Most people think of water being water. But buyers of water ionizers are smart enough to know that water isn’t just water. There are different levels of minerals, chemicals, acid levels, base levels and many other determining factors. The treatment process, the delivery process and even the drinking process can all affect the final liquid that is ingested. To try and understand the differences in most of the water we drink let’s take a closer look and get a better idea of why water is not just water.
 
Tap Water :
Tap water, which derives its name from the delivery process of a faucet or tap is generally water delivered through municipal pipes from a treatment center. It is the most common form of drinking water for most industrialized nations. Tap water varies greatly from city to city and even house to house, depending on such factors as the conditions and ages of the pipes used to deliver it. Most municipalities counter the effects of different water sources and delivery methods by adding chemicals such as chloride and fluoride (which is a more controversial additive). The goal of adding such chemicals is to get the water to a pH of 7 which is considered neutral on the pH scale which ranges from 0 to 14. With a neutral pH balance tap water has the same levels of acid to bases or alkaline levels (7 to 7). Most people complain of the taste or smell of tap water which derives from the chemicals and minerals found in it. It is generally accepted that most tap water in modern countries is safe to drink.
 
Well Water :
Well water is water taken from a well or underwater aquifer. It varies greatly on the location of the well. Most well water is filtered rain water that soaks through the earth’s surface. Since the earth has so many different types of terrestrial formations the quality and composition of well water varies greatly. Depending on whether the water filters through volcanic rock, granite, sand or any other numerous composites, well water can is very difficult to compare. The most common benefit of well water is the many beneficial minerals but this also can lead to the water being extremely heavy and requiring treatment. In general well water that has been drawn from an aquifer is safe and beneficial to drink.
 

Spring Water :
Like well water, natural spring water is usually found where an aquifer meets the earth’s surface. It has many of the same properties as well water and, like well water, varies greatly from source to source.
 
Bottled Water :
Bottled water is drinking water packaged in bottles for individual consumption and retail sale. The water used can be glacial water, spring water, well water, purified water or simply water from the public water supply (tap water). Many countries, particularly developed countries, regulate the quality of bottled water through government standards, typically used to ensure that water quality is safe and labels accurately reflect bottle contents. Manufacturers of bottled water usually state that their product is healthier than tap water, which depending on the regulations, is generally true since even companies that use tap water as the source further filter or distill it. Consumers of bottled water usually point to the better taste and smell of bottled water over tap water in comparisons.
 
Purified Water :
Purified water is water from any source that is physically processed to remove impurities. Distilled water and deionized water have been the most common forms of purified water, but water can also be purified by other processes including reverse osmosis, carbon filtration, microporous filtration, ultrafiltration, ultraviolet oxidation, or electrodialysis. In recent decades, a combination of the above processes have come into use to produce water of such high purity that its trace contaminants are measured in parts per billion (ppb) or parts per trillion (ppt). Purified water has many uses, largely in science and engineering laboratories and industries, and is produced in a range of purities (Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distilled_water)
 
Distilled Water :
Distilled water has virtually all of its impurities removed through distillation. Distillation involves boiling the water and then condensing the steam into a clean container, leaving nearly all of the solid contaminants behind. Distillation produces very pure water but also leaves behind a leftover white or yellowish mineral scale on the distillation apparatus, which requires that the apparatus be frequently cleaned.
 
Commercially Filtered Water :
Filtered water is water that has been filtered through a compound to remove impurities. The most common type of commercial filter is a rapid sand filter. Water moves vertically through sand which often has a layer of activated carbon or anthracite coal above the sand. The top layer removes organic compounds, which contribute to taste and odor. Commercially Filtered water follows the same basic principal as well or spring water but is done in a quicker fashion.
 
Ionized Water:
Ionization is the physical process of converting an atom or molecule into an ion by adding or removing charged particles such as electrons or other ions. A water ionizer separates water into an alkaline fraction and an acid fraction. It does this by exploiting the electric charge of the calcium and magnesium ions present in nearly all sources of drinking water. Many health benefits have been associated with both alkalized and acidic water (alkalized for drinking, acidic for bathing). The ionization process cuts the size of the water molecular cluster in half. This smaller cluster can penetrate the cellular membranes of the body easier, thus speeding new tissue building and waste removal. It is generally agreed that the smaller clusters also mean that alkaline ionized water is more hydrating.