For a few decades, the idea of drinking alkaline water has been circulating in many people’s minds. This facade’s exact source or outbreak is still unknown, but it is being used as a marketing strategy for ad campaigns to sell people alkaline water because why not? It is better than drinking plain boring water. But how to make reverse osmosis water alkaline is the question that arises.
People like you and me have been drinking water since the day we were born! But is that water safe?
This article has all the information you need from the world of RO water filters, what is reverse osmosis water, how to make reverse osmosis water alkaline, and its benefits?
What is reverse osmosis water?
Reverse osmosis water filtration is a technique to filter water. It is one of the most advanced techniques of filtration in today’s time. R0 filters work by a semi-permeable membrane, also known as a synthetic lining, to filter out the unwanted particles from water. Reverse osmosis removes dust, debris, different types of contaminants, tiny microorganisms depending on the quality of your tap water from water. The Reverse Osmosis systems make reverse osmosis water alkaline by adding an alkaline drinking water filter.
Why is reverse osmosis water acidic?
The RO water filters remove 99% of the contaminants from water, including the minerals in the water. The Ph levels of this system are around seven, but when exposed to air, it becomes acidic with a ph range of 5-5.5.
Acidic water is not suitable for drinking even though it is 99% pure water. There are several ways to make reverse osmosis water alkaline by using the alkaline water filter. Reverse osmosis drinking water is still a better alternative than drinking bottled water. It is a one-time investment and much cheaper than bottled water.
Why Air Makes RO Water Acidic?
When water undergoes reverse osmosis, it is stripped of all the nutrients; hence it is very hungry. The air has an increased carbon content, so when RO water is left in the air, it grabs the CO2 and forms carbonic acid (HCO3).
Carbonic acid instantly decreases the level of ph. The more pure your water is, the more acidic it will get when left exposed to the air. Reverse osmosis water filters and distillation are water purifying techniques that produce pure water, but when exposed to air, it can turn acidic.
What are the effects of acidic RO water?
After analyzing different research and water filter techniques, it is proven that drinking RO water has health effects on our bodies. The alarming fact is that after months of consuming reverse osmosis drinking water, many populations developed serious deficiencies, including mineral deficiencies of calcium and magnesium. Drinking reverse osmosis water is mineral deprived, which means that when this water enters your body, it creates a negative effect on hemostatic mechanisms in the body.
Many of the adverse effects include:
- The tiredness of the body
- Weakness and muscle cramps
- Headaches
- Impaired heart rate
- Mineral deficiencies
- Pregnancy complications and potential damage to the newborn infant
- Jaundice, anemia, and ulcers are also reported in many cases.
What is alkaline water?
Alkaline and acidic water refers to the Ph of water. If the ph is below 7, then the water is acidic, and if the ph levels are above 7, then the water is referred to as alkaline water. It is said that drinking alkaline water neutralizes the acid in your body. Normal drinking water must have a ph of 7, but in some cases, it can range up to 8 or 9. however, the ph is not solely responsible for the alkalinity of water.
Alkaline water must also contain alkaline minerals and negative oxidation-reduction potential (ORP). The ORP is the pro-oxidant capability of water. The more negative ORP, the water is said to have more antioxidants, which are good for health.
We must first make reverse osmosis water alkaline by several filters and techniques to utilize alkaline RO water. Alkaline reverse osmosis water has proven to be ideal drinking water for humans in the long run.
Why do you need to make Reverse Osmosis Water Alkaline?
To make reverse osmosis water alkaline, we must balance its pH to 7 or 8 to ensure it is not acidic.
When RO water is exposed to air, it binds with the carbon and makes carbonic acid which eventually makes the water acidic and harmful t drink. Alkaline water has antioxidants and alkaline minerals, which increase the quality of water. It is important to make reverse osmosis water alkaline because it adds the minerals back to the water, making it healthy for drinking.
How To Make Reverse Osmosis Water Alkaline?
To make RO water alkaline, we must add minerals back to the water, such as calcium, magnesium, and mineral salts, using an alkaline water filter. Don’t worry; these minerals are in minute amounts and do not affect your drinking water taste but enhance it. The water also needs some antioxidants to make it alkaline.
But the question arises on how to make reverse osmosis water alkaline, the simple answer is to use remineralizing filters or cartridges, and the second is to use a water ionizer. The ionizer changes the bicarbonate salts into hydroxides, and that makes the water alkaline.
e.g., the frizzlife undersink water filters such MK99 and SK99 are the reverse osmosis water filtration systems that add minerals to the water
What are the benefits of alkaline water?
Drinking reverse osmosis water without any added minerals can be dangerous to health. So here are some benefits of drinking alkaline reverse osmosis water, which can also act as antioxidant water.
- anti-aging properties because of the ORPs
- weight loss
- colon cleanse means a fit gastrointestinal system
- immune system boost
- cancer resistant
- hydration of the body
- skin healthy
- alkaline reverse osmosis water also has detoxifying properties.
Testing Of Reverse Osmosis Water
When you make reverse osmosis water alkaline, you must also have ways to test it. A very high level of acidic or alkaline RO water is also bad for health. There are several ways you can test your water mentioned below.
Litmus paper
Litmus paper is the most common indicator used to check the acidic or alkaline nature of any substance. In this case, we need to test the alkalinity of RO water. Litmus paper and universal indicators used in the laboratory.
It would be best if you had a proper reference when testing your water. The ph scale acts as a reference scale for your water. The ph ranges below 7 means your water is acidic, and the ph range above 7 means your water is alkaline.
There are two colors of the litmus paper: RED and BLUE
- The acidic solution stays red in red litmus paper and turns red on blue litmus paper
- The alkaline solution stays blue in blue litmus paper but changes color into blue when the paper is red.
- The neutral solution doesn’t change the color of the litmus paper.
Testing by red cabbage
Testing by red cabbage is the most convenient way of checking the alkalinity of your reverse osmosis drinking water. Red cabbage is easily available at home and gives reliable results.
To make your red cabbage into a ph indicator, you need to
- Cut the red cabbage into pieces and then put them in a pot
- Add water to the pot so that the cabbages are soaked
- Bring the water to a boil several times until the water becomes purple and reddish
- Strain the cabbage and let the water cool
- Pour the water into containers, and then the indicator is ready.
If the cabbage juice turns green, it means the reverse osmosis drinking water is alkaline, and if the cabbage juice changes into red, the color indicates the acidic nature of water. The cabbage has a water-soluble pigment known as anthocyanin, which changes its color when mixed with an acid or base.
pH strips
There are many indicators available for testing acid and base waters. One of the indicators is ph strips. They are easily available and work on the same phenomena as the litmus paper. The ph strips measure high ph range, low sensitivity with narrow ph range, etc.
Ph meters are also helpful, but they give computerized results. They are very accurate but not quick. Ph strips are quick and give the results in a few minutes.
Conclusion
To make life easier and your water healthier, we need reverse osmosis water filters in our lives, keeping in mind the endless amount of clean water for your lifetime.
The bottom line is how to make reverse osmosis water alkaline because, as you know that despite many advantages, the RO water filtration systems deprive the water of nutrients. Alkaline water claims to add minerals into your water and provides a healthy alternative to drinking plain boring water, and nobody wants to do that.
To make reverse osmosis water alkaline, we need filter cartridges and water ionizers to help attain the mineral content of water.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Some others question’s answers for our readers that might be helpful for reading.
What is the difference between RO water and alkaline water?
Should we remineralize the RO water?
To make the reverse osmosis water alkaline, sometimes it is necessary to remineralize water because after going through reverse osmosis systems, the water becomes acidic, and it gets mineral deprived, which is not good for our health.
To make reverse osmosis water alkaline, we have to add back the essential minerals in water like calcium and magnesium.
What are the disadvantages of drinking alkaline water?
The disadvantages of drinking alkaline water are:
headaches
vomiting
nausea
muscle cramps and muscle twitching
confusions and impaired visions.
All these are the long-term effects of being exposed to high levels of alkaline water, but water with a balanced alkaline ph has benefits and detoxifying properties.
