About Our Glossary of Water Ionizer Terms

When studying any new subject it's important to understand the terms of that subject. Many confusions can be unravelled simply by understanding the basic terms used. At Alkaline Water Plus, we seek to educate you thoroughly about water ionizers, so you can make an educated and wise decision with your new water ionizer purchase. We encourage you to take the time to understand these terms; there aren't too many of them after all. Section 1 covers the most important terms in a logical [tutorial] order, while Section 2 gives all the terms in alphabetical order.

Section 1: Glossary of Water Ionizer Terms [Logical Order]

Water Ionizer Terms Listed in Logical Sequence

Ion A charged particle

Water Ionizer An electrical device that first filters the water, then reduces the water-cluster size, splits the water into two streams [alkaline and acidic] by electrically activating [charging] the ions in the water.

Alkaline Ionized Water Water which has undergone ionization and which has the properties of smaller cluster size, greater alkalinity, and increased ORP [oxidation reduction potential]

ORP Oxidation reduction potential. A negative ORP can be explained as having the properties of an antioxidant. ORP is measured in mille volts [mv] as positive [+] or negative [-]. Negative ORP is desired for its anti-oxidizing benefits. Positive ORP [as found in tap and bottled water] causes oxidation.

Oxidation An oxygen [O2] molecule is often found with a missing electron. When this happens it's called a "free radical". Free radicals look for and rob the needed electron from nearby cells. This causes what is called "oxidation", which is a deterioration of the surface of a cell after an electron has been robbed from it by an invading free radical..

Antioxidant The ability of a substance to prevent or fight against the free radical damage caused by oxidation. If a substance has extra electrons that can be donated to the O2 molecules which are missing electrons, then it is said to be an antioxidant.

Functional Water Water which has been enhanced in its ability to hydrate and cleanse [get acids out of] your cells, so as to enhance the process of oxygen getting to your cells and bring about better functions within your cells.

PH Potential Hydrogen. This signifies the proportion of OH- verses H+ that is present in a solution. OH- [alkaline] is free to take on an H+ [acid] to bring about a neutral within a solution. This process is called “Buffering”. PH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14, in which 0 is a theoretical lowest acidity and 14 is the highest alkalinity. PH of 7 is called neutral. Each progression up the scale signifies ten times the level before it. [Ex. A solution with a pH of 8 is ten times more alkaline (contains ten times more OH- ions) than a solution of pH of 7.]

Buffering The process of an acidic solution becoming more neutral by adding alkalinity or the process of an alkaline solution becoming more neutral by adding more acidity.

Body Fluid Buffering Body fluids must maintain an exact pH level [7.365]. If it alters even one little bit you could die. Therefore the body is in a constant state of buffering its body fluids. Usually the foods consumed [especially junk food], the life stresses, smoke, pollution, chemicals, lack of exercise and even exercise will add acidity to the body fluids, which then must instantly be counteracted [buffered] by alkaline minerals. The body has a variety of storage places for these alkaline minerals [joints and bones are the most abundant places], so the body will rob alkaline minerals from these locations to buffer the incoming acids. The body is unable to rob enough alkaline minerals, fast enough, so has other methods of getting the acids out of the blood. • Solidify the acid [transform it into uric acid crystals or some other solid] • Store it in a fat cell [fat cells contain acids, fatty acids, and can be a very effective way of removing acids from your blood quickly] • Trap acids in your cells [Cells give off acid wastes naturally, by transporting them out of the cell and into the blood, however if the blood cannot buffer these acids readily then the acids can’t be released and get trapped in the cells. This brings on a diseased condition of the cell, but is preferable to the instant death that would occur if the acids went into the bloodstream and had no buffers to neutralize them.] • Increased levels of HCL in your stomach. One way to get rid of acid in the blood is to pull it into the stomach to increase the acidity of the stomach. We need acidity in the stomach to digest food, however too much acidity can cause heart-burn, acid reflux, ulcers and other problems. Our bodies need balance, and so we need buffers.

Dehydration The condition of not having sufficient water in your diet to keep your cells healthy. Many conditions can be attributed to dehydration, such as: headache, low energy levels, low back pain, digestive problems, constipation, obesity, asthma allergies, arthritis, Type II Diabetes, and hypertension.

Micro-clusters By the time you get water from your tap it comes to you in large clusters of H20 molecules [11-16]. After ionization, the water comes out in smaller clusters of molecules [5-8]. Micro-clustering reduces the surface tension of water and makes it easier to absorbe into your cells.

Uses of Acidic Water Cleaning and disinfecting, astringent, mouthwash, hemorrhoids, foot baths.

Uses of Alkaline Water Drinking [up to 9.5 or 10 pH], cleaning/degreasing [over 10 pH].

Silver Impregnated Carbon Filter A carbon filter which is protected against bacterial growth inside the filter by way of the presence of silver, which inhibits bacterial growth.

KDF Filter Media KDF stands for Kinetic Degradation Fluxion. This is a sophisticated [and expensive] filter media which will remove chlorine, chloramines, lead, copper, mercury, iron, hydrogen sulfide and will reduce bacteria, lime, scale, fungus, and algae. It operates by chemically bonding to contaminants and either changing them to harmless molecules or causing them to become trapped in the filter [and removed from the water supply].

Activated Alumina Filter Media Removes chemicals [such as fluoride and arsenic] by chemically bonding them to the filter media itself and thus trapping them in the filter and not allowing that chemical to pass through.

Granulated Active Carbon [GAC] Filter This is filter media that's good for removing chlorine, chloramine, pesticides, organic compounds and other chemicals. Because it's so porous, it can adsorb a large amount of contaminants.

Reverse Osmosis A water filtering system that utilizes a membrane which allows only the solvent [water] to pass through but not the dissolved particles.

Hard Water Water that has high levels of calcium and magnesium. Water hardness is measured in ppm [parts per million] or gpg [grains per gallon]. Water is considered soft or hard according to the ppm or gpg of calcium and magnesium in the water. Most references report the following: •Soft: Below 17 ppm [or 0-1 gpg] •Medium: 18 – 75 ppm [or 1 - 4 gpg] •Medium Hard: 76 – 150 ppm [or 4 - 8 gpg] •Hard: 151 – 200 ppm [or 7 – 11 gpg] •Very Hard: Over 200 ppm [or over 11 gp *Very, Very Hard: Over 300 ppm [Note: can go as hard as 500 or more ppm] If your water is very, very hard, you will need to do extra filtration of it before you can get good results with your water ionizer. Reverse Osmosis [with a remineralizer] is the standard way to filter very, very hard water properly. Hardness appears as a yellowish/whitish [or even greeny-blue] film, but if there is also a high iron content in the water it will be a brownish film.] The harder the water, the more film, less lather, and less squeaky-clean you feel after a shower or bath. Hard water can cause equipment to fail if it is not controlled. Depending on how hard your water is, you can prevent, slow-down or reverse hard-water scaling of your water ionizer with an anti-scale [scale-block] filter, EOS [elimination of scaling] device, Ionizer Armor [which uses magnet technology] or if you have a whole-house softener. [Note: a whole-house softener removes the calcium and magnesium from your water and replaces it with sodium. This isn't the healthiest choice for you or the environment if your water hardness can be controlled with less drastic treatment.] If your water is moderately hard an Ionizer Armor should be all you need. If your water is hard, an EOS device is recommended. * If your water is very hard, one or more scale-block filters plus an EOS device is recommended. * If your water is softened with a sodium ion-exchange softener, a reverse-osmosis-remineralizer system or Nano-filter are recommended especially if your water tastes too salty after ionization.

Hexagonal Water Water which is in its natural hexagonal shape, not polluted and also not void of all minerals [dead water] .

RH rH is “relative Hydrogen”. This term is used when comparing ionizers. It basically means how much ORP per unit of pH. RH is a calculation which shows the actual health benefits of the water tested. Many now believe that this is the most important factor contributing to good health. Note: To find rH one uses pH and ORP measurements plugged into a formula. The formula is: rH= ((ORP + 200) / 30) + (2 * pH). On a scale from 0 to 42 above 28 oxidizing (higher potential to damage the closer it gets to 40) and below 28 is reducing (anti-oxidizing)…the lower the better. RH is the best measure of the healthiness of that ionized water. I always consider the rH to be the most important measure to look at in any water ionizer comparison test. Here’s an example to help you see why the rH formula is necessary: if you have two water ionizers both producing water at a pH of 9.5, and one has an ORP of -300 and the other has an ORP of -400, then it would be easy to see that the one with -400 is producing water at a healthier overall quality. However, most people testing water ionizers don’t get the exact same pH readings for all the water ionizers tested. So the rH formula is necessary to really see which water ionizer is producing the healthier water. The formula is a very simple one, and anyone comparing water ionizers should look at the rH of the water at the drinking water levels if they are trying to figure out which water ionizer is best. Because ORP is a very tricky measure to get and ORP meters can vary from test to test [depending on how well or frequently they're cleaned, source water and other factors] it’s important to only compare the ORP or rH of water ionizers tested in one setting by the same tester. RH is measured on a scale of 0 to 42, with 0 being the healthiest and 42 the unhealthiest. Tap water in St. Louis is usually around 30 - 35 rH. Any water under 28 rH is considered “reducing” and so is healthy for you. “The relative hydrogen scale was first proposed by Clark in 1923 to the scientific community (mostly inorganic chemists) as a means of measuring the true reducing power of hydrogen present in an aqueous solution…”* It is mostly used in water treatment facilities, but I imagine that the water ionizer engineers use it to test their own water ionizer designs. Go to this website to see this article and get a more thorough and scientific explanation of rH: http://h-minus-ion.vpinf.com/rH-score-1.html

ISO ISO is the icon for the International Organization for Standardization, which is the world's largest developer and publisher of international standards for manufacturers. It has a presense in 161 countries and is chaired by participants in both the governments of those countries and the industry representatives. The purpose of ISO is to develop and encourage standards to protect consumers, workers and the environment. ISO 9001 refers to a family of standards addressing the quality of management in a water ionizer or any other manufacturing facility. The quality of management affects many things related to the water ionizers you purchase: the quality of the water ionizers match the claims made, enhanced customer satisfaction and continual improvement of the water ionizer design and production. ISO 14001 refers to the environment. The goal with this certification is to minimize the harmful effects on the environment caused by the production of water ionizers or any product. Both of these certifications are the most important to look for in your water ionizer purchase.

Section 2: Glossary of Water Ionizer Terms [Alphabetized]

Alphabetical Listing of Terms

Activated Alumina Filter Media Removes chemicals [such as fluoride and arsenic] by chemically bonding them to the filter media itself and thus trapping them in the filter and not allowing that chemical to pass through.

Activated Carbon This is a form of carbon that is processed to be more porous. It is effective in water filtration because the great surface area traps many water contaminants and takes them out of the water, but doesn't clog up the water flow.

Alkaline Ionized Water Water which has undergone ionization and which has the properties of smaller cluster size, greater alkalinity, and increased ORP [oxidation reduction potential]

Antioxidant The ability of a substance to prevent or fight against the free radical damage caused by oxidation. If a substance has extra electrons that can be donated to the O2 molecules which are missing electrons, then it is said to be an antioxidant.

Body Fluid Buffering Body fluids must maintain an exact pH level [7.365]. If it alters even one little bit you could die. Therefore the body is in a constant state of buffering its body fluids. Usually the foods consumed [especially junk food], the life stresses, smoke, pollution, chemicals, lack of exercise and even exercise will add acidity to the body fluids, which then must instantly be counteracted [buffered] by alkaline minerals. The body has a variety of storage places for these alkaline minerals [joints and bones are the most abundant places], so the body will rob alkaline minerals from these locations to buffer the incoming acids. The body is unable to rob enough alkaline minerals, fast enough, so has other methods of getting the acids out of the blood. • Solidify the acid [transform it into uric acid crystals or some other solid] • Store it in a fat cell [fat cells contain acids, fatty acids, and can be a very effective way of removing acids from your blood quickly] • Trap acids in your cells [Cells give off acid wastes naturally, by transporting them out of the cell and into the blood, however if the blood cannot buffer these acids readily then the acids can’t be released and get trapped in the cells. This brings on a diseased condition of the cell, but is preferable to the instant death that would occur if the acids went into the bloodstream and had no buffers to neutralize them.] • Increased levels of HCL in your stomach. One way to get rid of acid in the blood is to pull it into the stomach to increase the acidity of the stomach. We need acidity in the stomach to digest food, however too much acidity can cause heart-burn, acid reflux, ulcers and other problems. Our bodies need balance, and so we need buffers.

Buffering The process of an acidic solution becoming more neutral by adding alkalinity or the process of an alkaline solution becoming more neutral by adding more acidity.

Calcium An alkalizing mineral which is in the water to greater or lesser degrees. \| Calcium is needed for electrolysis. \| Calcium is the main mineral making up the bones in our bodies.

Carbon Filtration Carbon filtration is very effective in removing a variety of contaminanta from the water, especially if a slow flow is used for the water going through the filters. Carbon does not remove minerals, salts or dissolved solids from the water. Activated carbon is more effective than solid carbon block filters, because there is more surface area in which to trap the contaminants.

Ceramic Filter A porous filter made of ceramic. Can be effective in cleaning the water at least of elements that are larger than water molecules.

Chloramine A stable compound of chlorine plus amonia \| Used in water treatment to disinfect water \| Unlike chlorine, chloramine is hard to filter out of the water. The old chlorine filters don't work. The best method known is a slow flow [2 liters per min. or less] through a GAC filter.

Dehydration The condition of not having sufficient water in your diet to keep your cells healthy. Many conditions can be attributed to dehydration, such as: headache, low energy levels, low back pain, digestive problems, constipation, obesity, asthma allergies, arthritis, Type II Diabetes, and hypertension.

Diverter A diverter is a stainless steel attachment for your faucet. It allows the water to come out of your faucet regularly or with a flip of the lever you can divert the water to the water ionizer.

Filtration Media or Filter Media Filters have different materials in it used to filter out different substances. These materials are called "media". The better variety of filter media [also called numbers of stages...i.e., 9-stage] makes for a higher quality filtration, because the variety increases the chances of getting all the contaminants out of your water. This day and age, with chloramine and fluoride being added to the water supply and pharmaceuticals [drugs] making their way into our water as well, it is a very good idea to have a variety of filter media in your drinking water filtration system.

Fluoride Fluoride is light-weight mineral [hard to filter out] which is a toxin. A water ionizer will filter out about 85% of the Fluoride. Reverse osmosis will filter out up to 93% of the Fluoride. An activated alumina filter will filter out up to 99% of the Fluoride.

Functional Water Water which has been enhanced in its ability to hydrate and cleanse [get acids out of] your cells, so as to enhance the process of oxygen getting to your cells and bring about better functions within your cells.

GAC Granulated Active Carbon Filter: This is filter media that's good for removing chlorine, chloramine, pesticides, organic compounds and other chemicals. Because it's so porous, it can adsorb a large amount of contaminants.

Hard Water Water that has high levels of calcium and magnesium. Water hardness is measured in ppm [parts per million] or gpg [grains per gallon]. Water is considered soft or hard according to the ppm or gpg of calcium and magnesium in the water. Most references report the following: •Soft: Below 17 ppm [or 0-1 gpg] •Medium: 18 – 75 ppm [or 1 - 4 gpg] •Medium Hard: 76 – 150 ppm [or 4 - 8 gpg] •Hard: 151 – 200 ppm [or 7 – 11 gpg] •Very Hard: Over 200 ppm [or over 11 gp *Very, Very Hard: Over 300 ppm [Note: can go as hard as 500 or more ppm] If your water is very, very hard, you will need to do extra filtration of it before you can get good results with your water ionizer. Reverse Osmosis [with a remineralizer] is the standard way to filter very, very hard water properly. Hardness appears as a yellowish/whitish [or even greeny-blue] film, but if there is also a high iron content in the water it will be a brownish film.] The harder the water, the more film, less lather, and less squeaky-clean you feel after a shower or bath. Hard water can cause equipment to fail if it is not controlled. Depending on how hard your water is, you can prevent, slow-down or reverse hard-water scaling of your water ionizer with an anti-scale [scale-block] filter, EOS [elimination of scaling] device, Ionizer Armor [which uses magnet technology] or if you have a whole-house softener. [Note: a whole-house softener removes the calcium and magnesium from your water and replaces it with sodium. This isn't the healthiest choice for you or the environment if your water hardness can be controlled with less drastic treatment.] If your water is moderately hard an Ionizer Armor should be all you need. If your water is hard, an EOS device is recommended. * If your water is very hard, one or more scale-block filters plus an EOS device is recommended. * If your water is softened with a sodium ion-exchange softener, a reverse-osmosis-remineralizer system or Nano-filter are recommended especially if your water tastes too salty after ionization.

Hexagonal Water Water which is in its natural hexagonal shape, not polluted and also not void of all minerals [dead water] either.

Ion A charged particle

ISO ISO is the icon for the International Organization for Standardization, which is the world's largest developer and publisher of international standards for manufacturers. It has a presense in 161 countries and is chaired by participants in both the governments of those countries and the industry representatives. The purpose of ISO is to develop and encourage standards to protect consumers, workers and the environment. ISO 9001 refers to a family of standards addressing the quality of management in a water ionizer or any other manufacturing facility. The quality of management affects many things related to the water ionizers you purchase: the quality of the water ionizers match the claims made, enhanced customer satisfaction and continual improvement of the water ionizer design and production. ISO 14001 refers to the environment. The goal with this certification is to minimize the harmful effects on the environment caused by the production of water ionizers or any product. Both of these certifications are the most important to look for in your water ionizer purchase.

KDF Filter Media KDF stands for Kinetic Degradation Fluxion. This is a sophisticated [and expensive] filter media which will remove chlorine, chloramines, lead, copper, mercury, iron, hydrogen sulfide and will reduce bacteria, lime, scale, fungus, and algae. It operates by chemically bonding to contaminants and either changing them to harmless molecules or causing them to become trapped in the filter [and removed from the water supply].

Micro-clusters By the time you get water from your tap it comes to you in large clusters of H20 molecules [11-16]. After ionization, the water comes out in smaller clusters of molecules [5-8]. Micro-clustering reduces the surface tension of water and makes it easier to absorbe into your cells.

Microns A micron is one millionth of a meter. It is an indication of the smallest sized particle allowed through that filter. \| .1M stands for 1/10 of a micron or one ten-millionth of a meter. \| .01 M is the smallest filtration other than reverse osmosis or nano-filtration. It completely filters out viruses, mold and bacteria. \| .01M stands for 1/100 of a micron, or one hundred-millionth of a meter.

ORP Oxidation reduction potential. A negative ORP can be explained as having the properties of an antioxidant. ORP is measured in mille volts [mv] as positive [+] or negative [-]. Negative ORP is desired for its anti-oxidizing benefits. Positive ORP [as found in tap and bottled water] causes oxidation.

Oxidation An oxygen [O2] molecule is often found with a missing electron. When this happens it's called a "free radical". Free radicals look for and rob the needed electron from nearby cells. This causes what is called "oxidation", which is a deterioration of the surface of a cell after an electron has been robbed from it by an invading free radical..

PH Potential Hydrogen. This signifies the proportion of OH- verses H+ that is present in a solution. OH- [alkaline] is free to take on an H+ [acid] to bring about a neutral within a solution. This process is called “Buffering”. PH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14, in which 0 is a theoretical lowest acidity and 14 is the highest alkalinity. PH of 7 is called neutral. Each progression up the scale signifies ten times the level before it. [Ex. A solution with a pH of 8 is ten times more alkaline (contains ten times more OH- ions) than a solution of pH of 7.]

Reverse Osmosis A water filtering system that utilizes a membrane which allows only the solvent [water] to pass through but not the dissolved particles.

RH rH is “relative Hydrogen”. This term is used when comparing ionizers. It basically means how much ORP per unit of pH. RH is a calculation which shows the actual health benefits of the water tested. Many now believe that this is the most important factor contributing to good health. Note: To find rH one uses pH and ORP measurements plugged into a formula. The formula is: rH= ((ORP + 200) / 30) + (2 * pH). On a scale from 0 to 42 above 28 oxidizing (higher potential to damage the closer it gets to 40) and below 28 is reducing (anti-oxidizing)…the lower the better.

Silver Impregnated Carbon Filter A carbon filter which is protected against bacterial growth inside the filter by way of the presence of silver, which inhibits bacterial growth.

Tourmaline A crystaline metal added to water filters to reduce the water surface tension and thus improve ionization.

UL Certification Underwriters' Laboratories is connected with insurance underwriters. They certify equipment so as to protect consumers from equipment made with faulty designs, which could then potentially burn down their house.

Uses of Acidic Water Cleaning and disinfecting, astringent, mouthwash, hemorrhoids, foot baths.

Uses of Alkaline Water Drinking [up to 9.5 or 10 pH], cleaning/degreasing [over 10 pH].

Water Ionizer An electrical device that first filters the water, then reduces the water-cluster size, splits the water into two streams [alkaline and acidic] by electrically activating [charging] the ions in the water.