Ionized / Alkaline Water

[SteveW]

So... I bumped into these devices while researching water filtration systems...

 

Might the brain trust here might have some valuable expertise and/or experience to offset the hype on each manufacturers' (or MLM dealers') web pages.

 

Anyone have one ?? Use it ?? Beneficial ??

 

Or did I stumble upon some modern snake oil ??

 

Thanks,

Steve W

Southern California

 

 

[Mister Tee]

Probably snake oil, but if you can forward a specific link, that would be helpful.

[SteveW]

Thanks !!

 

I didn't provide a specific link because there's quite a few manufacturers, models, and dealers...

 

I'm more interested in a discussion about the whole concept rather than commentary about a specific manufacturer or specific model.

 

Just feed "alkaline water" or "ionized water" into google and you'll see what I mean.

 

 

 

[ltljohn]

This Linky may assist in your decision.

 

On the other hand I use one of these it does not make any health benefit claims. Since installation I no longer get rust stains in my toilets and the brown stain in my dishwasher disappeared. The shower heads take at least three times as long to clog with mineral deposits. it was about $50 and has been installed for 8 years. YMMV

[bakerzdosen]

On the other hand I use one of these it does not make any health benefit claims. Since installation I no longer get rust stains in my toilets and the brown stain in my dishwasher disappeared. The shower heads take at least three times as long to clog with mineral deposits. it was about $50 and has been installed for 8 years. YMMV

I know it's a bit OT, but I've always wondered about those. Thanks, that's good to know.

[ESokoloff]

Hi Steve

 

This is timely....

 

 

Just a few weeks back I installed one for my father in-law.

 

I think it's one of these.

 

Personally I think its snake oil.

 

Interested in reading what others think tho I doubt I can be convinced differently :lurk:

[Twisties]

I don't know, but am highly skeptical.

 

I would think it may be theoretically possible to alter the ORP of some tap waters with an electrical current. However, this said, tap water composition varies significantly from place to place and time to time (and altering it's ORP depends strongly on it's specific composition), ORP is quite complex, and it is not at all clear to me how this works.

 

If it in fact works to lower ORP then we are confronted with the problem that in so far as I've ever heard there is no evidence that low ORP water is actually better for you, and for all I know it is worse. For instance some metals may be more toxic in their zero oxidation state than bound in an insoluble complex. Mercury might be an example. Again, I would expect that any health impact, positive or negative, would depend on the specific composition of the tap water in question.

 

Beyond this, ORP is not stable, so unless the water is consumed immediately, it most likely returns to it's native state on exposure to air. Also it seems very likely to me that the natural buffering system of the stomach would overwhelm any effect in any event. The sites I saw did not cite any mainstream peer reviewed published scientific studies to support the claim that low ORP water is good for you. Are there any studies that you saw that you would like me to review?

 

Specific issues I have are that some of the sites use incorrect facts and figures. For instance one said that the ORP of tap water was between 400 and 500 mV. In fact actual tap water ORP values in my experience and as quoted in the professional literature are typically in the 200 mV range, or so. Also the sites seem to go out of their way to use misleading arguments that conflate issues and claims.

 

One psuedo-scientific looking figure shows ionized water ("microwater") scavenging "active oxygen" in tissue, and implies that it supplies free electrons. Again, I can't see any way this water is ever going to get into tissue in low ORP state, and low ORP does not imply that free electrons are floating around in any event. That can happen but not under normal biological conditions. The figure is childish and misleading.

 

In my experience ORP is a fairly difficult test to get right. I have used meters which were supposedly factory calibrated that in fact measured several hundred mV off against a freshly prepared reference solution that I made myself.

 

All-in-all the absence of scientific evidence, the use of misleading and incorrect information, and the attempt to confuse and conflate seems to me to point to snake-oil, but again, I don't know. This is just my initial reaction after a cursory look at a couple of sites.

 

On the other hand I'm not sure I agree with John's link entirely either.

[ratfink]

Consumer Reports put out a book some years ago "Is Your Water Safe to Drink?" probably hard to find now other than in a library.

 

I spent 20 years in the High Purity Water business and this is about the only objective publication I ever saw regarding drinking water.

 

In general; if your water is from a municipality and it tastes ok, drink it as is. Taste and odor issues can be solved with a simple carbon filter. Caveats apply, it's in the book.

[Mister Tee]

Bottled water, regulated by the FDA, is required to meet 17 maximum contaminant levels. Tap water, regulated by the Federal SDWA and various State implementations, generally has to comply with 120 Maximum Contaminant Levels.

 

Of which taste and odor is a secondary standard, and non-mandatory under the Federal standards as such. Do the math. So I agree with the above, if you want good tasting water drink bottled water, or filter your tap water with a carbon filter. If you want safe drinking water, drink your tap water. Filter it with carbon if you want.

[motoguy128]

I can think of a lot of better uses for the $600-$2000 these devices cost (accoring to one of hte links above) that might actually improve your health... such as eating organic food.

 

That being said... I don't eat organic food, and likewise, would never install one of these devices in my home. I might consider a whole house water filter... but those are relatively inexpensive.

[ratfink]

Most people will get more minerals from a glass of milk than they will from large amounts of drinking water, not to mention bacteria. More nitrosamines from a glass of beer. Who knows what's in the average cup of coffeee. Why worry about the water?