There are so many things to say about the magic liquid that we can’t live without - the water. It's crystal clear (see what we did here) that having adequate water is crucial to our everyday life and key to our survival. But not all water is acceptable, and for our overall health, we need to have access to safe and pure water. So, one must ask oneself - what is pure water, or even more importantly what is the pH of pure water?

What Is pH?

Before going any further let’s explain what is ph and why is it important to know the water ph levels.

The term "pH" was introduced in 1909 by the Danish biochemist Soren Peter Lauritz Sorensen. It literally means "power of hydrogen". The "p" stands for the German word for power (potenz) and the "H" is the element symbol for hydrogen.

A simple explanation or definition of pH is that it's a quantitative measure of how acidic or basic a liquid is. If we go into more detail or if we want a more scientific definition then we can say that pH translates the values of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a liquid.

The range goes from 0 to 14 in numbers, or between 1 and 10-14 gram equivalents per liter. In pure water, which is neutral (neither acidic nor alkaline) the concentration of the hydrogen ions is 10-7 gram-equivalents per liter which corresponds to a pH of 7. pHs of less than 7 shows acidity, while pHs with levels higher than 7 shows base (or alkaline).

pH is an important indicator of water quality. The pH level of water should be considered as a precaution for protecting our health.

What Is the pH of Pure Water?

At 25°C, the pH of the pure water (H20) is 7. It is in the center of the ph level chart and it’s the best pH level for drinking water. It is neither acidic nor basic. As it is neutral with a pH value of 7, the pure water is tasteless, odorless, and colorless.

Most of the time the water that is meant for drinking should stay closer to the neutral point, or the center of the pH scale. However, particles in the water can change the water pH.

Safe pH for Drinking Water

As per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the recommendation water's pH range should span between 6.5 and 8.5. But these are non-enforceable standards for drinking water pH levels because pH is regarded as aesthetic water quality. Nevertheless many states in the US choose to implement these guidelines.

In general, very high and very low pH can make the water unusable for drinking. Water with low pH levels also referred to as "soft" may contain heavy metals. On the other hand, "hard water" or water with high pH levels is the common term for water that might contain a lot of minerals.

Because metals quickly dissolve in acid, low pH water can have metals such as iron, manganese, copper, and lead that can leach from the pipes. Then again water with very high pH levels can contain excess minerals and an unpleasant taste.

PH of Common Drinks

The pH level of any liquid can change according to the ingredients inside. Because of that, variations are most likely to happen, even if two liquids are very alike, such as two types of water.

So here are some examples of the pH levels of everyday drinks:

- Soda - around 2.5 to 3.5
- Sparkling water - 4.5
- Black coffee - 5
- Bottle water - 6.5 to 7.5
- Tap water - varies / usually between 6.5 to 8.5
- Bottle alkaline water - 8 to 9

Tap Water vs Purified Water

The water that comes directly from the valve in your home, either in the kitchen sink or bathroom faucet is known as tap water. The quality of tap water depends on so many factors, especially where you live. The tap water in your home can be as good as bottled water, or it can be unhealthy and contaminated. As we said above there are many factors that go into this.

Purified water is mechanically processed or filtered water that removed various impurities such as bacteria, chemicals, and toxins (certain metals like lead and copper) which makes it suitable to use. Purified water can be made from both tap water and groundwater.

Unfortunately, if you live somewhere where tap water is unsuitable for drinking, you'll probably need to use purified water. In these cases, you can choose to opt for buying bottled water or using a filtration system in your home.

Conclusion

Every day we have to consume water to survive. The proper amount varies due to different factors as age, living location, physical activity, etc. The health benefits of drinking water are extensive and include positive effects on our well-being. Up to 60% of our body is water. And because it’s such a crucial part of our life we want to make sure that what we drink is high-quality water. This is why pH levels are an essential water-quality parameter. We need to be aware and mindful that the water we drink and use is pure and safe.