Should I buy a water filter? Does alkalizing help?

Tap water, drinking water, spring water, distilled water, alkaline water, ionized water, ionized alkaline water, water, water, water!!! There's a lot of people distributing water and wanting to profit from it. It's the latest craze but it's not a fad we can ignore like bell bottoms. We all need water to survive.

All water is not created equal. Some water is supposedly healthier than others. Like a lot of people, I want the water that's best for me and at a good price. I have reasoned that paying more for it is okay if it actually makes me healthier. But, I don't want to get taken if it's all a hoax.

I researched the different types of water and methods to obtain the water supply. First, I went to government and academic websites to see what they had to say about the issue. One article from Columbia University says that filtered alkaline water is good for you but spending a small fortune on a filter is unnecessary when you can get the same level of ph intake increasing your fruits and vegetables and lowering consumption of meats, sweets, and dairy. While Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) located at Auburn University says there are no benefits from drinking alkaline water and that there is no scientific evidence that proves its benefits. The odd thing about this statement is that it is the only source I found that did not have resources and citations backing their argument. There were no tests or scientists making that statement backing them up. Given the state of Alabama is in the top ten for cleanest water so maybe their residents don't need bottled water but it's not as clean everywhere. The statement by ACES is consistent with others in the sense that many dispute the benefits of alkaline water but nobody questions to harmful results of acidic water.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has determined that lakes with a ph of less than 5 are "Acidified." Naturally occurring water has a ph from 6.5 to 9. Water that is acidified is not conducive to aquatic life forms. If acidic water kills a fish then why should you or I drink it?

Humans don't have the anatomy of aquatic critters but what should we want in the water we drink, cook, bathe, and sanitize our homes with? We might want to clean with acidic water. But, it isn't what's best for humans to consume. I know I just reported that alkaline waters benefits are iffy but the consequences of acidic water is solid. For example, acidic water can draw out metals in plumbing systems and this causes health problems. Many pipes come with a warning that using them has been known to cause cancer. But it is actually the chemical reaction between acidic water and the pipe that causes cancer. Ever notice how some states require those pipes to have those warning statements and other states don't? It's not because it can't cause cancer, it is because the acidity level of the water in one state is not the same as others. Another point to consider is the effects of drinks you already know on the body. Coffee has an acidic ph of 5, tomato juice 4, and orange juice 3. All of these acidic beverages are known to cause digestive problems like heartburn, diarrhea, and overactive bladder.

Government policies and medical studies have conclusive and definitive statements about acidic water's affect on animals and acidic beverages on humans yet the benefits of alkaline water is questionable??? The only thing water experts truly debate is who will get the most money from the water industry.

Before deciding what kind of water to buy or filter to use, you should assess the water you already have. Not only should you test for the ph level, you should check for contaminants. Obviously if the water taste funny, isn't clear, or has stuff floating around in it, then it's not clean. But it's possible you can filter the water you already have before you buy water and even more likely that you can purchase the wrong filter. I am sure you have had one person in your life recommend a filter and then another say the same filter is worthless. Maybe it is a waste of time but it could be it wasn't the right one for that person's needs. Everyone does not have the same kind of water so the filter needed is different depending on your situation. The table below shows filter recommendations from the Water Quality and Waste Management Department of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service for different water problems.

Typical Water Quality Problems and Recommended Treatment Systems (NCCES)

Problem and Recommended Treatment

Bacteria and Microorganisms- Disinfection

Taste and Odor- Carbon filter

Hydrogen sulfide gas (rotten egg odor) - Oxidizing filter followed by carbon filter; chlorination followed by sediment filter

Sediment (suspended particles) - Fiber filter

Hardness (calcium and magnesium) - Softener

Dissolved Iron - Softener for up to 5 mg per liter, iron filter;chlorination followed by sand and carbon filter

Ph (acid and alkaline conditions) - Neutralizing filter or chemical feed pump

Organic chemicals (pesticides, fuel products) - Carbon filter

Metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium), and other minerals (nitrate, sulfate, sodium) - Reverse osmosis unit, distillation

These are just broad examples. Your local extension office can help you test your water and decide which filter to obtain. Digging a new well might be an alternative if you own your own property but if you rent then your only alternatives are bottled water and filtration. Obviously when buying water you decide on cost, taste and the quality of water you feel is right for you. I know that the acidity in coffee, tea, and juice bothers me so I am making the decision to use alkaline water.

If buying a filter is also right for you then there are a few factors I have yet to mention that you might want to consider. In addition to the type of filter that works, you should look at how easy it is to use the filtration system, whether the equipment is allowed where you live, and how much it cost. It would be cheaper to hook up a filter to the whole house or apartment then buy hundreds of water bottles but if you don't have access or the ability to do that then you will need to choose a different type of filter.

Do you want a filter on all your individual water outlets for laundry, dishes, bathing, and cooking? Most people choose to just filter drinking water. Some sink filters have a dial where you can turn the water filter off when doing dishes and turn it on when getting a glass of water to drink. I always forget and filter the dish water and waste my money. So, I need either a system that filters the whole house or a container filter. A container filter is generally a pitcher, cup, or water bottle. The pitcher filters have been out for awhile now and you can buy them in most stores. But the drinking bottle systems can make water alkaline and you can take it with you and filter the water everywhere you go. I love this! Clean water at work, school, and home for the cost of one bottle. I might get a few more to have different colors and to make it easier for me to clean.

What filter is right for you? Good luck on your quest for clean water.

Works Cited

Addy, Kelly, Linda Green, and Elizabeth Herron. "ph and Alkalinity." July 2004. University of Rhode Island. 12 November 2011 <http://www.uri.edu/ce/wq/ww/Publications/pH&alkalinity.pdf>.

Alabama State Water Program. Albama Water Quality Informaiton System. 1998. 12 November 2011 <http://www.aces.edu/waterquality/faq/faq_results.php3?rowid=536>.

Columbia University. Go Ask Alice- Alkaline water — is it better for your body? . 9 June 2006. 12 November 2011 <http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/4067.html>.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Home Drinking Water Systems. March 1996. 12 November 2011 http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/wqwm/he419.html.

I would like to amend my original article. I have just discovered new information about water systems and I wanted this article to be as complete as possible. I have discovered that the American Cancer Institute endorses the Enagic SD501 Kangen water systen. It is their number one recommended product. In fact, when it was first released they charged hospitals over $100,000 for this system. Additionally, in the book, Killing Cancer Not People by Robert G. Wright and Bill Henderson, this system is mentioned in Chapter 6. Now, I am not saying that this machine cures cancer but I am saying that people who make a living curing people from cancer are recommending this product. So, if you are concerned that you may be more prone to cancer, you may want to look into the water system or more into the works of Robert G Wright and Bill Henderson before purchasing a water filter.