Compilation of Japanese Alkaline Ion Water Machine Association1

◆About the Product

Q. What is the medical device approval number (certification number)?

A. Household medical devices require approval/certification based on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. This review is conducted from the perspectives of safety, effectiveness, and quality assurance. Products that have received approval/certification are assigned an approval/certification number. For devices to be manufactured and sold in Japan, this approval/certification number must be indicated.

Q. Please briefly explain the principle of an alkaline ion water purifier.

A. Inside an alkaline ion water purifier (household electrolyzed water generator), there is a component called an electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell is separated by a diaphragm, with electrode plates serving as the anode (+) and cathode (-) respectively.

When raw water containing calcium ions is passed through the electrolytic cell, and a direct current voltage is applied to the anode and cathode, causing a direct current to flow through the water, cations such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium migrate to the cathode side, while anions such as chloride, carbonate, sulfate, and nitrate ions move to the anode side.

Simultaneously, water in contact with the electrode surface undergoes electrolysis, resulting in an increase of hydroxide ions (OH-) and hydrogen (H2) at the cathode side, producing alkaline ionized water with a pH above 7. (At the anode side, hydrogen ions (H+), anions, and dissolved oxygen (O2) increase, generating acidic water with a pH below 7.)

Q. I want to replace the filter, but someone recommended a non-original substitute (recommended by a competitor as interchangeable but not original). Can I use it?

A. For replacement filters for alkaline ion water purifiers, please use original products.

Household medical devices must be manufactured in factories certified by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare and obtain a medical device manufacturing certification number. Using non-original filters for consumables such as filters may affect performance or cause malfunctions, potentially impacting the product's warranty.

◆About the Generation Method of Alkaline Ion Water

Q. Why is calcium additive necessary? Can't it be omitted?

A. Calcium additive acts as an electrolysis catalyst (adding calcium promotes current flow).

Furthermore, due to variations in tap water quality across regions, when the pH of alkaline ion water fails to reach the specified value (pH 9.5), calcium additive is required. In some areas of Japan, calcium additive is necessary to facilitate electrolysis. Therefore, the purpose of adding calcium is not for calcium supplementation.

Q. Is the calcium additive safe?

A. Calcium additives (such as calcium lactate and calcium glycerophosphate) are government-approved food additives. Commonly used in foods like bread, flour, and noodles, they are highly safe.

Q. Can groundwater or simplified tap water be used as the raw water?

A. As long as it meets drinking water standards, there should be no problem. However, due to regional differences in tap water quality, especially in areas where groundwater has minimal mineral content, affecting current flow and making electrolysis difficult, or where carbonate content is high, making it challenging to achieve the desired alkaline level, it may be necessary to add calcium additive (electrolysis catalyst) or reduce flow rate. In such cases, it is recommended to consult the customer service hotline of each manufacturer.

Q. I'm using a water softener. Is it okay to install an alkaline ion water purifier on top of it?

A. A water softener reduces mineral content (calcium and magnesium) in tap water. Water treated by a water softener that meets drinking water standards can be electrolyzed by an alkaline ion water purifier to produce alkaline water. If you have already purchased an alkaline ion water purifier, it is recommended to check the pH value according to the user manual. Before purchasing, it is advisable to consult the water softener manufacturer about the relevant parameters of the product.

Hydrogen water filter 9 plates Alkaline Ionizer filter machine

◆About the Properties of Alkaline Ion Water

Q. What is alkaline ion water?

A. Alkaline ion water is water with a pH above 7, obtained from an alkaline ion water purifier (household electrolyzed water generator/medical substance generator).

Compared to tap water, alkaline ion water has an increased concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) and cations such as calcium and magnesium.

Simultaneously, hydrogen gas (H2) is also generated during the process.

Q. Are there differences in alkaline ion water produced by different manufacturers and models?

A. As long as the product host or product catalog indicates a "medical device certification number," it is a government-approved household medical device.

These products have the same basic structure and electrolysis principle for their electrolytic cells, and the alkaline ion water they produce has the same effects.

(Currently, among the functional water generating devices for drinking purposes, only the "Alkaline Ionized Water System (Household Electrolyzed Water Generator)" is recognized as a medical device under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law.)

Moreover, due to differences in price and manufacturers, alkaline ionized water systems vary in size, performance, ease of use, and after-sales service systems. For detailed information, it is recommended to check the product catalogs of individual manufacturers or inquire through their customer service windows or retailers.

Q. When alkaline ionized water is poured into a glass, it seems cloudy and whitish.

A. If the white cloudiness disappears after leaving the glass to stand for a while, it indicates that the whiteness is caused by hydrogen gas generated during electrolysis or by air from the machine mixing into the water, which is harmless.

If the white substance remains visible even after a while, it is likely to be calcium precipitate.

In such cases, it may be necessary to clean the internal pipes of the machine. Please consult the manufacturer's customer service.

Q. What does pH stand for?

A. It is an indicator of the degree of acidity or alkalinity.

The pH value is calculated using the formula pH = -log[H+] to represent the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in water, with a range of 0 to 14.

A pH of 7 is neutral, while values greater than 7 indicate increasing alkalinity as they approach 14.

Similarly, values closer to 0 indicate increasing acidity.

Q. What does alkaline ionized water taste like?

A. Most models from various manufacturers incorporate water purification filters to purify tap water first, eliminating residual chlorine and bleach taste. The resulting alkaline ionized water is widely praised for its pleasant taste.

Q. Is alkaline ionized water hard or soft?

A. Although the degree of hardness may increase slightly depending on the intensity of electrolysis, in terms of the original water source, most regions in Japan, excluding Okinawa, have soft water. Therefore, alkaline ionized water is also considered soft water (not explicitly defined, but generally considered to have a total hardness of 100mg/L or less in Japan).

Q. It's difficult to detect alkalinity when testing the pH.

A. Firstly, it's essential to consider that household tap water can be acidic. Additionally, if the tap water contains a significant amount of carbonic acid components, even after electrolysis, the high level of these components in the original water can affect the test results, making it challenging for the reagent to indicate alkalinity.

To address this, you can first boil some of the generated alkaline ionized water to allow the carbonic acid components to evaporate. Once the water cools, retest its pH. If the result shows alkalinity, it indicates that the electrolysis function of the device is working normally.

For instructions on adjusting the electrolysis intensity, please refer to the user manual of each product or consult the respective manufacturer.

Q. What is Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP)?

A. "Oxidation" refers to the reaction that occurs when a substance combines with oxygen, while "reduction" refers to the process where an oxide loses its oxygen.

Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP) is an indicator of the ratio between oxidative and reductive substances present in a solution. It is measured in millivolts (mV) or volts (V).