What are pH and ORP?
ORP stands for Oxidation Reduction Potential, or more simply put: the measure of a machine’s ability to generate antioxidant properties in water. When testing ORP in an ionizer, you want the Alkaline Water to achieve a negative ORP, and the lower the better. Although there is a standard procedure for the measurement and testing of
ORP, crucial variables play a large part in the final outcome, including mineral content of the source water, flow rate of the machine, and voltage. Besides keeping our ORP meters in pristine condition, we test all of the Ionizers on this site in the exact same conditions, making sure that the results produced are consistent and accurate.
In the United States, the majority of tap water is rated between +150mv and +600mv ORP, meaning that it actually acts as the opposite of an antioxidant, and speeds up cell damage and the aging process. The best way to defend against that is by drinking higher pH water, which always contains a negative ORP rating. When you procedurally lower the ORP in water, you have maximized its potential energy, and it is therefore ready to go to work for you, eliminating harmful free radicals. But when we discuss higher pH water, what exactly is it that we mean?
Aqueous solutions can always have their basicity or acidity measured; the result is known as pH or “potential hydrogen”. The pH scale runs from pH0 to pH14, and 100% pure water is said to be pH7, or neutral. Anything below pH7 is known as acidic and anything above pH7 is known as alkaline. Measuring pH in Ionized water (or any liquid for that matter) is fairly straightforward, and can even be done at home with the right equipment. A simple way to measure pH is with special pH drops, which change the color of the liquid they are applied to, and that color corresponds to a pH color chart.
More sophisticated measurement comes through electronic pH meters, which (when properly cared for) provide a more exact pH value rather than just a general range. We use and properly maintain laboratory grade pH meters in order to accurately assess the pH level of the tested Ionizers. It can be said that pH and ORP are the two determining factors in choosing an Ionizer, but there is in fact a multitude of other features and options that should be considered, after all – the Ionizer you decide to purchase should be tailored to your exact needs and budget.
Next we will discuss how Ionizers work, making it easier for you to correspond these specifications with their practical use!
