors
- Muscle twitching
- Tingling in the body
It’s also important to note that many people who consume alkaline water buy it from retailers. It’s not the natural alkaline water that’s created due to picking up minerals while passing over rocks in the spring.
That means manufactured alkaline water has gone through a process known as electrolysis. The process is meant to purify the water and funnel out the acidity. But it could also get rid of healthy minerals.
Regularly drinking water with low mineral content could also be a cause for concern.
Sip on Safe Water
As you can see, drinking water pH levels are vital to your health and well-being. The most important thing is to be proactive in making sure that you’re choosing to drink the right H2O for your body. You need water to survive, but the wrong type of water does more harm than good!
If you enjoyed this article, feel free to browse the rest of our blog. We cover a variety of topics that’ll make your mouth water. We’re sure you’ll discover something interesting and delicious!
