Is the Ph Level in Drinking Water Important?
The pH in drinking water stands for potential hydrogen and it reflects the acidity of the water. The only recommendation on pH levels seems to be that it remains as balanced as possible. Low levels of pH in water indicate soft water which can be corrosive and acidic and somewhat damaging to metals. It can also leave stains in clothes that have been washed with soft water. High levels of pH indicate hard water areas. This is not particularly unhealthy but it can have problems such as a bad taste and leave a build up of lime scale on fixtures and pipes. Soft water can corrode metals which then seep into the water while hard water can leave a scum like appearance on plates or laundry. Even hair that has been washed with hard water can look dull. Hard water can also be costly due to the repairs and replacements needed in the home after a certain period of time. The pH level should not adversely affect a person's health but it may mean that they do not like the taste from their tap water.
Treating the pH Levels in Drinking Water
Finding drinking water with balanced pH levels can be difficult in some areas. This is due to the source of the drinking water having a pH level that is too high or too low. The pH in soft drinking water can be stabilized using a neutralizer. A neutralizer adds a solution to the water to prevent it from reacting with the metals it comes into contact with and from corroding the metal that can contaminate the water. The solution that is added to the water can increase the sodium levels of the water; this may be a cause for concern also. Sometimes people who live in particularly hard or soft water areas prefer to buy bottled water to drink or boil than by adding solutions to the water system.
There are now many types of home water filtering systems available and sometimes it can be necessary for the water to flow a number of different systems that provide a different type of filtration. Boiling water is the most basic way of cleaning drinking water but it does not aid the pH levels of the water. Soft water tends to be preferred over hard water because hard water can ruin household appliances that use water such as kettles and dishwashers. Hard water is generally changed to soft water using lime solutions but there are filtrations systems that manage to balance the pH level in drinking water so that the user has the best of both worlds.
