Alkaline Water and Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP)

When you look into a water ionizer to create alkaline water, you will often see something called oxidation reduction potential, or ORP. You see that your new alkaline water machine will tell you about the ORP of your alkaline water, but what does this mean?

What Is ORP?

Oxidation reduction potential, also called redox, is a type of energy that is ready for when you need it, or potential energy. The ORP level of your water shows the minimal voltage in the water, which comes from the electric charge of reducing agents or oxidizing agents.

What are oxidizing agents? In simple terms, oxidizing agents create deterioration. These agents are trying to find electrons to balance themselves out. What are reducing agents? These are antioxidants that fight oxidation. They have too many electrons and are able to give some away. The ORP level shows how much the substance is likely to reduce or oxidize something else.

ORP and Your Water

Water with a high pH level has a higher amount of reducing agents and is designated by -ORP, which is a negative ORP reading. Water with a low pH has a higher amount of oxidizing agents and is designated by +ORP, which is a positive ORP reading. An ORP meter measures the oxidation reduction potential in millivolts, or mv. The range of a reading shows how much a substance is oxidizing or anti-oxidizing.

You’ll hear about ORP related to your alkaline water machine because the machine changes the ORP of the water from regular tap water. The ORP is what’s responsible for the antioxidant value of the water and the micro clusters that make alkaline water more hydrating.

Most water has a positive ORP reading, so it is oxidizing. Generally, tap water has an ORP from +200 to +600mv. Bottled water tends to have high ORP levels of more than +400mv. Alkaline ionized water is different because it has a negative ORP reading, making it anti-oxidizing. This enables it to give some bonus electrons, which help counteract free radicals that create aging and disease in the body.

You can gain the benefits of anti-oxidizing water at home by putting your tap water through a water ionizer machine. In addition to changing the pH level of your tap water, these machines change the ORP to offer the benefits of antioxidants. Plus, the machine tells you the pH level and the ORP reading of the water so you’re informed about what you’re drinking.