pH

GENERAL INFORMATION
The pH level of your drinking water reflects how acidic it is. pH stands for ñpotential of hydrogen,î referring to the amount of hydrogen found in a substance (in this case, water). pH is measured on a scale that runs from 0 to 14. Seven is neutral, meaning there is a balance between acid and alkalinity. A measurement below 7 means acid is present and a measurement above 7 is basic (or alkaline).

AESTHETIC EFFECTS
Aesthetic problems such as an alkali (bitter) taste or scale build-up in the plumbing are created when pH levels are above 8.5; while, pH levels below 6.5 may cause aesthetic problems such as a metallic or sour taste, laundry staining or blue-green stains in sinks and drains. Water with a low pH level can cause leaching of metals from pipes and fixtures such as copper, lead, and zinc. If the pH of your water is too low or too high, it could damage your pipes, cause heavy metals like lead to leach out of the pipes into the water, and eventually make you sick. Exposure to extreme pH values results in irritation to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes.