Water Ionizers: The 40 Most Common Questions About the Electronic alkaliser range of systems

Q: What exactly is ionised water?

Ionization simply means to gain or lose an electron. Water that has been ionized becomes either alkaline or acidic, meaning that the pH has been adjusted up or down.

Alkaline water is full of Hydroxyl ions. This is the water we drink that has many Health Benefits as described below.
Acidic water is full of Hydrogen ions. This is water that we apply only to the outside of our body. It is also great for plant growth.

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Q: Why should I drink Ionized water?

There are 4 main benefits to Alkaline Ionized Water.
it is a powerful antioxidant. People spend hundreds of dollars a month purchasing antioxidants because they are anti-diseases, anti-aging, anti-cancer, which they accomplish through neutralizing free radicals. Free radical damage causes us to age and causes disease. Since Ionized water is a liquid antioxidant, it is easily absorbed into the body which makes it much more effective and a powerful antioxidant.
Once the Ionized Antioxidant in the form of Hydroxyl Ions (oxygen molecule with an extra electron) donates its extra electrons to free radicals (oxygen molecule that is missing one electron) you are left with more oxygen. Ionized water gives you energy by providing your body with lots of oxygen! This is one of the most incredible aspects of Ionized water!
Ionized Water Balances body pH because it is very alkaline. Our diet is often extremely acidic . Soft drinks, fast foods & processed foods deposit acid waste in our bodies that builds up over time and creates an ideal environment for diseases of all kinds to thrive. This is, of course, true even with children. Chronic soft drink consumers such as children put themselves in grave danger by allowing their bodies to build up acid waste. Many end up with serious diseases at a very young age. Maintaining an alkaline pH (6.9-7.2) may support our maintenance of an environment in our bodies that is NOT conducive to disease. It may take some time depending on how acidic your body is, but Ionized water, may, because of its alkaline properties, neutralise acid waste in our bodies. Ionized Water is meant to work as a preventative measure. If you are ill with any disease it always helps to support an alkaline balance.
Ionized water has a different molecular cluster size. It contains only five to six water molecules instead of the ten to thirteen that conventional water molecule clusters have. It has changed from an irregular shape that is 10-13 molecule to a hexagonal regular shape that is half the size. This smaller or "reduced" water is much more hydrating than conventional water. There are two consequences of this. First, Ionized Water is much more hydrating than conventional water and, second, it is extremely detoxifying.

The detoxification properties of Ionized water are powerful and astounding. They simply can not be ignored. A water ionizer has different levels of intensity because the average person is not advised to begin by drinking strongly ionized water. This is particularly true of the elderly, who need to start out at the lowest level and work their way up slowly. People who have spent a lifetime building up acid waste in their bodies may suffer initial headaches, flu symptoms or diarrhea.

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Q; How does alkaline ionized water compare to tap or bottled water?

A common remark regarding the taste of Ionized water is that it tastes smoother or 'silkier' than conventional water. This is because of the molecule cluster size and shape. Since it is small and regular shaped, it feels smooth because it is. It also does not fill you up and bloat you the way conventional water can do if you drink a lot of it at once.
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Q:What should I expect from drinking Ionized Alkaline Water?

A: This will initially depend on what level of strength you begin drinking Ionized alkaline water. Ionized Water provides your body withlots of oxygen, which is why it gives us energy. Ionized Water is much smoother tasting than conventional water. It makes better coffee, tea, juice, etc. Alkaline water is wonderful to cook with because it helps hydrate the food and bring out its flavor. However, other changes in your body after drinking ionized water will be much more subtle and will take some time. If you have accumulated acid waste in your system, it probably took years for you to get into that condition and it will take some time to reverse it. As the body is slowly brought into pH balance by drinking Ionized Water, it will naturally begin to function more efficiently and problems will begin to correct themselves.
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Q: Who should drink Ionized Alkaline Water?

A: People, pets and animals will all notice benefits from drinking Ionized Alkaline Water.
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Q: Is there anyone who should not drink Ionized Alkaline Water?

A: Some people must start by drinking very small amounts of Ionized Alkaline Water, such as 8 oz. of strength level 1 (one) Ionized Alkaline Water per day. This is especially true of the elderly who often have unfortunately allowed heavy metals and other toxins to accumulate in their bodies. Sometimes years of medication has accumulated in them.
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Q: Should I take medication or supplements with Ionize Alkaline Water?

A: You should not drink Ionize Alkaline Water 45 minutes to 1 hour before or after taking medication or supplements. Do not drink Ionized Alkaline Water when taking the medication or supplements. Use purified water or another liquid or water source.
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Q: Can a person become too Alkaline from drinking Ionized Alkaline Water?

A: People have been known to drink as much as 1 to 2 gallons of Ionized Water every day and gotten great benefit from it. And they have not appeared to become too alkaline. On the contrary, one of the most common imbalances people have today that leads to health problems is that they are too acidic. Our blood pH should be approximately 7.35. The more acidic we are, the greater opportunity we have provided disease to flourish in us. In fact, it is rare for a person to acquire Alkalosis, the condition of being too alkaline. We should always drink Alkaline Water and eat Alkaline Foods such as fruits and vegetables.
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Q: Why do some people get headaches and diarrhea when first drinking this water?

The Ionization process creates water molecule clusters that are half the size of regular water molecule clusters. This is why Ionized water is sometimes referred to as "reduced water" because it has become reduced in size from a 12 water molecule cluster to 6 water molecule cluster. This makes the water much more hydrating because it flows through our body tissue more easily, thus pushing toxins out of our system. It is this detoxifying effect that sometimes gives people headaches and diarrhea and why there are 4 levels of strength on all of our Water Ionizers. All Water ionizers should have more than one level.
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Q: How much water should I drink and at what level?

A: This varies according to which expert you talk to. Some say you should drink half your body weight in ounces per day. For example,a person weighing 100 pounds should drink 50 ounces. You should start slow at strength Level 1 (one), drinking 1-3 glasses per day for the first week. You may increase the number of glasses per day during the first week if you do not notice any side effects. If you do not feel any flu like symptoms at the end of the first week, move up to strength Level 2 (two). On strength Level 2 (two), drink 1-3 glasses per day for the first week. You may increase the number of glasses per day during the first week if you’re feeling good. On average, two to three weeks per level; work your way up to a 10.5 pH (strength Level 4 (four). The higher the strength level of Ionized Water you can drink, the better it is for you because the water is more Alkaline, more Detoxifying, and a stronger Antioxidant that provides your body with more Oxygen.
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Q: When will I begin noticing the health benefits?

A: It varies from person to person. You might start noticing a positive response in as little as one day or within a few weeks.
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Q:Do some people have detox symptoms when first drinking Ionised Alkaline Water?

A: If you start drinking Ionized Alkaline Water at a high level (high pH level), you might notice flu like symptoms. The ionisationprocess creates water molecule clusters that are half the size of regular water molecule clusters. This is why Ionised Alkaline Water is sometimes referred to as "reduced water" because it has become reduced in size from a 12 water molecule cluster to 6 water molecule cluster. This makes the water much more hydrating because it flows through our body tissue more easily, thus pushing toxins out of our system. It is this detoxifying effect that sometimes gives people headaches and diarrhea and why there are 4 levels of strength.
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Q: How does Ionised Alkaline Water affect athletes?

A: In an extremely positive way, as you might expect. Blood oxygen levels may rise at varying amounts with regular use of strong Ionised Water. This may increase stamina, endurance and provides the muscles tissue and organs with high amounts of oxygen, which the human body often lacks, even in athletes because inadequate diets. Proper hydration sustains the body's physiological responses in all activities, but the physical and mental stresses of athletic training and competition magnify the importance of hydration. Numerous studies conducted on athletes since the 1940s have demonstrated that even mild dehydration impairs performance. Current thought is that athletes consuming a traditional Western diet have consumed an abundance of salt, so there is no need to replace salt when exercise last less than two hours. Water that has been alkalinized may help neutralize the exercise induced acidosis (lactic acid build up), since the pH of alkaline water is high. Ionized water may help act as a free-radical scavenger to address the issue of accelerated oxygen consumption. Ionized water is micro-clustered, so it may be absorbed at a faster rate, helping with rehydration. We recommend drinking 2-3 glasses)of water 2 hours before exercise and about 1-2 glasses every 15 to 20 minutes of exercise, depending on your total body weight.
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Q: How long does Ionized Alkaline Water stay Ionized?

A: The Antioxidant (hydroxyl ions) will last approximately 18-24 hours. The Higher pH (alkaline properties) will last approximately 1-2 weeks. The smaller molecule cluster size will last approximately 1-3 months. Does Ionized Alkaline Water have any negative effects?
Absolutely none, as long as it is used properly. Only the Alkaline Water should be consumed. NEVER DRINK THE ACIDIC WATER.
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Q: How does a water ionizer work?

A: The AlkaWay water Alkalizer can be directly connected to a diverter valve at the end of your faucet. Connecting directly to your faucet takes about 10-15 minutes and enables your water ionizer to use a two step process. The first task is to help filter out harmful components of the water with our built-in dual filter system, which remove chlorine, trihalomethanes, phenols, sediment, odor, taste, and organic waste. The AlkaWay Ionizer achieves this by using multi-stage filters. Then the filtered water passes into a patented chamber equipped with platinum-coated titanium plates. Next, an electrical charge is introduced into this water. This is where the electrolysis takes place. The water is separated into two streams (acid and alkaline) of ionized water. The acid water (oxidized) makes up about 30% of the water and the alkaline water 70%. The reduced ionized alkaline water comes out of the faucet, which you use for drinking or cooking. The acid (oxidized) water comes out of a separate hose leading into the sink. The oxidation potential of the acid water makes it a good sterilizing agent, ideal for washing your hands, cleaning food or kitchen utensils, and treating minor wounds and eczema. Cations, positively charged ions gather at the negative electrode to create alkaline water, which concentrates available alkaline minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium from the source water. Anions, negatively charged ions gather at the positive electrode to make acid or oxidized water, which concentrates acid minerals such as nitrates, sulfides, chlorides, and fluorides from the source water. Remember in chemistry class, opposites attract. A range of pH settings from neutral to very alkaline or very acid is available at the touch of a button. The electrodes are cleaned in an automatic cleaning cycle or you can also run a manual cleaning cycle. The electrolysis process breaks the molecular bonding of water molecules and restructures the water clusters from usual groups of 12 or so down to about 5 or 6 molecules per water cluster. "Clustered" water is typically characterized by smaller groups of molecules, lower surface tensions and thus can more easily penetrate the cellular membrane. This clustering process is somewhat akin to the ease of carrying a bowling ball through a normal doorway versus trying to carry an 8 foot diameter balloon through the same doorway. This clean, healthy, alkaline ionized water is drawn for drinking and cooking through the main stainless steel spout.
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Q: Will I need any additional parts in order to install my Water Ionizer?

About 10% of all faucets do not have the standard screw thread that will fit the faucet diverter that comes with Water Ionizers. If you find the faucet diverter will not fit your sink, note what kind of faucet you have and take the faucet adapter to any hardware store and they will have the necessary parts you will need.
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Q: How do I know when the filter needs replacing?

A: An indicator on the front panel gives an indication of remaining filter life. Generally the filter will last for about 9-12 months, but this depends on the source of water and the amount of use. For example, if your tap water contains between 0.4 and 1.0 ppm (parts per million) of chlorine, a filter can last 12 months for one person's use. If greater than 1.0 ppm, the filter may last 8 months. A family of four on a typical Australian water supply will replace the filter about every 9 months. By changing your filter at regular intervals, you are assured of the inner hygiene of the filter - and you keep your warranty valid!
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Q: What should be done if the machine is not to be used for 7 days or more?

A: Remove the filter from the main body, wrap in plastic wrapping, and store in a refrigerator. Remove the power plug. When ready to use again, install the filter and run in the Ionizer in the ‘PURIFIED’ mode for approx. 3 minutes before using the water.
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Q: What does it mean when water flows through the main body and it becomes warm?

A: At the start of water flow, warm water may flow out due to room temperature or accunulated heat from the internal computer during standby. This is not a malfunction. Use the machine after starting water flow.
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Q: There are white substances on the bottom of my alkaline ionized water storage container. What are these?

A: This phenomenon is caused by the calcium mineral substances in alkaline ionized water. Particularly, if the carboxyl group (CO3) is present, it will bind to the calcium carbonate (Ca CO3), creating such substances. This is apparent evidence of electrolysis. Although it is safe to drink, - add one spoon of edible vinegar and water to the container, leave the container for approximately 1 hour, and wash the container.
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Q: What is hard water?

A: Hard water forms when naturally occurring minerals enter water sources. Over time these minerals are absorbed by groundwater. The two most common types of minerals found in hard water are calcium and magnesium compounds. The Water Quality Association of the United States defines hard water as water containing dissolved hardness minerals above 1 GPG (grains per gallon). The most common hardness causing minerals are Calcium and Magnesium. Levels of hardness are classified as follows:
Soft Water - less than 1 GPG,
Slightly hard - 1 to 3.5 GPG
Moderately hard - 3.5 to 7 GPG
Hard - 7 to 10.5 GPG
Very Hard - 10.5 and higher GPG
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Q: How do I adjust the volume on my water Ionizer?

A: Check the manual.
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Q: Why do I want to adjust the amperage on my water Ionizer?

A: As you know, all water sources are not created equal. Your water source plays an important role on how your water Ionizer creates Ionized Alkaline Water. Being able to adjust the amperage will allow you to find the optimum pH for the best production of alkaline ionized water based on your water source. This is available on the Alphion. To find out how, check the manual.
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Q: Do I need to hire a plumber to install the units?

A: Most people find it is not necessary to call a plumber for most standard installations. For customised or undersink installations, a plumber may be needed depending on the individual circumstances, especially on installtion of the undersink Delphi.

Q: How do I clean the internal plates?

A: In normal municipla water supply areas you do not need to clean the plates. This happens automatically. However in certain areas of Australia a weekly acid water rinse will assist the cleanse process. Ask an AlkaWay specialist if your area requires a weekly acid flush here.

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Q: Can I use tank water?

A: There are various forms of tank water that affect an ionizer's performance in different ways. Please refer to the video here or Contact AlkaWay to receive our special download on tank water .

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Q: Can I use bore water?

A: Bore water can be a problem for water ionizers depending on the mineral content of the water. Check the video here or Contact AlkaWay to receive our special download on tank and bore water .

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Q: What is the difference between AlkaWay models?

A: Each model is designed to fulfil a specific purpose. take the time to learn which is best for you..

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Q: What if I move house?

A: Unless you've plumbed in the Delphi or the Melody, there's no problem. if you have either of these models then you'll need to re-install them at your new home. Covering the faucet hole in the sink or bench of your old home is easy using a special cover available at any plumbing supplies.

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Q: What does the filter remove?

A: See the video here

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Q: Can it be used commercially?

In the dairy industry, with Live Stock, healthier, faster growing crops, etc. All this is now being demonstrated, albeit slowly, to these industries. Alkaline Ionized Water should be fed to the animals. The Acidic Ionized Water will benefit crops, as well as the livestock in that it will help keep a much lower mortality rates and cleaner environment, keeping in mind the acidic water retards bacteria and bacterial growth. Tests are underway in various industries demonstrating the positive effects of Ionized Water but they are still in their infancy.

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Q: What do I do if the filters are leaking?

A: It is important to note where on the filter it is leaking. Most leaking comes from fittings that are not seated properly. Reseat the tubing into the filter by pushing in firmly and then pulling back. It may be necessary to re-trim the end of the tubing to get a fresh surface. Make sure to shut off the water before working with the water supply lines. leakage may also occur because the actual filter cartridge is not seated properly. Remove it and replace it.
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Q: How do I know what pre-filter I need?

A: Check with an Alkaline Specialist to determine whether a pre-filter is needed. Most municipal water districts have water reports free of charge on the internet. Other water may need to be tested by an independent water testing company. If you can not find a water report for the area the necessary information, please contact your sales representative.
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Q: How do I set up the pre-filter unit?

A: The pre-filter is installed in the supply line on the ionizer. Quick connects are provided for your convenience. Simply push the tubing in the connector and it seals automatically. When installing the filter for the first time, it is suggested to let the filter fill with water for a few minutes before turning on the ionizer.
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Q: How often will I need to check the Alkalisers's pH?