She is pregnant and seems sensitive to spring water. Her stomach pain never occurred again since we started buying water from a refilling station.
It was our third refill. We chose the nearest refilling station on our way home. I was too tired that I never wanted to drive back. I wanted to immediately go home and take a nap.
I handed the water container to the staff. She asked me which water I wanted, mineral water or alkaline. I was speechless for few seconds. I was a bit confused. The other refilling station have never asked such thing. I just said mineral water, that is the popular thing I know.
They are selling three water types, 1) mineral water for 30 pesos/container, 2) alkaline water for 45 pesos/container, and 3) purified water for 35 pesos/container.
To clear confusion…
Mineral. Either natural or artificial, containing 250 ppm minerals. Water has the natural ability to dissolve minerals from rocks. Most water from Earth’s crust are mineral water. Artificial when loss minerals are added back with human intervention. Minerals are loss when passed through purification process.
Mineral water free of biological, physical and chemical contaminants is generally recommended for human consumption. Minerals are essential for healthy body.
Purified. Water is purified my means of one or several of the following treatments: distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis, carbon filtration, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, ultraviolet oxydation and electrodialysis.
The total dissolved solids should be less than 10ppm. Dirt, debris, viruses, bacteria, fungi, chemical contaminants as well as the minerals are loss. It is the water recommended for laboratory purposes where impurities might affect the outcome. Not suitable as drinking water cause it tend to wash away body electrolytes.
Alkaline or ionized. Water is subjected to electrolysis to change the neutral pH 7 to slightly alkaline, pH 8. Purified water cannot be subjected to ionization cause the process relies to magnesium and calcium ions.
Some debatable benefits of alkaline water:
1) Combat body pH imbalance. People tend to be more acidic due to too much consumption of acidic foods.
2) Makes the blood a better oxygen transporter.
3) Able to hydrate six times more than other water types thus preventing skin dryness and related skin disorders.
4) Aids in absorption of some vitamins
5) Improve food taste.
update as of june 30, 2012. Please read, “Ionized Water Might be a Hoax“.