There are several possible causes of a high TDS reading from water that's been purified by reverse osmosis:
Now let’s delve a little deeper into how these scenarios can raise your water's TDS reading.
The quality of the water source has changed. The maximum concentration level set by EPA for TDS levels in municipal water supplies is 500 ppm. And, the TDS levels you ultimately get from municipal water supplies may fluctuate from time to time. The sources of the TDS present in the water can affect how it fluctuates. These sources are high flow rates, soil erosion, urban runoff, septic and wastewater overflow, and/or organic particles from plants and animals.
RO membranes, in general, remove 90% or more of the contaminants present in the water, including TDS. When the TDS levels of your water source changes, it will affect the quality of the purified water output from your reverse osmosis system.
The post-filter is adding minerals to the purified water. Another thing to consider is that RO systems usually come with a remineralizing post-filter that adds beneficial minerals to the purified water at the end of each filtration process. This would add to the TDS present in the purified water which will ultimately raise its TDS reading. This applies to the RKIN Zero Installation Purifiers with the AlcaPure post-filters installed inside them.
Not sure what a Zero Installation Purifier is? Read more about it here.
The rejected water is being re-used. With countertop RO systems, not discarding the rejected water and recycling it for a new batch would significantly raise the final TDS reading of your purified water. This is because the rejected water at the end of every cycle will have high concentrations of contaminants and simply topping it off to run another cycle will result in water output that has high amounts of impurities or TDS content.
The reverse osmosis membrane needs to be replaced. The typical RO membrane filters at .0001 microns or micrometers. This means that it’s only supposed to allow particles that are smaller than .0001 micrometers through its permeable membrane and “rejects” any particles that are bigger in size.
If the RO membrane is not working properly, you may get a higher TDS reading with your filtered water. One possible reason for this is that the permeable membrane inside may have ruptured, allowing bigger particles or contaminants to pass through the membrane.
RO membranes may rupture due to high water pressure or high chlorine content due to an exhausted, thus ineffective carbon pre-filter.
Measuring the TDS reading of your water before and after it passes through the RO membrane is a great way to calculate the RO system’s rejection rate or to make sure that RO membrane is working properly.
Incorrect testing due to TDS creep. Standing water within the filters of an RO system can slowly accumulate more total dissolved solids. This extra TDS “creep” can be from the carbon or minerals within the post-filter or from the mixing of the pre-filtered water and the filtered water inside the RO membrane.
When testing the TDS levels of the filtered water from the reverse osmosis system, it’s important to first flush out the water with TDS creep by discarding the first 1-2 cups of water coming out of the system and only test water that follows. Otherwise, you are testing the water with “TDS Creep” and not the actual performance of the membrane.
Because alkaline post-filters return minerals into the purified water, it can be unclear as to how much impurities the RO membrane is actually removing from the water source. However, there is a way to get a true RO membrane rejection rate.
One of our customers wrote a detailed review on how he got the accurate rejection rate from his Zero Installation Purifier's RO membrane below:
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Carlos E.
United States
This filter DOES reduce TDS properly, you just have to test the water correctly (updated review).
I tested the water myself using a TDS meter because I saw some other users in reviews talk about it failing to reduce TDS to the proper levels for an RO filter. I thought I had confirmed that the RO filter didn't reduce TDS as expected and was about to return the device thinking they were falsely advertising the performance of the RO system, but thankfully I had a back-and-forth correspondence with the company owner dissecting my testing method and found that my testing methodology was incorrect for this system. Let me explain here for any users wanting to verify for themselves the filter's water quality.
First, for verifying the reduction of TDS you cannot test the water output from the top tank because it passes through a post filter for remineralization (which increases the TDS at the end). You must open the back of the machine and use the tube that exits the RO filter and enters the post filter by disconnecting it from the post filter entry point (see instructions for how to change filters). You must also let the machine run a couple full cycles and throw away the water if these are new filters (per the instructions).
At this point, if you turn on the cycle and collect a cup of water from the tube and test it, you may think this is the correct TDS reading but that also would be wrong. When you begin the cycle, you must collect some initial water from the tube and set it aside because the initial spurt of water will have higher TDS (due to TDS creep). This small amount of higher initial TDS would be completely dispersed if you were instead collecting from an entire reservoir of filtered water. If you collect about a cup of water from the tube and set it aside, then collect and test a second cup, you will find the proper TDS level for an RO filter (under 50ppm).
In other filters without a post filter like the AquaTru, you would test the filtered water from the reservoir and have found the correct TDS right away. However due to the post filter (which is a huge advantage of this system due to the replenishing it does of critical minerals) it makes it more difficult for those that like to verify the RO water quality. Hope this review helps give others the confidence I now have that this filter does indeed produce excellent quality reverse osmosis water! See for yourself using the above method!
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]]>Your body is around 60% water. Water is essential for keeping the natural physiological processes in the body functioning correctly. This includes proper cellular function along with removing toxins and metabolic waste from the body. The quote is “you are what you eat,” but you are also what you drink, and the quality of the water you drink will have a significant impact on your health. Substances like fluoride, heavy metals, pesticides, trace pharmaceutical drugs, and many others in the water will impact your health. And going back if you are 60% water, then it would be safe to say you could potentially accumulate the most toxins in this area of your body.
Some of the health issues that have been linked to poor drinking water are thyroid dysfunctions, headaches, sterility, increased risks for cancers, and many other health problems. I am going to recommend to you as I do with all my patients to research some of the things in your water that impact your health.
A lot of my patients who have changed their drinking water have said they have noticed improvements in their life. They have experienced greater mental clarity and less frequent headaches. Their energy levels have increased.
If there is one thing, I tell my patients if nothing else the best benefit of reverse osmosis is the removal of fluoride from their drinking water. Charcoal filters, bottled filters, and most other types of filters except reverse osmosis cannot remove fluoride. Fluoride is not healthy for consumption in pretty much any quantity and is one of the most toxic substances you drink daily. If you do not believe me next time, pick up your toothpaste look at the back. The toothpaste label will instruct you to contact poison control if you consume too much of the toothpaste. But fluoride is in your drinking water daily, and you have no clue how much you drink. A concept I instruct my patients is that just because you do not feel the effects immediately after consuming a toxin does not mean that there is a lack of health detriments. Your body will have health issues being exposed to a toxin daily over months and years of.
Some of the questions I get from my patients are as follows:
Question: I already have a charcoal filter doesn’t that already filter out everything?
Answer: No. Ideal drinking water is between 0-50 parts per millions of solutes (PPM) in the water. Most drinking water from your faucet can range from 200 parts per million to even as high as 500 parts per million of solutes. I recommend my patients to buy a water quality tester to measure the parts per million in the water and a pH meter to test the acidity of the water. I have not had a patient report to me yet that their charcoal filter has ever gone below 150 parts per million and a lot of them barely see much of a drop in the part per million using other types of filters. The difference with reverse osmosis systems is that they can get to the 0-50 parts per million. The other issue can also rise with reverse osmosis is reaching the parts per million too low as well. If the parts per million of drinking water is too little, it can also mineral scavenge in the body. I recommend to my patients if they are to buy a system try to buy one that replaces minerals like calcium, magnesium and other minerals. This will help replenish the minerals which are beneficial for the body and does not allow for leaching of minerals from the body.
Question: Does the pH of the water really mean much?
Answer: Yes. The ideal pH of the body is around 7.4 pH. This pH is the proper cellular environment for the body to complete its physiological processes. I have had patients reports to me their drinking water can range into the 5.6's for pH. Even some bottled waters can be in the 6s for pH. The pH scale ranges between 1-14 pH. The closer you get to one the more acidic the water and the closer to 14 you get the more alkaline. This scale works on a logarithmic scale which means a 1 point change is multiplied by 10. For example, going from a pH from 6 to 5 means the water is 10 times more acidic. So if your water is a 5 and your body pH is over a 7, then the water you are drinking is 100 times more acidic than your pH. Keeping fluids close to your body’s pH is more natural and helps with keeping the physiological functions workings more efficient.
Question: How long will it take to feel differently?
Answer: This varies person to person. Toxins from the water can accumulate in the body and can take some time before these are removed. Some of my patients have told me it takes a few weeks, but again results vary.
Question: Which reverse osmosis system would I recommend to patients or do I personally use?
Answer: I personally use ZIP countertop reverse osmosis water filter every day and recommend it for the majority of patients who look for a reverse osmosis system. These are the reasons why I recommend this system:
1. It is, in my opinion, the most cost-effective way for clean drinking water. Most people spend 1-3 dollars a day on bottled water. Doing the math that is between $365-$1095 a year if they are drinking bottled water. This also does not provide enough water if you wish to cook food or make teas. Having reverse osmosis for your cooking water and beverages prevents those impurities from going into what you eat and drink. Also if you are looking at more traditional models which go under the sink, a decent system usually starts at $500 without installation or models making a whole house or condo RO will easily cost thousands of dollars. The ZIP reverse osmosis system is not only the cheapest of these options but also it does not require a plumber to install, and the maintenance costs are low. Also for some of you buying water bottles now, it could potentially save you money over long-term use. Saving my patients money is a priority to me, and I would not give them advice I would not do myself.
2. The system is portable. A lot of my patients live in apartments or in some type of housing that does not allow for modifications to their plumbing for the under sink system. Also if you need to move, you can just pick the system up and take it with you with ease.
3. As previously stated, you want a system that replenishes minerals and has the proper pH in the water. ZIP provides that out of the box.
With this system, I also recommend having a separate BPA free container that you can store a few gallons of water. This way you can either keep it cold in the refrigerator for drinking or have enough for your cooking water or beverages.
Learn more about ZIP countertop water filter
Get Dr. Murphy's Exclusive 10% Discount on ZIP Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter.
Fluoride articles
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/fluoride-childrens-health-grandjean-choi/
https://www.litalee.com/documents/Fluoride%20-%20A%20Modern%20Toxic%20Waste.pdf
]]>It was a hot summer afternoon of 2014 in South West Florida. At that time I was working for a local water treatment company – Clean Water America. Clean Water America has a few stores throughout Fort Myers where people can walk in, see, learn about and purchase any water treatment equipment you can imagine – whole house water filters, water softeners etc.
Vickie, the store manager, walks into my office and with a wide smile tells me that there is a gentleman, who is also a plumber, looking to get more information on a reverse osmosis purifier with mineral post filter. I thought to myself “Ain’t nobody got time for that.” Vickie saw my reaction and her smile got even wider.
Here is why.
In a water treatment business, there are professionals who deal with water treatment products only and then there are plumbers. Not to say that all plumbers do not know what they are doing when it comes to water filters. But the ones that do come into water treatment stores are just looking for a quick education on a particular water problem. They get all the information and leave without making a purchase. Then they purchase equipment from a wholesaler and install it for their customer.
I was ready to handle all the questions very quickly and go on with my task at hand. Boy, I was wrong.
I stepped out of my office into a store floor where all the equipment was displayed. There he was looking at under-sink reverse osmosis water filters. This plumber was in his late sixties and did look like a plumber. Through large windows of the store, I saw his working van with typical plumber signage all over it.
“Complete waste of time” – I thought to myself again.
After a handshake and a quick formal introduction, the plumber proceeded – “I am looking for under-sink reverse osmosis system with a mineral post filter.” “I am not looking for anything fancy, but mineral post filter is very important to me.” – he added without giving me a chance to reply.
“This is what we have” – I replied, showing all the options for under-sink reverse osmosis systems. “But the mineral post filter you would need to purchase separately” – I added pointing to the stack of filters on the shelf.
Then I noticed that he was somewhat disturbed and very emotional. On top of that, not many plumbers come in with such requests. My curiosity started to climb.
“What’s going on?” – I asked him bluntly.
“Well, here is the deal” – plumber replied with uncomfortable tone. I could sense that he needs my help to point him in the right direction, but it wasn’t very pleasant for him to open up.
After a long pause he proceeded:
“My daughter has Crohn’s disease, she just got released from a hospital after a week-long stay there. She is severely dehydrated and doctors told me that she needs minerals – calcium and magnesium among others.
My daughter is very weak, she can’t keep making frequent trips to the store just to buy heavy bottled water. And municipal water, which is full of chlorine and other decontamination byproducts, only upsets her stomach even more. ”
By this time I was completely lost. Of course, I have seen commercials on TV about different drugs to treat-control Crohn’s disease symptoms. But I didn’t know anybody who was suffering from it nor was I aware of what it was.
In my eyes, he was no longer a plumber but a father who is trying to help his child anyway he can. As a father myself, I can relate to how painful it is to watch your child suffer.
In 2008 Puricom was one of the first companies to introduce mineral post filters for reverse osmosis systems and I was very familiar with them.
“All the mineral post filters are designed with a purpose to improve purified water’s taste, they are not meant to be a mineral supplement. The amount of calcium and magnesium added to water is very minute. ” – I replied.
“Every little bit helps” – he said with a smile and a sense of relief.
Maybe he realized that I was genuinely trying to help him. I didn’t represent mineral post filter as a magic supplement that will be a sufficient supply of calcium and magnesium. In fact, just the opposite.
He has already done his research on water filters and this was the best option for his daughter. I only reconfirmed what he already knew.
Reverse osmosis water filters remove just about everything from water including beneficial minerals along with all the bad stuff. They produce high-quality water and are easy to use. Most reverse osmosis water filters include multiple stages of filtration such as particle filtration, carbon, reverse osmosis membrane and some have mineral post filters.
The plumber paid for the equipment and rushed out of the store.
I went back to my desk and researched Crohn’s disease. I was shocked to find out how much it affects a person’s life and how many people suffer from it.
Since then I joined a Facebook group dedicated to Crohn’s to learn more about this terrible thing that affects thousands of people.
Two weeks later the plumber came back just to let me know that his daughter absolutely loves the reverse osmosis system that he installed for her. And picked up a few more mineral post filters just in case we sold out.
When the going gets tough I just remind myself that there are daughters and sons who don’t happen to have a father with plumbing skills or people who are unable to install a reverse osmosis system because they are renting. But still, want and need pure water that tastes great.
ZIP is the only countertop reverse osmosis system that doesn’t require any connections and comes with a mineral post filter.
If you know anybody who needs and wants pure water for whatever reason, share this page with them.
And remember in a tough situation – every little bit HELPS.
P.S.
If you haven’t figured out who is the salesman in this story, my position with Clean Water America was in sales and marketing.
]]>Every one of us is very keen on what we eat and drink. Clean drinking water is as important as any other thing we need. We always make sure that water we consume is as pure as possible. This is understandable because drinking unclean water can cause havoc for our health. Clean water is always a must.
During the last few decades, the bottled water industry has made huge progress marketing water in the bottle. Even people in the water treatment industry admit to using conveniently available bottled water while
on trips, in the gym and even at work. The downside to bottled water is the plastic bottle itself. It’s not news to us that it would take over 400 years for the degradation of a plastic bottle. Each year, there are over 38 billion plastic water bottles deposited in landfills. This fact has a drastic effect on our environment.
We should take into consideration how we can help our environment. It’s more practical to find a way to prevent us from buying plastic water bottles. An alternative solution to this dilemma is to use a water bottle with a filter.
With a water bottle with a filter, ordinary tap water can be filtered over and over again. It is reusable, so wherever we go, we can bring it with us. It’s handy and practical. We can help to not only save our planet from too much plastic but also save money.
Water bottles with filters are water bottles with a built-in filtration system. You can simply put ordinary water in it, and then contaminants and other chemicals are removed by its own filtration system. A water bottle with a filter has its own personal filtration system.
We should start using water bottles with filters instead of plain plastic bottles. It is safer not only for our health but also to our environment.
Lately, water bottles with filters are becoming more and more popular. Due to this popularity, many known purification companies have created their own versions of this popular product. Some are only effective for treated municipal water, as the bottle only filters out chlorine odors resulting from the disinfection process. There are also water bottles with filters that filter non-potable water; this is very popular for people who love to travel to places where clean water is inaccessible.
A water bottler filter has its own built-in filter system which makes it very easy to use. There are different manufacturers of water bottles with filters, and each design works in special ways. There are bottle designs that will filter water as you drink it, while there are also designs that filter the water as you pour it into the bottle. Despite this differences, all water bottles with filters have the same main purpose: to remove a limited number of water impurities or contaminants.
The idea of this bottle is exceptional. By simply putting any tap water into the water bottle with a filter you can have clean, potable drinking water. Each bottle has a filter that is made of activated charcoal that has a slight electro-positive charge that will eventually be exhausted. As the water passes through the filter, the filter will remove most of the chlorine, some heavy metals and odd taste from the water. So, when the water hits your mouth, it’s already been filtered.
This is really handy, convenient and efficient, especially when you are away from home and are out of potable water or in places where potable water is scarce.
The water bottle with a filter has its different uses. Depending on the design, it has many different features. There are designs that are made of stainless steel, which makes it possible to boil water in it; this is very cool for people who love to spend time having a cup of coffee in the wilderness.
Also, since the bottle is slender in shape, it can fit easily into a backpack, and you can drink in it even on a rough ride without worrying about spilling precious water.
Some filters might remove bacteria, parasites, and even viruses. The filter has the same quality as any other simple water filters in the market. Just keep in mind that the quality of the water filtration is not even close to reverse osmosis or distillation.
It can also be used as a normal water bottle without the filter since the filter can be removed (depending on the design). It’s very convenient to use.
The popularity of water bottles with filters soared high due to their many benefits. Many people are starting to love and recommend this product to everyone.
Here are several advantages of water bottles with filters.
Cost – Nowadays, we tend to buy bottled water, as we are no longer confident to drink water directly from the faucet. When we also go out, we buy small bottles of water when we’re thirsty. If we add up how much we spend buying bottled water, we would realize that it is a lot. Having a water bottle with a filter is a big alternative to save money. Since this type of water bottle has its own filter, we can securely use tap water. It will prevent us from buying bottled water every now and then. This is one big advantage of using water bottles with filters.
Environmental impact – Normal water bottles always end up in landfills that have a big impact on the environment since it takes time for plastic to degrade. Also, it takes up a big amount of energy to make bottles, plus the energy it costs to deliver and store bottles before selling them. Having a refillable water bottle with a built-in filter is environmentally friendly and more efficient to use. This is a good alternative to help save the environment.
Convenience – Isn’t it very convenient to have a ready-to-go bottle that you can use wherever you are? You use any tap water and be sure that you are drinking safe water. Convenience is one advantage of a water bottle filter. You can use a water bottle with a filter when you are away and traveling to places where potable water is scarce and far from convenience stores. It is easy to use and guaranteed that you’re drinking filtered water.
An alternative to disinfection tablets – There are the so-called disinfection tablets that are used to disinfect water. They are small and easy to use. You put the tablet in the water, but it would take a couple of hours before it will dissolve and you can use the water. Also, when you run out of tablets, it’ll be hard to find a store to buy them from. So, it’s practical to have a water bottle filter on hand.
It’s an alternative to using ultraviolet light wands to disinfect water. UV light wands disinfect water fast, but they need batteries. You need to always have backup batteries in case one goes dead. Once all the batteries are dead, you can’t use it. With water bottles with filters, there’s no need to use any batteries.
Alternative to using hard pump filters – Hard pump filters clean water fast, but they’re bulky and very uncomfortable to use. Most hikers use this, but if you are not hiking this hard pump filters are not very practical. So, a water bottle with a filter is a great alternative to use.
Another way of disinfecting water – killing harmful germs is by boiling. This is the most natural way of disinfecting water, making it safe to drink. However, boiling water takes up a lot of time. Either you are at home, outside hiking or in the wilderness; boiling water just takes time. This is where water bottle filters become handy. There’s no need to start a fire and boil. With a water bottle filter, you can just put water in it and drink.
Although there are many, water bottle filters have many advantages, and they also have shortcomings. Nothing is always perfect.
One disadvantage is that you need to drink through the straw. Compared to a normal bottle, it’s a bit slower to drink from a straw. It’s not really that much of a problem, though, because as soon as the filter is broken in, then water will start to pour faster.
Most water bottler filters are made of stainless steel. Though it looks cool, it’s a bit heavy. If the water bottle is made of titanium, it will be much lighter. People just love everything that’s handy and doesn’t weight much.
There are also models that are made from plastic that weigh less compared to the stainless steel ones.
When you’re on longer hikes, you will need more water. A bigger container holds more water. Most water bottles with filters are small and hold about 20 ounces of water. This amount will not be enough for long hikes.
These are the very few disadvantages of water bottles with filters. The Major disadvantage is that the water purity might equal to bottled water sold in the store, still not as pure as reverse osmosis water.
If you are always on the go and need your own water filtering system, the water bottle with a filter is the best thing to have. This will clean any tap water and is very convenient, especially if you are in a place where potable water is inaccessible. Also, it does not cost much and is reusable, so it limits any environmental effect.
It has many advantages that overshadow its very few disadvantages. This is a great thing to have on a regular basis. This is best for people who are always traveling or going hiking or just anyone who’s always on the go and loves to bring a bottle of water just in case they feel thirsty.
It does not cost much. Instead, it saves you money from always buying bottled water. It’s very convenient, handy to use, environment-friendly and the best alternative to using disinfectant tables, ultraviolet light wands, hard pump filters and boiling methods.
A water bottle with a filter is one of the best on-the-go ways to filter water when reverse osmosis system is not available.
]]>A water ionizer is an appliance that uses the process of electrolysis. This means the structure of the water is changed on the molecular level which will create antioxidant-rich ionized alkaline, as well as the oxidizing ionized acidic stream of water consecutively. Water ionization or also known as water electrolysis is the method of producing a concentration of alkaline and acidic minerals – separating the oxygen and hydrogen found in water. The produced alkaline water offers an antioxidant and electron rich medium for consumption while the acidic water provides oxidizing water that acts as an antibacterial and also cleanser for external use.
Water ionizer’s history is a story of how science encountered one of the mysteries of nature in a secluded, harsh part of the world where the natives showed exceptional Longevity and Good Health. They found that the cause of this exceptional health was due to the glacier water that was flowing into the valley that the locals drank. Then other scientists managed, by accident, discovered how electricity could be used to re-organize, re-structure as well as re-energize water same as what nature does. This discovery was the birth of The Water Ionizer, which is now considered the most substantial health care advance ever since the discovery of Penicillin by Sir Alexander Fleming. At least that’s what Water Ionizer Companies claim without any scientific proof.
A water ionizer makes alkaline water by electrically splitting poorly filtered tap water into alkaline water and acid water. In the early 1950’s, the first ionizer was developed in Japan, and the experiments were first conducted on plants and animals. It was in 1954 that the development pushed through and was achieved by a number of Japanese in Agricultural Universities. They studied the effects of ionized water, particularly that of the acid water.
Today, acid waters are now being used by farmers who supply cut flowers to keep their flowers fresh and stay alive prior to its delivery to flower shops. On the other hand, experiments with the human body took for a longer time due to the fact that the experiments did not show consistent results. There were many experiments conducted by the Japan medical doctors. It was determined by the important data collected that alkaline water which is made by water ionizer was not toxic and can relieve a lot of adult diseases through sugar pill effect.
The water ionizer has a fairly straightforward process; these are the steps on how it works:
Step 1: Water passes through the internal water filter:
Water coming from your tap is directly fed into the ‘In” tube on the back of the water ionizer. The water runs through the in-built water filter once it is in there. It will remove as many of the contaminants as possible. The filter lasts for about a year and costs approximately £40/$50. It’s a very expensive filter taking into consideration that the quality of the filtered water is not the best. The purity of the water is not the goal of the water ionizer. Water ionizers require some impurities to remain in the water to work properly.
Step 2: The water ionizer undergoes a process called electrolysis wherein the water runs over positive and negative electrodes:
The water then passes over the ‘plates” in the ionizer. The plates are part of the ionizer which is really very clever. Once the water enters this section which has a very specific low voltage electric current that passed through it, it will cause the soluble minerals, heavy metals and other impurities in it to be attracted to either a positive ‘pole’ or a negative ‘pole’ depending on their own electrical energy signature. When this occurs, it will separate the water into alkaline and acid stream. The water from the alkaline water ionizer are the ones you are advised to drink while the acid water is the one used externally, like for the skin, plants as well as for disinfecting.
Step 3: Alkaline and acidic water are created through the ionization of electrodes which splits water into negative ions and positive ions.
In this process, the water is separated into H+ (acidic water) and OH- (alkaline water). This electrolysis is also responsible for giving you the huge antioxidant content in alkaline water and for micro-clustering the water.
To make it short and simple
1. The water is filtered for cosmetic purposes like taste and odor.
2. The water is split into two by the ionizer
3. The resulting waters will either be alkaline ionized water or acidic, oxidized water.
Benefits Listed below are no more than a Sales Pitch for an overpriced Countertop Water Ionizer.
There are 4 main features and benefits of using an alkaline water ionizer and here they are in order of importance:
1. Antioxidant Rich Water: yes, even more, important than pH is the fact that ionized water is hugely rich in antioxidants! This is not to say the pH is not that important (which it is – pH is a 10 out of 10 in importance) but the antioxidant benefit is simply amazing. This claim came true when competing technologies which give you up to 90% pure water such as Reverse Osmosis began to offer alkaline post filter for great tasting water. As mentioned above, when tap water passes through water ionizer it gets a tiny electrical charge and becomes electrolyzed. The outcome of this is that the alkaline water that the ionizer produces is an antioxidant and the acid water is an oxidant. Antioxidants in liquids are commonly measured in oxidation-reduction potential or ORP. The water coming out from an ionizer may come out at anywhere between -50 and -350 and above. It is important to note here that the higher negative the better (up to around -350 where the benefit doesn’t really increase). High pH and ORP in water that we – humans consume play a very insignificant role because our digestive system is very acidic by nature and all the minerals and antioxidants come from high-quality food.
To give some perspective, here are some average ORP scores:
– tap water +300
– bottled water +350
– reverse osmosis water +200
– distilled water +200
– soda +400
And on the valuable side:
– alkaline ionized water -350
– juice (cranberry) -120
– tea (green) -180
– juice (orange) -50
You can see from these average readings that ionized water is actually more of an antioxidant than green tea and all of these other drinks that are championed for their antioxidant content! Isn’t this amazing? To think you could be getting a huge surge of antioxidants with every single glass of water you drink – imaging how amazing you’ll be feeling and in no time at all!
2. Perfect pH is anywhere between 7 and 8: of course, you probably know how important alkalinity in the diet is and that’s why you’re here, and when it comes to water, you want your water to be alkaline with a pH of 7-8. Using water ionizer or even high-quality reverse osmosis system, you can have the perfect pH 7-8.
3. pH from pH 3 to pH 12: with an alkaline water ionizer you get pH 9.5 water – of course – However, because water ionizer’s works by separating the H+ and OH- ions in the water you can select EXACTLY the pH you want to receive – from as low as pH 3 to as high as pH 12. This is something that no other alkaline water machine or source of alkaline water can give you – and it is THE ONLY plus for the ionizer.
There are SO many uses for the low and high pH water but here are just a few and most likely you will never use a single one:
1. A completely antibacterial (chemical free) cleaner for your household (ph 3-4)
2. A makeup remover (pH 4-5)
3. Hand sanitizer (pH 3-4)
4. An antiseptic and antibacterial mouthwash (pH 3-4)
5. Can be applied to acne, psoriasis, eczema (pH 3-4)
6. A cleanser and exfoliator
7. Eliminate pet smells (pH 4-5)
8. Adds extra antioxidants to fruits and vegetables (pH 11+)
4. Somewhat Filtered Water: this is such an important feature of the ionizer and something that is really a big part of the consideration when you choose which water system to buy. Adding different kinds of stuff to the water like salts, lemon, minerals, etc., and other cheap methods to drop the pH level, you are unfavorably missing out on the filtration which is very important. Let’s face it, we are all aware that tap water is just not clean enough and may sometimes cause harm to our bodies. Water Ionizers do a POOR job filtering water.
In recent years, a number of companies have begun marketing “water ionizers” online. These firms claim their products can produce pure alkaline water that can help prevent disease. Such claims, however, are unsubstantiated by scientific evidence and make little sense in light of the known laws of chemistry and physics. Several main disadvantages relate to purchasing a water ionizer.
Molecules of water can detach and will create a hydroxide ion (-OH) and a hydronium ion (H30+). In a reverse reaction, Hydronium ions, as well as hydroxide ions, can respond to form water molecules. The equilibrium strongly favors the reactants, which is why the reverse reaction is significantly faster. In comparison, an acidic solution has more hydronium ions than hydroxide ions while an alkaline solution contains a lot of hydroxide and less than hydronium ions. The pH of the pure water will not be altered by the process of electrolysis, additionally; pure water cannot be alkaline or acidic. As a result, it is rather unlikely that water ionization machines can do what their manufacturers claim.
Even though it is claimed that water ionizers could produce pure alkaline water, it is still very questionable if it really has any effect on human health. The pH of blood is tightly regulated at about 7.4, and alkaline water would not have any effect on blood pH, nor would it be desirable to alter blood pH.
Adding salt is one way to achieve electrolysis as well as making the water more alkaline. The two electrodes will react to each other once current is applied and will then produce hydrogen gas, hypochlorous acid, and sodium hydroxide. This mixture may react and can turn out into a sodium hypochlorite- aka Chlorine; the same compound that can be found in most laundry bleach. This can be dangerous if the water ionizer operates in this function since drinking dilute sodium hypochlorite (or bleach) is bad for the health.
A lot of water ionizers are very expensive.. They are all the more expensive in light of the fact that the devices are unlikely to function as claimed because the phrase “pure alkaline water” does not make sense based on current understanding of chemistry and physics.
A water ionizer is an appliance that uses the process of electrolysis. This means the structure of the water is changed on the molecular level which will create antioxidant-rich ionized alkaline, as well as an oxidizing ionized acidic stream of water consecutively. It has been developed in Japan following decades of research in water ionizer technology. Since early 1990’s, water ionizers have been imported from Japan and Korea.
The first thing a water ionizer does to your input tap water is, filter it using a combination of charcoal and particulate control through different media types (depending on the filter). Depending on which filter you are using, and your exact water quality needs, the ionizer filters are not capable of removing most pollutants from the water such as pharmaceuticals and other modern world pollutants.
Unlike distillers or reverse osmosis units, water ionizers don’t filter out soluble minerals. This means that you are not getting purest water possible. After all, EPA recommends 0-50 TDS as Perfect Drinking water. Which is impossible to achieve with a water ionizer. TDS is short for Total Dissolved Solids. For more information on TDS and Reverse Osmosis click here.
Remember, it’s not about how good your water filter is or how long it will last. It’s about how long YOU want to last and how good YOUR life will become when you have the best source of water for you.
]]>It is a piece of equipment that is used to produce high-quality water through the process of Distillation.
Distillation is the process of removing contaminants such as heavy metals and salts that boiling water leaves behind. In this process, the water is heated up to its boiling point and the steam is collected. The steam will then be converted back into its liquid form leaving all the contaminants behind and making the water pure.
There are a lot of water distillers available in the market with different sizes to choose from that will fit your countertop. All of them will remove approximately of the contaminants found in your water. Having water distillers will save you a lot compared to bottled water purchases. Individual bottled waters usually costs a dollar or more when purchased unlike having a water distiller. A gallon of water when distilled at home averages 25 cents, and the initial purchase of a distiller will cost you between 400 to 650 dollars, but it will surely pay for itself quickly. You no longer have to buy bottled waters and spend hundreds of dollars every year on the wasteful product when there are healthier alternatives.
Water that has been distilled offers extraordinary benefits to the human body. The quality and quantity of the water you drink is linked to the quality of your tissues, how they perform, as well as their resistance to injuries and diseases. Water acts as a magnet. It picks up rejected, unusable, discarded inorganic minerals and eliminates them from the body. The body now no longer has to process any inorganic wastes that are sometimes found in tap water and can perform efficiently without having to filter out and remove any unwanted and useless waste. This results in better absorption of key vitamins and minerals within the body.
Distillation is as old as the earth. The distillation phenomenon happens in nature called “Hydrologic Cycle”. This natural distillation method is where the water found on the surface of the earth is heated by the sun. Once heated water reaches evaporation point, it becomes steam – water’s third physical form without any contaminants, to form clouds. When atmospheric temperatures drop, clouds – vaporized water cools and water returns back into its natural state which is liquid droplets aka rain. The water droplets drop to the earth’s surface, as snow or rain (precipitation) and the cycle repeats again. This cycle is also known as Nature’s Air Purification system because the water that falls in the form of rain or snow collect from the air dirt and air pollutant particles bringing them to the ground – cleaning the air.
In ancient Greece, a form of distillation was used by sailors. They used to hang sponges over pots of boiling sea (salt) water. They collect water by squeezing out the sponges. The sailors found out that the water squeezed out from the sponges was not salty and was drinkable. That’s why they did it.
Today, water distillers are simply man-made forms that replicate nature’s “Hydrologic Cycle” method of producing pure water. Distillation is considered to be an effective broad spectrum water treatment method and can remove several kinds of contaminants including biological contaminants such as viruses and bacteria.
In producing Distilled Water, there are several steps to complete the process:
Approximately 70% of the earth is covered with water, but most of it is not potable and is not fit for everyday use. Distilled water is water that has been highly purified. It is free from all kinds of harmful substances like bacteria and debris. And because of this quality, it has many uses and benefits. These include:
Perhaps you have been drinking distilled water for years and now you are getting worried after hearing all those misleading messages about distilled water. Don’t worry, here are some myths being perpetrated on the web and the truths behind them:
MYTH: Distilled Water becomes acidic when in contact with air because it is an active absorber, thus absorbing carbon dioxide making it acidic.
FACT: This statement IS true! There is a direct ratio between the CO2 in the air and water, also dependent on the ion concentration of the water. You can use this ratio to calculate the pH. The amount of CO2 absorbed is very very minimal and has almost no effect on the body’s pH. You should be more concerned with your intake of calcium and magnesium, along with other alkaline foods, as this help to maintain the body’s chemical balance. The amount of CO2 in a glass of distilled water adding to its acidity is less than what your body breathes out in one breath, making this argument insignificant.
MYTH: Cooking foods in distilled water pulls the minerals out of them and lowers their nutrient value.
FACT: Cooking any foods lowers the nutrient value, especially when cooking in water and draining the water. Steaming is preferred, as is cooking food where the water will remain with the food (and for this you should definitely use distilled). Distilled water is not particularly more “leaching” than any other type of water.
MYTH: The most toxic commercial beverages that people consume (i.e. cola beverages and other soft drinks) are made from distilled water.
FACT: One of the largest companies that produces soft drinks (Coca-Cola) said that Coke is not made from distilled water. The water used in soft drinks is the last concern we should have, and NOT the reason why soft drinks are bad for you. Check out the other ingredients.
MYTH: Distilled water causes mineral deficiencies because it seeps out the mineral from our bones and cells and it lacks mineral found in other types of water.
FACT: It is true that distilled water might strain inorganic minerals, however since it is neutralized once ingested, this concept does not apply to human health. Water has so little minerals in it, one should not depend on it for dietary benefits. We get minerals from food, not water. – Water the Ultimate Cure by Steve Meyerowitz, p. 80. Additionally, you can throw in a few of grains of rice per gallon of distilled water to create your own “mineral water.”
MYTH: Distilled Water can cause heart beat irregularities and high blood pressure if you drink it during fasting since the water has been depleted of electrolytes (like chloride, sodium, potassium) and other trace minerals.
FACT: First of all, magnesium is NOT a trace mineral! According to Water the Ultimate Cure by Steve Meyerowitz If you are fasting for a long period of time and drinking nothing but distilled water, then that would only begin the process of starvation. This circumstance will prove the mineral-leaching theory, but it has no significance whatsoever with the normal human nutrition.
Many consumers have been battling about whether or not having a water distiller is a good idea. So here’s a brief summary of the advantages and disadvantages of having such machine at home.
Below is a table of the advantages and disadvantages of having a water distiller.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Distilled water is 99% Free of Impurities. No Installation Just Plug it in. Heightens Energy. Sharpen Mental Performance. Improve Skin Appearance. Promotes Weight Loss. Reduces Stress Anxiety and Depression. Relieves Dizzy spells and Headaches. Lessens Allergy, Asthma, and Arthritis Symptoms. Aids in Proper Digestion. Improves Oxygen Delivery. Removes Waste Products and Toxins. Transports and Boost the Absorptions of Nutrients. Protects Joints. Normalizes Temperature of the Body. Produces Cellular Energy. Enhances Immune Function. | Cost of the distiller is about the same as Reverse Osmosis System and all its Filters. Charcoal Filter to Replace every 2 months less than $50.00 and can be very hard to change. Your Time to start the machine to make Distilled Water over 10 minutes for a very small amount of distilled water. Higher Volume Automatic Machines are much more expensive Comparing in Price to Reverse Osmosis systems. Biggest Disadvantage is Power consumption which equals to a high electrical bill and the Heat that each distiller puts out. If you taking this into consideration, then reverse Osmosis is a much better choice. |
Before deciding on whether or not you should purchase one, make sure to read reviews about the product and educate yourself so that you’ll be sure it’s worth your time and money.
Water Distillers are electrical appliances that distill water or rather complete the process of distillation. These are available in compact countertops units designed which are common for residential or family use, or in large floor models for industrial or commercial use.
Water that was distilled is considered as the purest, safest type of drinking (potable) water. The process of distillation involves heating tap water until it evaporates and turns into steam then the process of condensation follows which removes contaminants, bacteria, pollutants, bacteria and other contaminants.
Though some consider distilled water to be the best and prefer to drink it, others have another concern. They think the process of distillation removes too much of the good minerals from the water that gives water its refreshing taste. But then, they say that if water is freshly distilled, it tastes much better compared to distilled water that has been stored for a period of time.
Water distillers are a safe and affordable method when it comes to treating water. Nowadays, manufacturers offer different designs which can sometimes alter the resulting taste of the water from certain distillers. That is why, before purchasing, consumers must first read reviews to learn how a specific water distiller of their choice works, and to ensure that it has a suitable capacity for their family.
In order to maintain optimum health, experts have agreed that a person needs to drink 8-10 glasses of water per day. Water helps in purifying the blood, clean the elimination organs which include the kidneys, liver, and colon as well as flushing out waste from the body. Drinking water is a fantastic way of maintaining healthy skin and keeping a youthful appearance.
]]>If you have a countertop distiller or thinking about buying one consider reverse osmosis. A good quality reverse osmosis system will give you the same purity water as distilled water WITHOUT high electric bill and unwanted heat in your kitchen. Some reverse osmosis systems will even add minerals back and raise pH into alkaline level water for a great taste. Which is not possible with a water distiller.
Osmosis through a semi-permeable membrane was first documented by a French scientist Jean-Antoine Nollet in 1749. The first semi-permeable membrane is rumored to be a pig intestine. In early 60’s the first artificial membranes were conceived in UCLA and were made from cellulose acetate. Nowadays all the membranes are made from a polyamide thin-film composite aka TFC which has proven itself to be more reliable.
You might be surprised to learn why there was so much interest in Reverse Osmosis for Water Purification in the 1960s. When the space age began there was one problem that needed to be solved along with many others. That problem was — water being very heavy and space consuming, but necessary for human survival. An average person in the US goes through 75-100 Gallons per day, every day. That includes water for drinking — the smallest amount, showers, laundry, toilet flushing, dishwashing etc. Just to remind you, proper hydration is crucial for your health and well-being. In space, you may not consume 75-100 gallons per day, but for long sustainable missions more water is needed then we can bring from earth. A four-person crew on the space station would require 40,000 pounds or 4792 gallons to be exact. In space, our astronauts are only using 3.32 gallons per day. It’s amazing how efficient we can be in extreme situations. So brilliant minds of that time looked back at history for answers. Scientist knew that the water we drink today was the same exact water dinosaurs drank. The solution was obvious recycling and reuse of the water.
Reverse Osmosis is the only process also known as hyper-filtration that can turn wine and other liquids back into the water. This level of water purification is needed for closed loop water systems such as space station. We are not going to dive into specifics of such system in this post. You can learn more about a space station water system here.
Another very popular application of Reverse Osmosis, also known in short as RO, is desalination. Huge Desalination stations are utilized on cruise-ships, in water-deprived nations, military stations and emergency relief situations. The natural process for desalination is evaporation/distillation of water in the oceans, which in turn comes down as rain. The process of distillation requires huge amounts of energy, that’s why it’s NOT the best choice for desalination or water purification. RO is much more energy-efficient when compared to distillation, but still requires a lot of energy when it comes to desalination. The reason is that the more contaminants in the water the more pressure is required for pure water to be squeezed through the membrane. For example, ocean water is anywhere between 30,000 to 40,000 Parts Per Million, or PPM in short, of Total Dissolved Solids, or TDS in short. TDS is a measurement of all dissolved molecules, ions and microorganisms in the water or any other liquid. 40, 000 PPM in lamest terms means that in a million water molecules there are 30,000 to 40,000 of other matter. Following is a table of water classification Per Water Quality Association:
In household water treatment water rarely goes beyond the “Fresh” scale and almost never exceeds Brackish Limits. US EPA regulates TDS as a secondary contaminant and sets the limit at 500 PPM of TDS. In fact, EPA recommends perfect drinking water at 0-50 PPM TDS and an acceptable limit of 50-500. For my personal taste once water is over 400PPM it starts to taste somewhat salty. There are a few nations in the world that are implementing RO for desalination on a huge scale. For example the Tampa Bay Water Treatment Facility which produces 25 million gallons of delicious desalinated water a DAY! Even at this number, which seems like a very big number, it only satisfies 10% of the region’s need. RO water is considered to be very pure and high quality, that’s why all municipalities mix it with water from other sources to get the numbers they need in terms of gallons and of course to keep the cost down. Florida is one of the few states that is incorporating more and more RO plants to satisfy the population growth. Mostly because the groundwater in Florida is becoming increasingly salty. As demand for water goes up and a growing amount of water is pumped from wells, the supply of fresh water shrinks, thus allowing sea water to seep through porous Florida grounds into aquifers close to the shores and saltwater canals.
RO water filters for household use started to gain ground in the late 80′s just about the time bottled water started to gain popularity. Bottled water is very convenient when you are on the go. Grab a bottle on the way to the gym or on the way out. On the other hand bottled water is very inconvenient for cooking or use in the home. If you are cooking a soup, for example, making a pot of tea or coffee, you have to empty out more than 2-3 water bottles. This is where a good reverse osmosis system comes in very handy. Having a virtually unlimited supply of water ready to use is a huge step up from the bottled water. Speaking from personal experience, I can say that it’s a big pain having to go to the store just to pick up some bottles of water.
There is also a lot of unnecessary waste associated with bottled water, even if you are subscribed to a bottled water delivery service. Just recently I saw a booth in Costco promoting a bottled water delivery service. Being very interested in the subject and very thirsty I could not resist but to grab a sample glass of water. I have to admit that water tasted very good, ( just like most of the stuff being promoted in Costco) probably because I was very thirsty. After I finished chugging down the small sample of water, I started a conversation with the salesperson. He told me that his company operates two water purification plants in Florida, one in Orlando and second in West Palm Beach. 5 Gallon water bottles had a picture of a beautiful spring running through the green valley. But, just as I suspected the source of the water was municipal supply – exactly the same water you and I have coming out of the faucet purified with Reverse Osmosis. The Costco I was in is two hundred miles away from the West Palm Beach Plant. Now just think about it, bottled water travels 200 miles to a local distribution center. From there another 10-20 miles to your home. A lot of gas, time and effort multiplied by profit margins, equals dollars being wasted.
You can have exactly the same quality water, even a little bit more fresh right at your fingertips with quality reverse osmosis system. RO water purification systems consist of multiple filtration stages:
Water passes through the first stage of sediment filtration, where all the particles larger than 5 micron or the size of red blood cells get filtered out.
Second and sometimes consequent third stages are Carbon filtration. The main purpose of carbon filters is to remove chlorine from water. Chlorine, even below EPA drinking water standard which is maximum of 5 PPM – perfect swimming pool water, is so strong that it burns through the membrane and completely destroys it. Carbon filtration works through adsorption – adhesion of atoms to solid surfaces. This means that there is a limit of how much chlorine can be taken out. That’s why all RO water system manufacturers recommend changing filters every six to eight months. If you do not replace your filters in time you are taking a chance of ruining the reverse osmosis membrane, which leads to poor water quality. The same carbon filtration is used in Refrigerator filters. If you think your refrigerator filter is giving you the purest drinking water possible, you are deeply mistaken.
Next, water is forced through the RO membrane under pressure. Just like we described before, water is split into pure (permeate) and waste (concentrate.) Permeate or Pure water is collected and stored in 3, 4 or 5 Gallon tanks. But do not be confused, because the tank also contains air to maintain pressure, the actual amount of pure water in the storage tank is anywhere from 1.5 – 2 Gallons. This means that at any given time you will have one and a half to two gallons of water available for immediate use. Depending on the production rate of the membrane, (50 Gallons Per Day is the most popular size,) it would take 1-2 hours to refill the storage tank when you take into consideration the backpressure build up in the holding tank.
The speed of water production is directly related to the size of the membrane measured in GPD – gallons per day and water pressure. Most reverse osmosis systems are designed to operate at 40 PSI – Pounds Per Square Inch.
Final stage is polishing post filter. Final polishing post filter is also based on carbon filtration. It removes any unwanted tastes and odors from the water. Where are the tastes and odors are coming from you might ask? The answer is simple – storage tank or at least it’s so believed. The first RO systems were designed 20-30 years ago, and design has not changed much. There is no evidence that there is any taste or odor in the water coming from the storage tank. How do I know? I serviced many reverse osmosis units and tasted the water. So I know this from firsthand experience. The role of the post filter is starting to change from unwanted odor and taste prevention to taste enhancing. But, the storage tank has all the properties of the petri dish – it’s dark, warm and filled with pure water starving for life. Also, it’s impossible to properly disinfect the holding tank after years of service.
Within the past few years, many different post filters have appeared on the market. Many of them are pure nonsense – for example Ceramic balls that give water positive “CHI” energy as it passes through it. Energized “CHI” water is claimed to cure a wide range of symptoms. I do not believe in claims not backed by science. It’s not a big surprise that these types of post filters originate in Asia. On other hand post filters with minerals such as calcium and magnesium are a big hit. Because these minerals enhance the taste of the water, by adding a trace of the minerals and raising the pH to an alkaline level over 7. This type of post filter still contains one-third carbon in its media as a precaution for elusive taste and odor problems.
We’ve reviewed the history of Reverse Osmosis, Uses and finally the design of Point Of Use Reverse Osmosis System. Please drop a comment below and let me know if you enjoyed this article or if you have any questions.
For additional content and resources please visit alkaline water page on flixwater.com.
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