03/09/2026
What Is Alkaline Water?
And the Different Ways It’s Made
TL;DR
Alkaline water is simply water with a higher pH than regular drinking water.
There are several ways companies make water alkaline — some natural, some artificial, and some that simply add minerals back into purified water.
The most common methods are:
• Natural minerals raising pH in the water, typically found in alkaline springs
• Electrolysis machines (water ionizers)
• Adding alkaline minerals to purified water
• Baking soda or chemical additives
The Confusing World of Alkaline Water
If you’ve ever tried to research alkaline water online, you’ve probably run into a wall of confusing claims.
Some people say it’s a miracle drink.
Others say it’s completely pointless.
Then there are expensive machines, bottled water brands, and endless debates about pH levels.
For most people, the real question is much simpler:
What actually is alkaline water, and how do people make it?
First: What Does “Alkaline” Even Mean?
Water has something called a pH level, which measures how acidic or alkaline it is.
The pH scale runs from 0 to 14:
* 7 is neutral (pure water)
* Below 7 is acidic
* Above 7 is alkaline
Most normal drinking water sits somewhere around pH 6.5 – 7.5.
Alkaline water typically ranges from pH 8 – 9.5.
The difference comes from dissolved minerals like:
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Potassium
These minerals slightly raise the pH and can change the taste of the water.
The Different Ways Water Becomes Alkaline
Not all alkaline water is made the same way. In fact, the method used can make a big difference in both taste and quality.
Here are the most common approaches.
1. Natural Alkaline Spring Water
Some natural water sources pick up minerals as they flow through rock underground.
This can naturally raise the pH and create mineral-rich alkaline water.
Many bottled brands market this type of water as natural alkaline spring water.
The downside is that natural water can also contain things you may not want, such as:
• dissolved metals
• agricultural runoff
• other environmental contaminants
That’s why many people prefer purified water that has minerals added back intentionally.
2. Electrolysis Machines (Water Ionizers)
These are the machines often advertised for thousands of dollars.
They work by using electricity to split water into two streams:
• Acidic water
• Alkaline water
The alkaline portion is collected for drinking.
These machines can raise the pH significantly, sometimes above 9 or 10.
However, they rely on the minerals already present in the water, which means the results depend heavily on the quality of your local water supply.
3. Mineral Infusion (The Most Common Method)
Another method is to start with purified water and then add small amounts of beneficial minerals back into it.
This approach allows you to:
• remove contaminants first
• control the mineral balance
• adjust the pH to a comfortable level
Many modern alkaline systems — including under-sink filters — use this method.
It tends to produce clean-tasting, balanced water without the extremes some ionizers create.
4. Chemical Additives
Technically, you can make water alkaline by simply adding something like:
• baking soda
• alkaline drops
• other chemical compounds
While this raises the pH, it often doesn't improve the taste and can create water that feels overly salty or artificial.
For that reason, this method is less common for everyday drinking water.
So Which Method Is Best?
That depends on what you’re looking for.
Some people prefer natural mineral water.
Others like the convenience of a machine at home.
At our shop, we focus on something simpler:
Start with clean water first.
We use reverse osmosis purification to remove the things you don’t want in your water, and then we recommend you add balanced minerals to bring the pH back up and improve the taste.
The result is water that’s:
• clean
• smooth
• easy to drink
• and consistent every time
The Best Way to Decide
You can read about water chemistry all day.
But the easiest way to understand the difference is the same way we show customers every day:
Taste it.
When people come into the shop, the first thing we usually do isn’t sell them anything.
We let them try the water.
Once you taste clean, purified water, the difference usually speaks for itself.
Everyone deserves clean drinking water, and it shouldn’t be complicated.
Stop by our store and try our water today.
