The corrosion of pipes and plumbing fixtures can cause a multitude of problems with your water. Corrosion is the gradual decomposition or destruction of a material by oxidation or by pH. A low pH can cause leaching of copper in the main plumbing of the house, eating away the structural integrity of the piping.

pH is a measure of how acidic/basic water is. The range goes from 0 – 14, with 7 being neutral. pHs of less than 7 indicate acidity (orange juice, vinegar), whereas a pH of greater than 7 indicates a base (ammonia). pH is really a measure of the relative amount of free hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in the water. Water that has more free hydrogen ions is acidic, whereas water that has more free hydroxyl ions is basic. Since pH can be affected by chemicals in the water, pH is an important indicator of water that is changing chemically. pH is reported in “logarithmic units”. Each number represents a 10-fold change in the acidity/basicness of the water. Water with a pH of five is ten times more acidic than water having a pH of six.

When pH is low, your household plumbing pipes may leach copper into the water causing green stains on bathroom sinks and porcelain surfaces. The water itself may also appear to have a blue-green tint.

WATER TREATMENT CAN IMPROVE ACIDITY ISSUES.

The term “neutralizer” is commonly used to refer to calcite or magnesia acid-neutralizing filters used to neutralize acidity and/or reduce free carbon dioxide in water and thereby raise the pH of acidic water.