Alkaline water is all the rage in Singapore right now, with homeowners forking out close to $3000 for a water purifier system,
which promises to boost immunity, neutralise acidity in your body, prevent osteoporosis and lower one’s cholesterol, among other benefits.
But does alkaline water really live up to the hype?
Unfortunately, the health claims of alkaline water are not backed up by solid scientific evidence and although some celebrities may swear by the miracle water, it is still important to thoroughly research the products we are buying. We cannot and should not take sales talk at face value.
Debunking the alkaline myth with facts
Our bodies, through the function of our kidneys and lungs constantly maintain a healthy pH level on their own. We do not need to drink alkaline water to do that. In addition, the gastric juices in our stomachs neutralize everything we consume. That means the alkaline water is neutralized even before it can do anything the health claims promise.
It isn’t effective, but is alkaline water safe to drink?
Doctors advise pregnant women, children and those feeling unwell to refrain from drinking alkaline water because it has the potential to cause skin irritation and an upset stomach. Although it is not harmful, it certainly does not live up to its purported health benefits.
So what can we do for clean water?
If you are really looking to get clean water, the main concern is filtering to a level that is quantifiable, scientifically researched and verified. The effectiveness of any water filter is measured by the size of particles it filters out.
Proven, precision filtering
Most alkaline water purifiers in Singapore filter out around 0.01 microns of particles. This is a low level of filtration because the focus is on producing alkaline water and not on filtration. In contrast, Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology is a method that is scientifically verified to filter out particles up to 0.0001 microns. It does this by applying pressure to water against a semi-permeable membrane, allowing only the cleanest water to pass through.
This process effectively removes bacteria, arsenic, fluoride and trace metals.
PUB uses Reverse Osmosis
After distilled water, Reverse Osmosis (RO) is recognised by experts as the best technology available to remove the widest spectrum of impurities found in drinking water. RO technology is commonly used by authorities for the national treatment of water. This includes PUB in Singapore for our water desalination plants.
In conclusion..
It is always good to know what you are purchasing and ensure it is backed up by science.
If you are looking for truly clean water, skip alkaline water purifiers and go straight for proven technologies which give you an exact measure of the size of particles filtered out.
Other related articles:
CNN: Does alkaline water live up to the hype?
Everyone knows that drinking water is good for you, but could there be a way to make it even better?
What is alkaline water?
Water is important to every cell, tissue and organ in your body. But which kind of water? Some people claim that alkaline water is better than anything you can get from the tap.
PUB – Desalinated water
As Singapore is surrounded by sea, PUB has turned seawater into drinking water through a process involving reverse osmosis.
