The A to Z pH Guide – pH Level of Water and Why it Matters
We’re not surprised you’re here, keen on learning more about water pH, why it matters, how you can test, and a whole lot more.
In fact, pH has become a popular topic of discussion lately, principally due to the prevalence of alkaline diets.
The pH level of water matters for your health.
But, what is pH?
Simply put, it is the measurement of acidity or alkalinity.
Why does pH matter and what can you do about it? Read on to find more.
What is pH Level?
pH stands for ‘Potential of Hydrogen’, and is a measure of acidity or alkalinity of water-soluble substances. pH value is measured on a scale of 0 to 14, 7 being the neutral point. Values below 7 indicate acidity which increases as the number decreases, with 0 being the most acidic. Values above 7 indicate alkalinity which increases as the number increases, with 14 being the most alkaline.
Pure water is neither an acid nor a base. The pH value of distilled water is 7.
To understand it better, please see the pH level chart where the pH of pure water is precisely midway between drain cleaner and battery acid.
This pH level chart is logarithmic and proceeds in powers of 10. Each incremental value means a 10-fold increase in acidity or alkalinity.
Hence milk with a pH value of 6 is 10 times as acidic as pure water which has a pH of 7. Coffee is 10 times more acidic than milk and 100 times more acidic than water.
Alternatively, the pH value of blood is 8 which is 10 times more alkaline than pure water, and egg white is 10 times more alkaline than blood and 100 times more alkaline than plain water.
Water always contains dissolved acids and salts. This makes the pH value of water more or less than 7. These dissolved salts are what give drinking water a slight taste as opposed to distilled water.
Also read: What is TDS Level of Water?
pH Level of Water
As per the Drinking Water Specifications, from the Bureau of Indian Standards, the acceptable limit for the pH level of drinking water is 6.5 – 8.5.
And it is important to note here that the BIS does not permit any relaxation in the given pH range for drinking water.
What this means is, that the pH value of drinking water must always be between 6.5 – 8.5 and you should avoid drinking any water that does not meet this guideline.
- Tap Water – Tap water can be from one of many sources. These include groundwater, rain, or surface water (such as from lakes and ponds) which is first filtered, then treated chemically to kill pathogens. The composition varies depending on the region from which it is sourced. It can be acidic or basic and ranges between 6.5 and 8.5.
- Bottled Water – The only difference between bottled water and tap water is that bottled water must comply with the established health standards of a country or municipality. Usually, it has a pH ranging between 6.8 and 7.2.
- Spring Water – From time immemorial, water from springs or caves has been consumed for both taste and health. Springwater is always highly mineralized and either acidic or basic.
| Type of Water | pH Level |
| Tap Water | Generally, around 7.5 |
| RO purified water | 5 to 7 |
| Packaged drinking water | 6.5 to 7.5 |
| Packaged drinking water labeled as Alkaline | 8 to 9 |
| Ocean water | About 8 |
| Rainwater | 5 to 5.5 |
pH Level of RO Water
The pH level of RO water is generally below 7. This is because the process can take out dissolved solids but not gases. Dissolved carbon dioxide remains, and it forms a weak acid, H₂CO₃.
For attaining normal pH, you have to add a tiny amount of baking soda (no more than a gram per liter) to water from an RO filtration unit. Most RO systems contain an inbuilt cartridge that does this automatically.
Why Knowing the pH of Water is Important?
Knowing the pH value of drinking water is crucial. The human body is about 60% water. Thus an adult weighing 81 kg has 48 kg of water in him.
The natural pH level of your body is 7.4. Every sip that you drink and every bite you eat is either acidic or alkaline. It affects the fragile pH level of the body.
It is essential to understand this influence since the pH value of blood has to always be between 7.34 – 7.45. If these margins are exceeded, various pathological conditions may develop.
What do you consume in the most significant quantity by weight? Water, of course.
A minimum of 2 litres a day is needed for the normal functioning of the body. In hot weather, consumption of 4 liters is quite usual. Since a litre of water weighs a kilogram, it is the most substantial constituent of your daily diet.
That makes it rather self-evident why the pH of water is more important than the pH of any other food.
The pH value of lemon juice is 2, but you consume far less of it than water.
Due to this reason, you have to pay particular attention to the pH level of drinking water.
You may also like to read about
How to find the hardness of water?
How to find the TDS Level of water?
Health Effects of pH in Drinking Water
Why is ph important? Deviation from the standard pH of the body has a significant influence on the homeostasis or stable equilibrium of the body and its biological processes.
Just like temperature, the pH level cannot deviate too far from the mean without harming your body.
Since you consume approximately 2-4 liters of water every day, the pH level of drinking water can have a serious impact on your health.
Health Problems Caused by Too Low pH (acidic)
- Stomach ulcer
- Gastritis
- Rheumatism
- Gout
- Oily skin
- Dermatological problems
- Hemorrhoids
- Chronic headache
Health Problems Caused by Too High pH (alkalinity)
- Kidney stones
- Constipation
- High cholesterol
- Dry skin
- Eczema
- Chronic cystitis
Also read: Health Benefits of Alkaline Water
Generally, avoid consuming mineralized spring water and too much cola. Drink tea and coffee in moderation. Consume plenty of neutral pH water (6.8 to 7.2).
In many cities, tap water shows high pH (up to 8). This is due to the process of chlorination, for killing bacteria, at water treatment plants.
Other than chlorine, tap water often has high mineral content because it dissolves rust from the pipes through which it travels.
Besides, groundwater has also become acidic or alkaline due to the heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers that have leached into the water table.
Conclusion
Make sure that the water you drink is safe. It has to be free from an overload of calcium and magnesium salts. The pH of tap water is way too high for maintaining overall health in the long term.
Among all types of potable water, RO water is considered the safest to consume. It carries no pathogens and has a satisfactory pH level.
How to measure the pH value drinking water and cnc machine coolant
I find some of the science reported on this website misleading and false. Our blood is a highly buffered solution that will naturally hold the pH at the necessary range regardless of the pH of what we consume. It is not the “fragile pH level” that you mention. It is also worth mentioning that the reason tap water is made slightly basic (a pH of 8 is not “high”) to avoid dissolving metal pipes as it passes through a municipal water system.