I’m glad you checked back – sorry it’s taken me so long to reply.

First of all, there is nothing “synthetic” about water that is produced by a standard “plug in” electric water ionizer. Countertop water ionizers use an electrical current to alter the properties of the water the same way non-electrics use FIR and (electro) magnetic elements to alter the properties of the water. The only difference is the strength of the electromagnetic currents used.

Personally, I’ve always been careful to inform “low ORP shoppers” that once the ORP gets stronger than a negative 350 reading, the body doesn’t process the extra as effectively. Most responsible water ionizer resellers will do the same.

I don’t have any problems whatsoever with the non-electric water ionizers. It’s a matter of preference – and I firmly believe that the benefits of owning a regular “plug into the wall for electrical current” water ionizer offers considerably more benefits than a filtration-style non-electric water ionizer. Here’s why -

Most water ionizers will give you at least 5 different alkaline and acidic presets to choose from, plus a regular “filtered” setting which is the appropriate setting to use when taking prescription medications, mixing baby formula or for drinking with meals. This is not an option with non-electrics – at least not that I’ve seen so far.

While you can increase or slow down the rate of flow with non-electrics to adjust the alkaline strength of the water, a “regular” electric water ionizer has presets that can be selected that will do this for you. The more advanced models let you customize the presets to the pH levels you use most often. No flow rate guess work, once the preset has been customized you just use that preset on the unit – flow rate will be the same for all levels unless you choose to slow it down to make even stronger water.

Back to the extreme negative ORP levels, while your body can’t make much of those levels past the negative 350 point, the stronger ORP does have a positive impact on foods. Whether cooking or cleaning foods – the stronger ORP allows flavors to blend better when making soups or stews. Marinades penetrate meats and vegetables better, salad dressings stay blended better, fruits and vegetables soaked in the strongest levels of ionized alkaline water tend to be sweeter or lose the harshness of their flavor – and this stronger water does an excellent job when it comes to releasing dirt and pesticides from the surface of produce.

Oh – and coffee – let’s not forget coffee. I make coffee every morning with alkaline water at a pH of 11.5 with an ORP of around -850. The flavor is considerably smoother.

As for picking up a gallon of water at the store – I would be spending an average of at least $3/day – probably more. – and that’s just for cooking.

In the morning I make my coffee using the strongest alkaline setting on my water ionizer. While I’m filling one container with strong alkaline water to make coffee, I’m filling another container with strong acidic water that I use for quick cleanups around the house during the day.

Mealtime is my heavy water ionizer use time. Strong alkaline water to clean the greens I use in my salad, and I use the strong acidic water as a secondary rinse. If I’m using tomatoes I’ll let them soak in strong alkaline water to give them a sweeter flavor.

I rinse my chicken or fish with acidic water to kill bacteria on the surface. My dog is on a natural raw food diet – I rinse her chicken drummettes in acidic water to make sure she doesn’t get any bad bacteria, and soak her broccolli in strong alkaline water to remove pesticides and give it a better flavor – she’s picky and notices the difference.

You don’t get acidic options with non-electric water ionizers – at least not that I have seen so far.

Wheat berries are a staple item here. Cooking them or pasta or rice in alkaline water at any level I have found leaves them sticky and/or mush. I use an acidic setting for cooking these and the texture comes out perfect. I was visiting friends this weekend and they were boiling water for pasta – I could smell the chlorine fumes from their tap water as soon as I walked into the kitchen.

Acidic water is the go-to first aid treatment at my house. It helps small cuts and scrapes stop bleeding faster, relieves the pain of burns, wasp stings, insect bites. My father uses it for treating his sinuses and also puts drops in his eyes when they are itchy, dry or when he feels like he’s getting an eye infection.

Bottom line, I advocate the use of “regular” electric water ionizers because you get more for your investment than just an overpriced drinking water machine. Non-electrics work fine for producing alkaline water for drinking, but they don’t give you the push-button flexibility you get with standard water ionizers capable of producing multiple levels of alkaline and acidic water.

As far as the water produced by water ionizers being ‘synthetic,” it is no more synthetic than the water produced by a non-electric water ionizer, the only difference is the strength of the electro-magnetic current used. Non-electrics create ions using FIR and magnetic elements, electric water ionizers use electrical currents.

The choice to let the acidic water go down the drain is just that, a choice. It’s rarely wasted in many households. Too many uses. Quick clean-ups, mouthwash, skin treatments, hair treatments – even just dumping it on the plants in your yard.

Electric water ionizers aren’t for everyone – they are a good long-term value and I think they stand up just fine to non-electrics. What are the options with non-electric water ionizers for regular filtered water with no change in alkalinity or ionization? What about acidic levels for cooking and cleaning? What about the strongest alkaline water with high ORP that can effectively lift stains from carpet and fabrics instead of using chemical cleaners?

I firmly believe that even some of the most expensive water ionizers are worth the investment when it comes to the varied uses and long-term benefits.

Glad I had a little voice in my head tell me to come back and check this today. Why didn’t you just send me an email so I knew you wanted to test an alkaStream? You have my contact info? You didn’t want me to not see your response did you?

I find it interesting how much this article has changed since the first version I responded to. Now there is more I have to address.

Most of which comes down a broad question. Natural vs. synthetic. Is natural food better than synthetic? How about vitamins and supplements…whole food or synthetic? Since you mentioned infants…breast milk or formula? Stove top heating or microwave? Why is synthetic (electric) ionized water the outlier?

I know you’ve done a lot of research on ionized water. Where is the proof that low -ORPs are better for you? If there isn’t proof, then is it safer to assume what nature would create is better? At what point does the antioxidant become an oxidant. I know Dr. Young has talked about that, just can’t find it.

You are also only focusing on -ORP as the antioxidant. I would encourage you to do some research on free hydrogen and how the body breaks it down after we drink. You can’t measure it with an mV meter.

Non-electrics don’t rely on source minerals. The alkaStream sends water through a layer of minerals and utilizes water’s ability as a solvent to pick up what it wants and carry it into our glass. It’s why we work so well in-line with RO systems. If you don’t want a 9.5 pH, then speed up the flow of the water. The less time it’s in contact with the minerals and ionization media, the less potent it will be. Nice slow mineral shot in the morning as a detox, speed it later in the day. Just want filtered?…go full speed. There is plenty of variation available.

Is the ability to make acidic water worth $2000 more when you can pick it up by the gallon at your local store for $0.89? What’s advertised as beauty water from an ionizer is lining the shelves at the grocery store. My family has been using bottle water for a year now and we haven’t missed a beat. And we only use what we need…the rest of the time it’s not running down the drain. Need the really low pH water, grab an activeIon for $189. Easy, portable, on demand, no chemicals needed and well worth the money.

There could be several reasons you’re not seeing results from the water you’ve been getting. How and where it’s stored makes a difference, the machine producing the water may not be producing water at the proper level. Ionized water will always offer the most benefits when you drink it straight from the machine – still I know a lot of people who get the water from a local distributor and see results within the first few days just drinking the stuff that’s been sitting in jugs.

I’d be happy to test the Alkastream or any other non-electric product you’d care to send. I don’t have a problem with the non-electrics, I just believe the electrical charge provides more antioxidants – which is why most people are considering a water ionizer in the first place.

Non-electrics are fine but they don’t offer the same flexibility of use – able to provide alkaline or acidic streams at multiple levels – or antioxidant properties one gets with a true water ionizer. I sell a couple of portable products that work on the same principles as the Alkastream and other non-electrics. What I run into is that the results will always vary based on the source water used. And when I use a portable for travel I don’t have access to acidic water for washing my face nor do I have just regular “filtered” water available for drinking with meals –

Would be happy to test your Alkastream – you can contact me through my website waterionizerauthority.com