How Does the pH Level of Water Affect Its Quality?
Water quality is a crucial factor in maintaining public health, supporting agriculture, and ensuring the smooth functioning of industrial processes. Among the many parameters used to assess water quality, the pH level of water is one of the most important. It plays a vital role in determining the suitability of water for drinking, irrigation, industrial use, and aquatic life.
In this blog, we’ll explore what is the pH level of water, why it matters, how it influences water quality, and how to test and manage it effectively.
What Is the pH Level of Water?
The pH level of water refers to its hydrogen ion concentration and is measured on a scale ranging from 0 to 14. A pH value of 7 is considered neutral. Water with a pH less than 7 is acidic, while water with a pH greater than 7 is alkaline or basic.
- Acidic water (pH < 7): May cause corrosion of pipes, leach metals into the water, and damage aquatic ecosystems.
- Alkaline water (pH > 7): May result in a bitter taste and scaling in pipes and appliances.
The pH level of drinking water is generally recommended to be between 6.5 and 8.5 as per most global and national standards, including those set by the WHO and Bureau of Indian Standards.
Why Does pH Matter for Water Quality?
The pH level of water directly influences chemical reactions, biological processes, and the solubility of minerals and contaminants. Here’s how it affects various aspects of water quality:
1. Health and Safety
The pH level of drinking water must be within the ideal range to avoid harmful effects. Acidic water can corrode plumbing systems and introduce toxic metals like lead and copper into the water supply. Highly alkaline water, on the other hand, may cause skin irritation and digestive discomfort in some individuals.
2. Effect on Disinfection
Water with extreme pH levels can interfere with disinfection processes. For example, chlorine used for water treatment is most effective within a specific pH range (around 6.5 to 7.5). If the water is too acidic or too alkaline, disinfection efficacy drops, increasing the risk of bacterial contamination.
3. Agricultural Impact
Farmers need to monitor the pH level of water used for irrigation. Highly acidic or alkaline water can harm crops, affect soil health, and reduce nutrient availability. Maintaining a balanced pH is essential for sustainable agriculture.
4. Industrial Use
Industries like textiles, pharmaceuticals, and power generation rely on water with stable pH levels. Uncontrolled pH can lead to equipment corrosion, compromised product quality, and operational inefficiencies.
5. Aquatic Ecosystems
The survival of aquatic organisms is closely tied to the pH of their environment. A narrow pH range—typically between 6.5 and 8.5—is essential for the health of fish and other marine life. Deviations can lead to ecological imbalances and fish kills.
How to Check the pH Level of Water?
Knowing how to check the pH level of water is essential for maintaining safe and high-quality water. There are several methods available:
- pH Test Strips: Affordable and simple to use, these strips change color when dipped in water, indicating the pH range.
- Digital pH Meters: Provide more accurate and consistent results and are widely used in labs and industries.
- Liquid Test Kits: Involve adding a few drops of reagent to the water and matching the resulting color to a chart.
- Laboratory Testing: For the most precise analysis, especially in regulatory or industrial settings, professional lab testing is recommended.
Regular monitoring helps detect shifts in water quality and take corrective action before problems escalate.
Understanding the pH Level of Alkaline Water
In recent years, alkaline water—with a pH typically between 8 and 9—has gained popularity for its supposed health benefits, including better hydration and acid-neutralizing properties. However, it’s important to understand that:
- Not all alkaline water is naturally derived; some is artificially ionized.
- There is limited scientific evidence supporting broad health claims.
- Individuals with certain health conditions (e.g., kidney disorders) should consult a doctor before consuming highly alkaline water regularly.
The pH level of alkaline water may be beneficial for some but should still fall within the recommended safety limits to avoid long-term health risks or interactions with medications.
Maintaining Optimal pH Levels
Maintaining the correct pH level of water requires both preventive and corrective strategies, depending on the water source and its intended use:
- Neutralizing Filters: Typically contain calcite or magnesium oxide to raise the pH of acidic water.
- Chemical Additives: Acids or alkalis can be added to adjust pH levels in controlled environments (common in industrial settings).
- Proper Water Source Management: Ensuring groundwater and surface water sources are protected from pollution helps naturally stabilize pH levels.
- Advanced Treatment Technologies: Reverse osmosis and ion exchange systems also help in balancing pH while removing other impurities.
Ion Exchange: Leading the Way in Demineralised Water Solutions
INDION New Generation Swift Softener
The INDION New Generation Swift Softener is designed to remove scale-forming ions like calcium and magnesium from water effectively. Its standout feature is the shorter regeneration time, making it ideal for short-cycle operations. This lightweight and easy-to-install system boasts a quick 30-minute regeneration cycle. Assembled and tested at the factory, all units are ready for installation and commissioning within a day. With auto-operation and low maintenance, it ensures hassle-free usage. Key features include an automatic unit with a multiport valve that can withstand pressures up to 5.5 kg/cm2, a special grade of monosphere resin, low wastewater volume, and a short operating cycle of just 3 hours. It tolerates hardness up to 600 ppm and is constructed with durable fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP). Available in seven models, it offers flow rates ranging from 3.5 m3/h to 20 m3/h, catering to various requirements.
INDION Layered Bed Anion System
The INDION® Layered Bed Anion (LBA) unit is an innovative solution to maximize efficiency and minimize costs. This single-vessel system combines two types of resins, INDION LBA-WB and INDION LBA-SB, in a layered configuration with downflow service. This setup delivers the high chemical efficiency of a traditional two-bed system within one vessel, significantly reducing the need for additional equipment, piping, and valves. The result is excellent treated water quality and optimal use of regenerants, making the system both cost-effective and efficient. The INDION LBA system offers several advantages, including capital cost savings, a smaller footprint, high throughput capacity, and lower operating costs. Its contemporary design also ensures easy integration into existing systems, providing the lowest cost of production for demineralized water.
INDION Layered Bed Cation System
The INDION® Layered Bed Cation Unit is an innovative single-vessel system featuring layers of two resins. It combines INDION weak acid cation resin on top of INDION strong acid cation resin with a downflow service. This design delivers the high chemical efficiency of a two-bed weak acid cation and strong acid cation system within one vessel, eliminating the need for additional vessels, associated piping, and valves. The system enhances the chemical regeneration of the strong acid-cation resins, ensuring superior treated water quality and optimal regenerant utilization. Key advantages include capital cost savings, a lower footprint, and high efficiency in chemical usage due to its substantial throughput capacity.
INDION Elegant: Advanced Twin Bed Deioniser
The INDION Elegant system revolutionizes water treatment with its twin-bed deionised, incorporating state-of-the-art counter-current flow ion exchange technology previously only available in large, custom-designed plants. Utilizing strong acid cation (SAC) and strong base anion (SBA) resins in columns, the system offers optional features like a degasser tower (DGT) and a layered bed anion (LBA) column to produce high-quality demineralized water at significantly lower capital and operating costs. The exceptionally compact, skid-mounted design on a corrosion-resistant frame includes stainless steel pumps and offers a standard range of 10–120 – 120 m³/h in either manual or PLC automatic control modes. It uses INDION uniform particle-size resins in a counter-current mode to produce water with a conductivity of 1–10 μS/cm and reactive silica of 10–30 ppb. Optional HMI provides system status read-outs, audible alarms, and no-flow alarms. With a smaller footprint than conventional demineralizer plants, INDION Elegant ensures minimal installation and commissioning time and cost.
INDION SWIFT 5 Gx Series: Short Cycle Rapid Regeneration
The latest INDION Swift 5 Gx series brings a family of automatic twin-bed deionisers, utilizing advanced counter-flow ion exchange technology, previously exclusive to large custom plants. With a regeneration time of just 35 minutes and a minimum service cycle of four hours, the need for standby plants and large water storage volumes is significantly reduced. This exceptionally compact series is skid-mounted on a corrosion-resistant frame, which includes a stainless steel multi-purpose pump. This pump not only optimizes plant performance during service and regeneration but also offers several recirculation options to maintain high water quality in the treated water tank. Key features of the INDION Swift 5Gx series include enhanced bacterial control, reduced treated water storage costs, near-neutral effluent, and high-quality treated water with conductivity between 1-10 µS/cm. Additionally, it boasts low operating costs, a quick start-up time, and a low footprint, making it an efficient and economical solution for high-quality water needs.
INDION SWIFT Plus Demineralizer
The latest Indion Swift Plus range features advanced automatic twin-bed deionizers with state-of-the-art counter-flow ion exchange technology, previously found only in large, custom-designed plants. These rapid regeneration units are volume-controlled and pre-programmed in a PLC based on the type of feed water, allowing for a swift 35-minute regeneration after a minimum service cycle of two hours. This minimizes the need for a standby plant and reduces the storage of large water volumes. The Indion Swift Plus is exceptionally compact, skid-mounted on a corrosion-resistant frame, and includes a stainless steel multi-purpose pump. Key features include mixed-bed quality water at minimal cost, an additional cation polishing stage for enhanced quality, an average resistivity of purified water at 10 MΩ·cm with neutral pH, a small footprint, and high chemical efficiency. The Swift Plus delivers up to 330 m³/day on feed water of 100 ppm total anion feed, with no need for additional regenerant chemicals and a quick 35-minute regeneration time.
INDION New Generation: Two-Bed Deionisers with Degasser Tower
The INDION Industrial Two-Bed Upflow Deionisers Type CA and CDA units are designed to meet the requirements for producing small quantities of demineralised water, with flow rates ranging from 1.0 to 15.0 m3/h. For larger demands, flow rates can be increased to 35 m3/h by installing multiple units in parallel. These free-standing, compact units are easy to install and maintain. The CA units come equipped with all necessary components for the regeneration of ion-exchange resins. Constructed entirely of plastic, they are corrosion-resistant and require minimal maintenance. The modular design allows for easy capacity enhancement, making them a flexible and efficient solution for your deionisation needs.
Conclusion
Understanding what is the pH level of water and its implications is critical for ensuring water safety, system longevity, and environmental protection. Whether you’re dealing with drinking water, industrial processes, or agriculture, monitoring and managing pH is an essential part of maintaining water quality. From identifying irregularities to implementing treatment solutions, being aware of how to check the pH level of water and why it matters empowers both individuals and institutions to take responsible action.
