There's been a lot of talk lately about alkaline water and in particular a variety of water treatment systems, some quite expensive, that make your water ? and your body ? alkaline.  There are inherent dangers to this fad that the wise consumer will want to be aware of.

Here's the premise ? some natural health practitioners suggest that maintaining an alkaline body is the key to good health.  Some go even farther, suggesting that cancer cannot survive in an alkaline body.  Different parts of your body have different levels of pH ? your blood maintains a constant pH of 7.4 while your stomach is acidic with a pH of about 4 in order to digest food.  People measuring their pH use test strips obtained from health food stores which measure the pH of either their saliva or urine.

As with all topics of relative scientific complexity, opinion on this topic varies widely.  A number of health practitioners endorse these 'alkaline ionizers' while just as many endorse drinking treated water or even distilled water.  And the sales people presenting this equipment to you are only going to tell you one side of that story.  When I see discrepancies in endorsements that vary this widely among health professionals I conclude that no one really knows and what we're looking at is a matter of opinion.  So I'll share my opinion with you in this document.

From what I am able to discern by reading the literature and speaking with health professionals there appears to be validity to the fact that pH is an important element of good health.  And I would suggest to you that the pH of your water is an important factor in your health regimen.

It is my opinion that we humans evolved drinking the water that was around us.  This would of course vary in mineral content and pH.  In most circumstances though natural surface waters will contain minerals and be moderately above neutral with a pH range above 7 and below 8.  There are the occasional springs that are highly acidic and those that are highly alkaline.  Since water will reflect the land that it moves through, the content of water will depend on the local landscape.  

In my opinion the ideal water to drink has a pH range of 7.4 to 7.6.  One key to good health is to drink plenty of 'filtered' water and water with a pH in this range will do you good and certainly do you no harm.  By filtered water I include a wide array of treatments from simple sediment filters to carbon filters to reverse osmosis.  The system you need depends entirely on the contaminants in your water.

I view the sale of alkaline ionizers as a fad with potentially dangerous impacts on the health of users.  Here are the dangers associated with buying a water alkaline ionizer:

1) These water systems do not adequately filter your water.  The filters included with these systems are not adequate for even the best city water.

2) These systems rely on the contents of your water to produce ions.  So, it's important to know what's in your water.

3) If your water contains metals these will be concentrated in the alkaline water produced at higher levels than in your untreated water.  Concentrations may be two to three times higher than the levels in your untreated tap water.  This can be extremely dangerous as these can interfere with the function of glands such as your thyroid.

4) If your water contains unregulated contaminants such as pharmaceuticals these may be transformed by the ionizing process into unknown compounds with unknown health risks.  Studies have shown that ozone converts some pharmaceuticals into other unknown compounds as opposed to removing them.  The electrical process in alkaline ionizers produces peroxide which acts precisely the same as ozone.

5) Alkaline ionizers can interfere with digestion by raising your stomach pH.  The stomach will react to an increase in pH by producing its own hydrochloric acid, but as we age some individuals have more difficulty producing this hydrochloric acid on their own.

So, what can you do to avoid these risks?

First, I recommend reviewing the contents of your water, its characteristics and contaminants, before determining what type of water treatment will best serve you.  You can do this by obtaining your water provider's annual water quality report.  This report will list the regulated contaminants.  With a bit of sleuthing you can also determine whether or not dangerous unregulated contaminants will be present.  Most municipal water will already be slightly alkaline and there's little need to modify it.  

These alkaline water ionizers may have a legitimate role in the treatment of disease.  Individuals with highly acidic, highly toxic bodies may find that these machines can speed their recovery.  Frankly, the evidence for this is all circumstantial, but this may be a legitimate use of these devices.  Consult with a knowledgeable health practitioner.

If you insist on using an alkaline water ionizer make absolutely certain you also have the appropriate water treatment system.  Use only treated water to produce your ionized water.

Excellent health has been documented to result from proper diet including low caloric intake and a regular exercise regimen.  Historically human health was a result of eating well and working hard.  In recent years we've moved away from eating what we grow or what was grown locally to eating processed foods.  The nutrient value of modern foods has declined while contaminant levels have increased.  At the same time many of us have jobs that cause us to sit all day and exercise very little through the course of our day.  Many of the foods we eat cause our bodies to be acidic.  If you'd like to make your body more alkaline then I suggest you focus on your diet.  Drinking alkaline water is no substitute for living a healthy lifestyle and it may have dangerous consequences for those who have not approached the topic with adequate thought.

Here's a list of alkaline and acidic foods:

[Link Removed]  

If you'd like to learn more about the affect of pH on health you can search Amazon dot com for 'pH'.  There are numerous books about pH and health available.  Some of these are written by people who endorse alkaline water ionizers. One book I recommend is 'The Battle Over Health Is About pH' by Gary Tunsky.    

And of course if you'd like to learn more about how to make your water healthy, I suggest you call me.   I help people achieve healthy water in their homes and can be reached at 866-691-4214.  Learn more at [Link Removed]

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People often ask me which bottled water is the best.  I wish the answer were as easy to derive as the question is to ask.  As with most things the American consumer is grossly under informed about the differences between various bottled waters and so it is my hope to address that lack of information and attempt to answer the question.

The first thing you have to know is that there are various kinds of bottled water and these are not directly comparable to one another.  The International Bottled Water Association provides the following description of different water types on their website:

What are the different types of bottled water?  

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) website states (1):  

The 'FDA has established a bottled water Standard of Identity to define the several different types of bottled water based on specific characteristics of the product. Bottled water products meeting the Standard of Identity may be labeled as bottled water or drinking water, or one or more of the following terms:

Spring Water - Bottled water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring water must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring. Spring water collected with the use of an external force must be from the same underground stratum as the spring and must have all the physical properties before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth.

Purified Water - Water that has been produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes while meeting the definition of purified water in the United States Pharmacopoeia may be labeled as purified bottled water. Other suitable product names for bottled water treated by one of the above processes may include “distilled water” if it is produced by distillation, deionized water” if it is produced by deionization or “reverse osmosis water” if the process used is reverse osmosis. Alternatively, “___ drinking water” can be used with the blank being filled in with one of the terms defined in this paragraph (e.g., “purified drinking water” or “distilled drinking water“).

Mineral Water - Bottled water containing not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids may be labeled as mineral water. Mineral water is distinguished from other types of bottled water by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals can be added to this product.

Sparkling Bottled Water - Water that after treatment, and possible replacement with carbon dioxide, contains the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had as it emerged from the source. Sparkling bottled waters may be labeled as “sparkling drinking water,” “sparkling mineral water,” “sparkling spring water,” etc.

Artesian Water/Artesian Well Water - Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer (a water-bearing underground layer of rock or sand) in which the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer.
Well Water - Bottled water from a hole bored, drilled or otherwise constructed in the ground, which taps the water aquifer.'    

As you can see, the differences vary widely.  The typical consumer may be familiar with Perrier, which is a sparkling water, Arrowhead or Poland Springs, which are popular spring waters, or the Coke and Pepsi brands of 'highly purified' tap water.

So Which Water is the Best?

The second issue might be to qualify the discussion of what the word 'best' means.  That word could mean different things to different people. For instance when I ask Michael Mascha, publisher of Fine Waters, about publishing this article he responded with, "I have a hard time determining which is the best water as I enjoy especially the difference in waters. It would be similar to ask what is the best wine or chocolate. The range is the beauty.  Having said this I think it is important that the waters fall into a certain set of ranges in order to be drinkable."

To some consumers like Michael, best might be found in a particularly delightful taste.  Others might be drinking bottled water to achieve specific health benefits not found in untreated tap water.  Many people in the U.S. today are drinking bottled water because of a growing fear of the contaminants in tap water.

To be completely fair and unbiased one must allow each individual to determine what they mean when referring to their favorite bottled water.  But for the purposes of this discussion and my particular clientele I want to focus on the issue of health.

Increasingly there are growing concerns about the leaching of pthalates, known endocrine disrupters, as well as antimony (2) from water in plastic bottles.  Other concerns include bacteria.  The Natural Resources Defense Council compiled an extensive list of test results from bottled water they collected and sampled. (3)

Other health concerns that pertain to bottled water include the physical characteristics of the water, including pH (acidity) and the presence or absence of minerals.  For the sake of comparison I've compiled a chart of the pH and mineral content of some popular spring waters.  You can see it at:

[Link Removed]  

By reviewing the chart one can observe a wide range of variation among different waters.  That begs the question from a health perspective what set of physical characteristics is ideal?  I would venture to suggest that a pH of 7.4 to 7.6 is ideal.  This is the pH of human blood and optimum for drinking water.  Some people prefer to drink highly alkaline water, in the range of 8 or 9.  And while some people may enjoy the taste of low pH acidic water some health advocates and practitioners suggest that acidic drinks and foods contribute to increasing the body's vulnerability to disease. (5)

Additionally there is increasing evidence from a number of studies funded by the World Health Organization that people who drink water containing minerals experience lower rates of disease than those who drink water with the minerals removed. (6)  Of specific concern are the presence of calcium and magnesium in water.  Both contribute significantly to an individual's health.  One Canadian study compares the mineral content and potential health effects of minerals in water. (7)

The WHO debate has caused the Water Quality Association (ie: the US water treatment industry) to hold discussions about the health impacts of removing minerals through both the Reverse Osmosis and Water Softening technologies.  A recent seminar discussed the benefits of adding these two minerals back into water after treatment.  When I prescribe reverse osmosis treatment for my customers I always recommend a post membrane calcium filter.  This provides calcium but perhaps more importantly increases the pH of otherwise acidic RO water.  This may be why Coca-Cola adds magnesium (epsom salts) to its RO treated Dasani water.

Total dissolved solids (tds) is the sum total of all the minerals in water.  While minerals are desirable there is a range of suitability.  Since tds is comprised of a number of substances, high levels will affect the taste of water and may also affect toxicity. (8)  Generally, a low tds is considered by some health practitioners to be more hydrating.  EPA has set it's Maximum Contaminant Level for tds in drinking water at 500 mg/l for aesthetic purposes.  Water with a very low tds, say 30 or less, will have a sharp crisp taste, perhaps considered 'clean' by some.  A higher tds, in the range of 150 to 250, provides more 'mouth feel' or 'taste'.

Returning momentarily to the issue of preference, some people may enjoy the distinct flavor of the mineral waters such as Perrier or Pellegrino.  It is the high tds  and high sulfates that contribute to the unique taste.  I personally prefer a water (tap or bottled) with a tds in the range of 40 to 225.

There's another issue of importance from an environmental perspective.  That's the issue of transportation energy.  Ideally, consumers should choose water produced locally.  It has been said that it takes a quart of oil to import one bottle of Fiji water. (9)  That's a ridiculous waste of energy.  A responsible consumer has to consider the transportation costs of using any particular product.  Ideally, you'll drink local water.

A final point is appropriate to this discussion.  I drink bottled water when I'm away from home or on the road.  Most public water supplies are of similar quality to bottled water.  The differences may be quite minor with the notable exception of the presence of chlorine or chloramine and their carcinogenic byproducts.  Drinking chlorinated tap water has been linked to increased rates of cancer. (10)  Other specific and potentially harmful contaminants may also be present.  With appropriate treatment most tap water can be made to be of equal or higher quality than any of the spring waters and certainly than any of the 'highly purified' bottle waters available in the marketplace today.  There is no reason you can't have bottled water quality in your own home.  The key is in the treatment.  

When I prescribe a water treatment system for my customers, I review their water quality issues and then tell them what I would choose for my own family.  My major concern and that of my customers is drinking healthy water.  So, when I pick bottled water I look for a spring water to obtain beneficial minerals in moderate amounts with a pH of 7.4 or higher.  And, if it's available, I'll choose a glass container over plastic to avoid the possibility of leaching.  You can choose the bottled water that suits your purpose, whether that's to experience a delightfully unique taste to compliment a fine dinner or a healthy and environmentally appropriate choice.

***

Jim McMahon is an ecologist with over 30 years experience, some ten plus years dealing with various water quality issues.  He provides consulting services and water treatment equipment to individuals and businesses throughout the U.S., working from his home overlooking a headwaters trout stream in Brookside, Utah.  You may learn more about him by visiting [Link Removed]  

References

(1) Frequently Asked questions. International Bottled Water Association. 25 Feb 04.
[Link Removed]   Accessed: 1 May 07

(2)  Smith, Cameron.  "Bottled water questions."  The Toronto Star. Mar. 18, 2006. 01:00 AM  Excerpt: 'Shotyk is director of the Institute of Environmental Geochemistry at Heidelberg University in Germany, and has just published research establishing that the plastic containers commonly used for bottling water leach antimony into the water. . . '

(3) "Appendix A: SUMMARY OF NRDC‘S TEST RESULTS, Bottled Water Contaminants Found." Natural Resources Defense Council.   [Link Removed]  Accessed: May 1, 2007

(4) Chart compiled from public data supplied on the websites of each of these bottled water companies.

(5) Tunsky, Gary. The Battle Over Health is About pH, New Century Press: 1/05.

(6) McMahon, James P.   [Link Removed]  See my resource library

(7) Azoulay, Arik, Garzon, Phillipe, and Mark J. Eisenberg. "Comparison of the Mineral Content of Tap Water and Bottled Waters." Journal of General Internal Medicine. 16 Mar 01.       [Link Removed]
Accessed: 1 May 07.

(8) "Total Dissolved Solids" Wikipedia 2 May 07 [Link Removed]  

(9) "FIJI Water." Wikipedia. 1 May 07 [Link Removed]  Accessed 1 May 07.  

(10) "Cristina M. Villanueva, et al" Total and specific fluid consumption as determinants of bladder cancer risk, [Link Removed] , Acessed 2 May 07.

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A study released by the Associated Press on Monday showed test results indicating the presence of drugs in drinking water of some 41 million Americans.  Since then consumers around the country have been scrambling to learn what they can do to remove these contaminants.  Many people are purchasing water treatment equipment in an attempt to find peace of mind.  Often they will purchase the wrong equipment.

There are problems with making a quick decision about what to buy and Ecologist James P McMahon, owner of Sweetwater, LLC points these out.

The probe on drugs in drinking water recommended reverse osmosis as the treatment method that proved most effective in removing pharmaceuticals from water.  What the study failed to mention are the downfalls of reverse osmosis.

Reverse osmosis refers to a multi-stage system in which one stage consists of a film membrane.  Water is forced through the membrane leaving contaminants behind.  This removes not only contaminants but also naturally occurring minerals.  Numerous studies funded by the World Health Organization show that people who drink water with minerals suffer lower rates of disease than people who do not.

Another issue with reverse osmosis is that because water is the universal solvent removing minerals will lower the pH of that water.  Consumers will therefore be drinking acidic water, which some health practitioners would suggest is unhealthy.  McMahon recommends drinking water that is pH neutral or only slightly alkaline.  Most city water is already alkaline.

Finally, reverse osmosis systems have been known to grow bacteria colonies or mold in the storage tank.  If a consumer chooses to use a reverse osmosis system they also must be sure to clean the system annually or they may create new problems with their water.

Each of these objections to reverse osmosis can be overcome by purchasing a system that addresses them.  

The way an individual can make certain that they are purchasing the correct water purification system is to start by looking at a copy of their city's water report.  Consumers may call the city and request a copy and can often find the report online with a simple search for 'city, state water quality report'.  Because pharmaceuticals and other complex chemicals are not regulated they will not be listed in this report.  What they will find in the text of the report is the specific water source ? be it a lake, river, or well.  If the source is surface water such as a lake or river, then just look upstream.  If there are cities upstream of their water source then these types of contaminants will be present.  The larger the upstream population, the larger the problem.

After determining the source of water, a consumer may then look at the table of contaminants in the water report.  The specific contaminants will determine the type of home water purification system that is appropriate.  

McMahon recommends that consumers buy the system that removes the contaminants in their water.  "In many cases a multi-stage filter system is superior to reverse osmosis", says McMahon.  Whether or not carbon filters remove pharmaceuticals is currently unknown.

McMahon describes a five step process for determining the appropriate water purification system in Sweetwater's Ultimate Guide to Selecting the Perfect Water Treatment System, available for free for a limited time.

According to McMahon, "Regardless of the presence of unregulated drugs in drinking water, chlorinated tap water has been linked by numerous studies to a variety of cancers and other health issues."  

"The problem of municipal tap water is one of both language and perception," adds McMahon.  

Water utility managers maintain that the water they deliver to consumers is safe and meets all EPA standards.  The fact remains that drinking chlorinated water is not safe even if it does meet EPA standards.  These standards are a political compromise and only tangentially based upon health.

McMahon's perspective is that people expectation that government agencies deliver water that is healthy is unrealistic.  

"The world has grown very complex and the fact is that there is much we do not know," says McMahon.  "Let's expect government to deliver disease free water and then also expect to treat it ourselves if we'd like to make it healthy."

There are thousands of man made chemicals all of which are potentially in drinking water.  Additional studies of unregulated contaminants are necessary and perhaps most importantly is the need to identify which treatment processes, including carbon, reverse osmosis, and ozone will remove them.

McMahon advises that "Rather than rushing out and buying a water purification system that may bring peace of mind without providing actual protection, consumers should take the time to consider where they live and which water purification system will provide the healthiest water."  

***

Ecologist James P McMahon works from his home in Brookside, Utah.  He provides home water purification systems to families seeking to enjoy healthy water.

Perhaps you read the AP article this weekend about pharmaceuticals in drinking water.

Some 41 million Americans drink water containing trace amounts of a wide variety of drugs.  These are drugs that have been used by people upstream, passing through their bodies only partially absorbed by their body and the remainder entering the sewers.  

This includes both prescription and illegal drugs, though the latter are not mentioned.

Waste water is treated for fecal material and bacteria but not for contaminants such as these.  The water then flows downstream to the point where the next city withdraws water to provide to their citizens as drinking water.

I've been telling you about this problem for several years now.  Read more here:

[Link Removed]  

Cut and paste if the link is broken or visit my library:

[Link Removed]  

People are asking me what treatments systems remove these chemicals from water.  Unfortunately the answer is that no one knows.  I spoke to the technical support staff at the Water Quality Association just the other day and asked this same question.  The response is that no doubt some pharmaceuticals are removed by the sort of treatment systems I sell, but some may not be.  

At this point not only does no one know for sure, no one is testing systems to determine what does work.  

I'm not trying to scare you by sharing this information.  I think our expectations for water from municipalities is unrealistic.  If you want healthy water, you have to treat it appropriately when it arrives at your home.

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The topic is controversial with cities regularly claiming that tap water is safe to drink and shower in, but as early as 1993 a Greenpeace study reported a link between chlorine and breast cancer.  

The Greenpeace study cites the build up of organochlorines ? carcinogenic byproducts produced when chlorine interacts with organic material in water ? throughout the environment.  Organochlorines also include chemicals such as DDT, PCBs, CFCs, and others.  Almost 80 percent of chlorine use in this country is in the production of plastics, pesticides and solvents.  These chemicals can persist in the environment for decades and in some cases, such as pesticide application, may be dispersed by air over huge areas.  One example is the exposure of the entire Western US from activities in China carried here on the trade winds.

These chemicals, including pesticides and solvents have been found in the body tissue of individuals throughout the US.  They may be toxic in tiny doses and can affect a variety of human functions.  Several studies have found a link between these chemicals in blood and breast tissue and women with breast cancer.

By the late 1990s EPA began regulating the carcinogenic byproducts of chlorine in municipal water supplies.  In my view, these low levels of carcinogens are extremely dangerous.

As I stated this issue remains controversial. The link between these chemicals and breast cancer remains unproven.  Still, the most prudent course of action is one of caution.  

What you can do:

Think twice before using pesticides.  Look for alternatives like orange peel extract.

Use natural cleaning alternatives to bleach.  See my Natural Cleaning Tips.

Use kitchen and shower or whole house water purification systems to remove chlorine from your drinking/cooking and bathing water.

If you live in an agricultural area close your windows and turn off your air conditioning when the farmers are spraying.

Further research on this issue has been done and I will update this article periodically as I'm able to review the findings.

My name is [Link Removed]  and I help people achieve healthy water in their homes.

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Cleaning your house shouldn’t compromise you or your family’s health. Take care of the environment, including your septic system and private well, or the water others will use who live downstream of you by using nontoxic, natural cleaners. Here are some down-to-earth suggestions for cleaning your home with basic household ingredients, for a clean, safe home that doesn’t expose your family to toxic chemicals.  

?Baking soda: An all-purpose cleaner especially effective for cleaning glass coffee pots and glassware, and removing red-wine stains from carpeting. A paste (made with water) can shine stainless steel and silver, and remove tea stains from cups and saucers. Make a paste with a castile- or vegetable-based liquid soap and a drop of essential oil (tea tree or lavender) to clean sinks, countertops, toilets and tubs. Pour 1 cup down the sink to clear a clogged drain, followed by 3 cups of boiling water or hot vinegar (wow!).  

?Boiling water: Use to flush drains and avoid clogs.  

?Coarse salt: Cleans copper pans and scours cookware. Sprinkle salt on fresh spills in the oven, then wipe off. Sprinkle salt on rust stains and squeeze a lime or lemon over them, let sit for several hours and wipe off.  When you burn the inside of a pot while cooking, put some water in it, add a generous amount of salt and this will loosen the burnt food, which you can then scrub off more readily with steel wool.

?Grapefruit seed extract: Add 10 to 20 drops to water in a spray bottle for an odorless way to kill mold and mildew.  

?Lemon juice: Use as a bleaching agent on clothing, and to remove grease from stoves and countertops. Add 2 Tbsp lemon juice to 10 drops of (real) lemon oil and a few drops of jojoba oil to clean and polish wood furniture.  

?Olive oil: Use to lubricate and polish wood furniture (three parts olive oil to one part vinegar; or two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice).  

?Tea tree oil: Can be added to vinegar/water solutions for its antibacterial properties. Use it to kill mold and mildew, and on kitchen and bathroom surfaces instead of chemical products. Add 50 drops to a bucket of water to clean countertops and tile floors.  

?White vinegar: Cleans linoleum floors and glass (from windows to shower doors) when mixed with water and a little liquid soap (castile or vegetable). Cuts grease and removes stains; removes soap scum and cleans toilets (add a bit of baking soda if you like). Pour down drains once a week for antibacterial cleaning, and add to water in a spray bottle to kill mold and mildew.  

?To clean showerheads and faucet aerators with calcium build up that has affected the nozzle function, either remove the showerhead and soak it in the vinegar or fill a plastic bag with vinegar and place the bag around the showerhead like a feedbag for a horse.  Fully immerse the showerhead in the vinegar.  Tie the open end of the bag with a twist tie and let it soak for 24 hours.  Let it run for a minute after you remove the bag and then use it.

?Boric Acid: Can be used as an insecticide or insect barrier.

Borax: Add Borax to deodorize laundry.  Also use 1/2 cup Borax with 1/2 cup vinegar & 1 gallon of hot water as a general purpose cleaner.  2 Tbsp Borax, 1/4 cup lemon juice and 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle is a good cleaner, too.

Pumice stone: A great way to remove calcium build-up in toilet bowls or sinks.  It won’t harm the surface of your fixture.

Sounds old fashioned doesn't it?  Well, one of the problems today is that we've invented numerous chemical which end up in our water when they're flushed down the drain.  To read more about that problem, see this article:

[Link Removed]  

We've become accustomed to using a variety of strong chemicals in our homes.  You can take steps to protect your own family members, your septic system and private well, and the water that others will use after you do?..

My name is Jim McMahon and I help people achieve healthy water in their homes.

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