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Tap water quality is greatly contested due to national crises like Flint, Michigan. However, a series of clean water legislation has significantly improved water quality nation-wide. That being said, tap water is still not ideal for drinking. First, factors like its pH level and contaminants must be investigated.
Before labeling tap water as “alkaline” or “acidic,” one must understand what a pH value is and what it means. A pH value is a number assigned to any substance containing water that corresponds to the number of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in the substance. The number of each type of ion in the substance determines how acidic or basic (alkaline) the substance is (1).
The pH of a substance can range from 0 to 14, with 0 being the most acidic a substance can be, and 14 being the most alkaline. Numbers below 7 increasingly become more acidic, and numbers above 7 increasingly become more alkaline. Having a pH of 7 means the substance is neutral.
Understanding pH is important because the body functions under a very specific range of pH values. The pH of the body needs to stay between 7.35-7.45 to function optimally. Consuming too many acidic foods or drinks can lower the body’s pH out of its optimal range, which puts the body at risk of acidosis, a blood disease.
The pH of tap water can vary based on geographic location, but it typically falls within the range of 6.5 to 8.5. This is the range suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency, however, they cannot regulate pH levels, as it is considered an “aesthetic quality of water” (2). This means that different waters with different pH levels are more of a matter of preference than a matter of safety. For example, many alkaline water brands boast pHs greater than 8.5, but they are still considered safe to drink. The taste of the water may taste sweeter (or more bitter, depending on how high the pH is), but the high pH is not a matter of safety.
Many municipal water sources regulate their water quality, and the quality of tap water has improved drastically since the crisis in Flint, Michigan. Now, most tap water supplies in the United States have a pH of around 7.5, which is just about neutral.
Because the pH of tap water hovers right around neutral in most parts of the United States, the pH level itself does not have a large effect on the body. However, the average diet in the U.S. contains more acidity than the body can digest, which risks the body’s pH lowering out of its optimal range (3). To avoid this, it is recommended to consume foods and beverages with a high pH to counterbalance the acidic diet most Americans consume. Alkaline foods and beverages include leafy greens, apples, avocados, and alkaline water. Therefore, while tap water’s neutral pH is not harmful to your body, increasing tap water’s pH to make it alkaline could benefit the body and balance the body’s pH levels.
While the pH of tap water does not necessarily have negative health implications, tap water has been found to contain harmful contaminants that can negatively affect your body. According to the CDC, “This occurs when unsafe levels of heavy metals, harmful germs or chemicals get in the water at its source” (4). Industrial waste, agricultural runoff, animal waste, and sewage spills can all contaminate ground and freshwater sources, making tap water unsafe to drink. Additionally, even after water undergoes treatment, there is the risk oflead contaminating the water based on the pipes in your house. Germs, heavy metals, parasites, and other contaminants all pose a threat to your health if consumed.
In order to reap the added benefits of alkaline water (and the added bonus of getting rid of harmful contaminants), run your tap water through an alkalizing water filter. In doing so, you can still conveniently use water from your sink while mitigating the risks of drinking tap water.
For example, Seychelle’s Pure Water Pitchers remove up to 99.99% of harmful contaminants in the water, all while increasing alkalinity in the water up to a 9.5. By alkalizing your water, you can balance your body’s pH levels, combatting the effects an acidic diet might have on your body. Additionally, Seychelle’s pH water filters are environmentally-friendly, time-efficient, and cost-effective. While tap water does not necessarily have an acidic pH, elevated its pH from neutral to alkaline can ensure your body is running optimally.
Tap water in the United States is recommended to have a pH ranging from 6.5 to 8.5. On average, tap water tested around the country has a pH of 7.5, which is just around neutral. A neutral pH on its own is not harmful to the body. However, most Americans consume a diet heavy of acidic foods and drinks, so their body is not operating at its equilibrium. To raise the body’s pH back up to equilibrium, try alkalizing your tap water.
Is tap water naturally alkaline?
No. Tap water usually has a pH of 7.5, making it neutral.
Is filtered tap water acidic or alkaline?
Filtered tap water may be alkaline, acidic, or neutral, depending on the filter used. You must use an alkalizing water filter for the filtered water to be alkaline.
How do I alkalize my tap water?
Tap water can be alkalized through a few different “home remedies,” like adding baking soda to the water. However, alkalizing water filters can raise your tap water’s pH without the hassle of concocting your own alkaline water.
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