Water is essential for the survival of all the creatures on this planet. Without water our life is incomplete but do you know that we cannot drink any form of water? Only the good quality water is only drinkable which is good for your health.
Now, you must wonder how we can identify that the water is appropriate for our health and we can drink it. So, one critical aspect of water quality is pH of drinking water. This blog is a detailed guide on understanding what pH value is, ways to test it at home, and potential health complications you may acquire due to poor quality of water.
What is pH Value?
The pH value is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is considered neutral which means that it is neither acidic nor alkaline. The value below 7 is acidic and above 7 is alkaline. Now let’s discuss the drinking water pH value.
Ideal pH of Drinking Water
According to the World Health Organisation, the pH of drinking water should ideally fall between 6.5 and 8.5 as this value ensures that the water is safe for drinking and is neither acidic nor alkaline. So, always consider drinking water with the respective pH value.
How to Test Drinking Water pH Value at Home?
Generally, it is not necessary to test the pH of drinking water as the Municipal water suppliers ensure that safe drinking water is provided to everyone but if you notice that the faucets and pipes take on a rusty red, white or blue colour, you must check the pH of the water.
The reason behind the discolouration might be that the water may be too acidic, causing corrosion. In this case, you should check the quality of the water. Now, let’s unveil how you can check the water pH value at home:
- There are certain kits available in the market to test the pH of drinking water at home. These kits are not too expensive and are easily available.
- The availability of tester pens make it easy to check the water quality. If you put these tester pens in water, after a few moments it will give you an accurate pH reading.
Health Implications Due to Inadequate pH Value of Water
The health implications a person can face drinking too acidic or too alkaline water are as follows:
Acidic Water (pH < 6.5)
There is a reason why it is suggested to drink water with a pH value that ideally falls between 6.5 and 8.5 as drinking acidic water can lead to several health implications. It can corrode pipes, leach metals such as lead and copper into the water, and is capable of causing gastrointestinal discomfort. If you consume acidic water for the long term, it may lead to erosion of tooth enamel.
Alkaline Water (pH > 8.5)
Alkaline water is bitter in taste and consumption of too much alkaline water can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort. It can lead to higher risks of microbial contamination by reducing the effectiveness of chlorine disinfection.
pH of Tap Water
The pH of tap water varies typically around 7.5. Tap water that is too acidic can lead to corroding pipes and discolouration, while tap water that is too alkaline can cause dryness and itching to our skin. So, ensure that the water you drink has a respective pH value that doesn’t harm you or your closed ones.
Conclusion
The pH of drinking water is a very crucial factor that has the power to affect its safety and taste. In today’s article, we discussed the respective drinking water pH values and also the pH of tap water. It is very important for us to make sure that the water we are consuming is safe and neither too acidic nor too alkaline. We also discussed the ways to make sure that the water we are consuming has the respective pH value. By understanding and managing the pH of drinking water, you can take steps accordingly to safeguard your health and keep yourself free from any health implications.
