8, 9, 10 – Why Is My RO Water pH so High?
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated: Jul 24, 2023
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Normally, when you’re filtering your water with reverse osmosis, you’d expect its pH level to go down and become acidic.
So could seeing the pH level of your RO water rise instead of decline be a sign that something is wrong? And why does it happen anyway?
Let’s find out!
Contents
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Key Takeaways
- Reverse osmosis water should normally be somewhat acidic. If its pH level is too high, this is most likely caused by a remineralization filter stage.
8, 9, 10 – Why Is My RO Water pH So High?
So, why is your RO water pH so high?
Most likely, your RO water pH is high (8, 9 or even 10) is because your reverse osmosis system uses a remineralization filter. This filter, as the name implies, is designed to add minerals to RO water in order to replenish them after they got stripped away in the reverse osmosis filtration process. Adding these minerals can increase RO water pH significantly.
It’s possible that your system has such a filter without you even realizing. Check your manual and see if the model you purchased includes a remineralization filter.
How to Lower High RO Water pH
If you want to lower the pH of your reverse osmosis water, you have several options available. Most of those are pretty simple to use, although not all of them are ideal.
No More Remineralization
As mentioned before, the simplest thing to do is to get rid of your remineralization filter. This should be straightforward, as most reverse osmosis systems are designed to be modular and all of their components are easy to swap out. See if removing the remineralization filter accomplishes the goal, because in many cases it turns out that no further steps are necessary after that.
Food Acids
You could also add acid directly to your water, sourcing it from various food-grade options. Lemon juice is the most commonly used one, but it’s far from the only one. There are many types of acids that are safe for consumption and can be easily added to your RO water in a controlled fashion.
Acid Injection
An acid injection system, as its name implies, introduces acid to your water supply. The main problem with this option is that many of these systems are installed at the point of entry, while reverse osmosis filtration typically works at the point of use. In other words, the acid would be injected before the water enters your RO system.
Adding acids to your home’s water supply at the main water line also introduces other problems – think corrosion. This is why we recommend you to confirm this step with a local water treatment expert beforehand!
Anion Exchange
Anion exchange resin can be used to remove anions from water and thus reduce its pH. However, most anions should have been removed from your RO water already, so that this might not have a noticeable effect.
Further Reading:
Is It Dangerous to Drink Reverse Osmosis Water with High pH?
Water with high pH – also commonly known as alkaline water – is not harmful by default. Some studies have been conducted on this, and the general consensus is that alkaline water may have some potential health benefits, while at the same time it doesn’t endanger your health in any way.
Note, however, that more research needs to be performed on this topic, so you shouldn’t blindly believe all the miraculous health claims made about alkaline drinking water either.
Bottom line: Drinking high pH reverse osmosis water is not harmful by itself, and it may or may not provide additional health benefits.
Benefits and Drawbacks of High pH in RO Water
High pH water is generally known for its health benefits. And it’s true: Various studies have pointed towards positive effects related to drinking high pH water, including:
- Improved bone density in women
- Improved stool consistency
- Potential reduction in certain aging markers
At the same time, far more research needs to be conducted on the topic.
Specific drawbacks of drinking high pH water are not known, unless the water is overly alkaline.
How Can You Test the pH of Reverse Osmosis Water Precisely?
If you’re wondering where your reverse osmosis water stands in terms of pH levels, you can use a store-bought pH strip to test it, or even get a more advanced pH meter.
pH Meter
A pH meter is a device used for measuring the pH level of water. It can provide you with very accurate measurements, and can be used multiple times, allowing you to re-test your water every once in a while.
pH Strips
A simpler alternative, pH strips are simple test strips which indicate the pH level of water they come in contact with. These strips can be very useful for a simpler test when you don’t need to know the exact acidity level of your water.
If you have any questions about high RO water pH please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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