Water ionizers have been all the rage in the past several years. These units, chiefly sold in countertop versions through network or MLM marketing, have promised to provide favorable and healing properties because of their action that creates high pH (alkaline) water. More claimed benefits are available through the low pH (acidic) water thrown off in the operation. While I have not found any scientific reports confirming theses benefits, I have heard countless clients swear by their ionizing water filters.

However, this article is not about the benefits of ionizers themselves, but about providing compatible water quality to the ionizer so it can perform properly. This is important if it is to produce the water in the proper ranges of pH. Unfortunately, people who become involved in the business side of the water ionizer market are not experts in home water filtration systems, purification, or conditioning. Too often important questions go unasked about existing water filters and softeners in homes where the ionizing machine is installed. From appearances, it seems the drive to make money leads to a half-baked training program. It is not fine to plug an ionizer to any faucet and feed it with any type of water.

This impression could not be further from the truth. The first issue occurs when a client has a traditional salt-based water softener in the home. This is incompatible with the ionizers, and the logic is simple: Water softeners remove all calcium from the water, and replace it with a larger volume of salt. Ionizing water systems do not remove minerals, so the increased sodium content is consumed after the ionizer. Calcium is a valuable mineral that should be left in the water through the ionizing process, but it is no longer present because of the water softening system. Moreover, sometimes, the plates that make the alkaline water get damaged or eaten away by the increased sodium content. Making sure an alkalizing system is not fed with softened water is important. So why do people who market the ionizers asking the customer the simple question: "Do you have a salt based water softener"?

Further, chemicals pass directly through an ionizing water system, unless there is more filtration included with the unit. Most high-end ionizing water products do combine some filtration to remove chlorine and basic chemicals, but proper use requires regular checking and maintenance. Only a handful of ionizers include a combination of carbon filtration and sediment removal that is effective for a reasonable time. In addition, it is a sure bet the consumer is not receiving the needed follow-up to insure proper filtration maintenance cycles.

So what is the best answer?

1. Train the ionizer salespeople about the incompatibility of the systems to work with salt-based water softeners.

2. Educate the salespeople about what filtration is need to protect the consumer from chemicals like chlorine and fluoride.

3. Tell the ionizer salespeople to ASK QUESTIONS about existing water systems in a home before they connect there product.

So what is the "right stuff" to achieve ideal quality from a water ionizer? A quality whole-house water filtration and salt-free conditioning system is the perfect match (100% compatible) with any Ionizer on the market today. Chemicals are gone, calcium remains intact, the internal plates of the ionizer stay protected from deposits, and most importantly, there is no increased sodium content. Check with a high-quality whole-house water system expert – be sure the system has a self-cleaning feature and is Green or environmentally friendly (salt-free).