Water Ionizers: Past to Present

History

A water ionizer produces ionized water by electrically splitting filtered tap water into alkaline water and acid water. Japanese inventors developed the first water ionizer in the early 1950s and intially conducted experiments on plants and animals.

In 1954 several Japanese agricultural universities started full-scale development on the effects of ionized water--especially acid water--on plants. Today, nursery farmers that supply cut flowers use acid water to keep flowers longer before delivery to the flower shops.

Experiments on the human body took much longer because of the difficulties in maintaining the constancy of the environments. Nevertheless, medical doctors in Japan, through long, patient experiments, collected much valuable data and concluded that ionized water was nontoxic and alleviated many symptoms of adult diseases.

In 1958 manufacturers produced the first commercial water ionizers in Japan. Until then, the only water ionizers available were large units used in hospitals. On January 15, 1966, the Health and Rehabilitation Ministry of the Japanese Government approved the water ionizer as a health improvement medical device.

Japanese-made alkaline ionic water ionizers were first introduced to Korea in the 1970s, and today the government of South Korea has approved them as medical devices. Korean-made household unit were introduced in the United States in 1985 and a toxicity test was conducted by an independent testing laboratory in Los Angeles on April 14, 1986. This testing was done according to FDA specified methods. The test found no toxicity in the alkaline ionized water generated by the water ionizer.

In 1996, the Japanese National TV network, NNN/NHK TV Japan, produced a thirteen-part documentary on Miracle Water. The series covered ionized water--both alkaline drinking water and acidic topical water. Click here to see an English transcript of all thirteen parts of this television documentary series.

How Water Ionizers Work

A typical water ionizer designed for home used works by connecting to the kitchen faucet sink and producing the desired water (either alkaline or acidic) through the primary hose. During the process, the second type of water exits through a secondary hose. More specifically, the typical water ionizer works as follows:

1. The faucet diverter routes water from the faucet to the ionizer unit.
2. The water runs through a filter (such as a carbon and hollow fiber membrane) to remove chlorine, chemicals, and other contaminants such as E. Coli and crytosporidium.
3. Direct current in the electolysis chamber then processes the water to produce two types of water: alkaline (for consumption) and acidic (for external use).
4. The use can usually select the pH lever of the water. The desired water is delivered through the primary house. The user can usually select with the touch of a button whether alkaline or acidic water is to be delivered through this house.
5. The water not selected is delivered to the sink edge via the secondary hose. This water can also be collected for other uses.

Importance of Metal Plates

As mentioned in the section on Ionized Water, ionization happens when water, H2H, dissociates into H+ and OH-. Electricity is the most efficient and effective way to accomplish this dissociation of water molecules. Dissociation happens quickly when electricity passes through water. The greater the electrical charge and the longer the water is exposed to this electrical charge, the more complete the ionization.

Metal plates conduct electricity, and water ionizing units therefor use metal plates. The fact that an electrical charge causes the dissociation of the water molecules raises several considerations regarding the metals used in the process.

1. Some metals are better electrical conductors than others. The most reputable companies use titanium and platinum because of their properties, while some manufacturers use aluminum, stainless steel, copper, white gold, or metallic alloys.
2. During the electrolysis process, these metals give up varying amounts of their metal into the water.
3. Titanium is used to make the electrolysis plated because it is a very dense metal. This property makes it a good conductor of electricity over a very long period of time. Additionally, its density keeps titanium from readily breaking down in water. This factor is one of the reasons titanium is the preferred metal used in medical grade screws and pins to hold bones together. However when titanium does break down, it is considered toxic to the body.
4. Platinum is used to coat the titanium plates because, unlike titanium, in minute amounts platinum is actually a trace mineral that has many health benefits.
5. The more heavy the coated of platinum over the titanium plates, the longer it will take to break down the platinum and expose the titanium. (Of course the heavier the coating, the greater the manufacturing costs.)

Bigger, more dense titanium plates with a thick platinum coating offer the most effective long term solution. These plates will consistently produce a more complete ionization process and will last much longer.

Some companies, however, seek to cut costs by employing mesh plates or white gold in their plates. These cost cutting techniques decrease the efficacy and life span of the ionizing units and create unnecessary health risks.

White gold is an alloy of gold and some white metals such as silver and palladium. From the standpoint of durability, white gold is a much softer metal than platinum. Therefore, as electricity flows through the plates the gold will rapidly break down exposing the platinum plates in a relatively short period of time. As pointed out in the paragraphs above, the coating medium provides a buffer to keep the titanium from coming into direct contact with the water. The faster that buffer breaks down, the sooner the machine becomes a health liability.

Mesh plates are not as durable as platinum coated plates either. Mesh plates are made from titanium sprayed with platinum. While this mesh conducts electricity, there are distinct drawbacks to using wire mesh. Wire mesh cannot conduct as high an electrical voltage as a solid piece of metal. The higher the voltage passing through these mesh wires, the faster the metal degradation. The results in a machine with a much shorter useful life.

Some Chinese and Korean ionizers have used stainless steel and aluminum in their ionizers. Utilizing these inferior and much less expensive metals in the ionization process creates water that is actually hazardous to health.

The most reputable manufacturers of water ionizing units use titanium plates coated with platinum with a dipping technique and not a spraying technique. Platinum--a dense white metal--is very expensive. The higher cost of platinum compared to other metals is what makes some companies willing to cut corners at the expense of your health.