Water is an essential need for all humans. There have been a lot of discussions on social media about bottled water. But some such posts are misleading. This is our investigation about it.
Social Media Posts
A viral video circulating on social media has raised concerns by claiming that several well-known bottled water brands, such as Voss, Smartwater, Ethos water, Dasani, Aquafina- and Great value Walmart Purified drinking water, have dangerously high acidity levels. The video shows pH tests indicating that some of these brands fall below the neutral pH range, suggesting potential health risks.
Further, the popularity of alkaline water has skyrocketed in recent years, with claims that it can help with everything from improved hydration and digestion to slowing down aging and fighting cancer. Alkaline water is marketed as being “better” than regular water because it has a higher pH, typically between 8 and 9, which is considered alkaline (regular water typically has a neutral pH of 7). But is drinking alkaline water really beneficial for your health, or is it just another wellness fad?
Given the widespread popularity of these brands, we decided to fact-check these claims using information from official brand sources and reliable water quality reports.
We decided to do a fact-check on this.
Fact Check
Understanding Water pH Levels
The pH of water measures its acidity or alkalinity on a scale of 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is alkaline. According to the European Union (EU) Drinking Water Directive, pH is an “indicator parameter” rather than a strict safety criterion. It recommends a range of 6.5 to 9.5 for public water systems and 4.5 to 9.5 for bottled water. Carbonated waters may have lower pH levels due to dissolved CO₂. Read here
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), water’s pH usually has no direct impact on consumer health. However, extreme pH levels can affect water’s taste and its interaction with plumbing systems, potentially leading to corrosion or other issues. Read here
Analyzing the Viral Claims: Brand Breakdown
Claim 1. Icelandic Glacial Water: The viral video indicates that Icelandic water has an alkaline pH above 8.4 (green color indicator). According to Icelandic Glacial’s official website, their water is naturally alkaline with a pH of 8.4 due to filtration through lava rock layers. Read here. Thus, Icelandic Glacial is alkaline, not acidic, and its pH is well within the safe range.
Claim 2. Trader Joe’s Electrolyte Water: The video suggests a pH range of 8-9, while the bottle label claims a pH above 9.5. This discrepancy raises consumer concerns. Read here. Trader Joe’s website maintains that their electrolyte water is carefully formulated to retain its high pH level. However, testaqua.com said that, “When we tested Trader Joe’s Alkaline Purified water, the level of TDS was 41 and the pH was around 10”. Read here
Claim 3. Essentia Water: The viral video measured Essentia’s pH at around 9. Their website confirms that their ionized alkaline water has a pH of 9.5 or higher, promoting benefits like enhanced hydration. Read here
Claim 4. Voss Water: The video shows Voss water turning yellow, indicating acidity (pH around 5-6). Voss’s official reports state that their still water has a pH of 5.8 and their sparkling water 5.2, likely due to carbonation. Read here. Thus, Voss is slightly acidic, but still within the safe range for drinking water.
Claim 5. Eternal Water: The video shows Eternal Water as alkaline, with a pH in the 8-9 range. Eternal’s website confirms that its water has a natural pH of between 7.8 and 8.2, making it alkaline. Therefore, Eternal is alkaline and safe for consumption. Read here
Claim 6. Smartwater: In the video, Smartwater tested as acidic. However, Smartwater’s official website mentions that the brand offers an alkaline version with a pH of 9.5 and an antioxidant blend. Their original Smartwater has a more neutral pH (close to 7), which is considered safe. Read here. Smartwater Original is vapor-distilled and designed to have a balanced pH with added electrolytes. Read here. Therefore, Smartwater’s original version is neutral or slightly alkaline, while their alkaline version is safe and has a pH of 9.5.
Claim 7. Trader Joe’s Natural Spring Water: The video shows this water as neutral with a pH around 7. According to testing data from TestAqua, Trader Joe’s Natural Spring Water has a pH of 6.5, which is still within the safe range for drinking. Read here. Therefore, Trader Joe’s spring water is slightly acidic, but it’s still safe to drink.
Claim 8. Ethos Water: The video shows Ethos Water as acidic, with a pH below 5. TestAqua reports that Ethos Water has a pH of 5.5, which is on the lower end of the safe pH range. Read here Hence, Ethos is slightly acidic, but still within the range that’s acceptable for drinking
Claim 9. Aquafina: The video shows Aquafina as acidic with a yellow indicator. According to its official website, Aquafina’s pH ranges between 5.5 and 7. Read here. The brand focuses on purity through processes like reverse osmosis, ozonation, and carbon filtration. Read here
Claim 10. Dasani: The viral video suggests Dasani is more acidic than other brands. Coca-Cola, which owns Dasani, does not provide explicit pH values. However, Kind℠ Water Systems reports that Dasani’s pH is between 5.0 and 7.0, making it slightly acidic but still within acceptable limits. Read here. Thus, Dasani’s pH is mildly acidic, but still falls within the acceptable drinking range.
Claim 11. Fiji Water: In the video, Fiji water shows a slightly alkaline pH of around 8 (green color). Fiji’s official documentation indicates a natural pH of 7.7 due to its filtration through volcanic rock. Read here
Claim 12. Great Value (Walmart) Purified Water: The video shows this brand as highly acidic. Independent tests report a pH around 6.2 to 5.0, supporting the video’s findings. Read here and here
Claim 13. Zephyrhills: The video shows Zephyrhills as slightly alkaline. Zephyrhills team is reported to have a pH of 7.7, which is mildly alkaline. Read here. Thus, Zephyrhills is slightly alkaline, within the safe drinking range.
Claim 14. Tap Water: Tap water, as shown in the video, generally has a pH of around 7.5. This is consistent with typical municipal water systems that aim to keep pH within a neutral range for both safety and taste. Read here
Claim 15. Are Acidic or Alkaline pH Levels Harmful?
Despite concerns raised in the viral video, scientific research suggests that pH alone is not a significant health risk factor when it comes to drinking water. The EPA and WHO guidelines prioritize factors like contaminants and microbiological quality over pH. While some health trends advocate for alkaline water, claiming benefits like improved hydration and acid reflux management, these claims are not strongly supported by scientific evidence. Read here and here
Conclusion: Are These Waters Too Acidic?
The viral video’s claims about popular bottled water being dangerously acidic are largely exaggerated. While some waters, like Voss and Ethos, are slightly acidic (with pH values around 5 to 6), they still fall within safe, drinkable limits. Most other popular waters, including Icelandic Glacial, Essentia, Smartwater, and Fiji, are either neutral or alkaline, with pH values well above 7.
In general, the pH levels of these bottled waters are not harmful to your health. The EPA, WHO, and the EU Drinking Water Directive all agree that a pH between 6.5 and 8.5 is ideal for drinking water. Although some health advocates argue that alkaline water offers additional benefits, there is little scientific evidence to suggest that alkaline water is superior to regular water.More details can be read here
So, unless you’re drinking water with a pH well below 5 or above 9.5 (which is rare), there’s no need to worry about acidity affecting your health. Drink the water you enjoy and stay hydrated!
Title:Debunking the Acidic Water Trend: Is It Really Bad for Your Health?
Fact Check By: Fact Crescendo TeamResult: Missing Context
