Frequently Asked Questions: Water Ionizer Installation, Use and Maintenance

• Will I need a plumber?
• How long will it take to install?
• Will I need any additional parts in order to install my Water Ionizer?
• What kind of warranty does the Water Ionizer have on it?
• Do I absolutely have to use my tap water with the Water Ionizer or is there a way to use the bottled water I have delivered in 5 gallon jugs?
• I hooked everything up correctly and no water will come out the silver tube. What is the problem?
• I hooked everything up correctly, plugged in the unit and turned on the water. The water comes out but the lights don't come on. What is the problem?
• The water came out dark the first time it ran through the Water Ionizer. What that normal?
• Why does the unit play music when I first turn it on and after every ten minutes of use?
• How much water should I drink and at what level when I first get my Water Ionizer?
• Why do some people get headaches and diarrhea when first drinking this water?
• What should I expect from drinking Ionized Water?
• Is it all right for children to drink Ionized Water?
• Is there anyone who should not drink Ionized Water?
• Can a person become too Alkaline from drinking Ionized Water ?

Will I need a plumber? [ Top ]
No, this can be done by the average person who has little or no plumbing experience.

How long will it take to install? [ Top ]
Usually in about 5-10 minutes.  See Water Ionizer Installation Page.

Will I need any additional parts in order to install my Water Ionizer? [ Top ]
About 10% of all faucets do not have the standard screw thread that will fit the faucet diverter that comes with Water Ionizers. If you find the faucet diverter will not fit your sink, note what kind of faucet you have and take the faucet adapter to any hardware store and they will have the necessary parts you will need.

What kind of warranty does the Water Ionizer have on it? [ Top ]
All of our water ionizers come with a Five Year Warranty.

Do I absolutely have to use my tap water with the Water Ionizer or is there a way to use the bottled water I have delivered in 5 gallon jugs? [ Top ]

The Watershed Wellness Center sells the Flojet 5 Gallon Pump which is designed to pump water from a 5 gallon water bottle to a sink faucet or refrigerator ice machine. This could also be used to pump bottled water from the 5 gallon container to the Water Ionizer. All that would be need is the necessary fittings (available at any hardware store) to use the Flojet Pump to deliver water to the Water Ionizer.

I tried the pH color indicator drops that come with the Water Ionizer but it seems to indicate that the water has not changed much in pH. What is the problem?
First, the pH color indicator drops of any kind are not terribly accurate. For absolute accuracy, we recommend the Hanna Digital Champ pH Meter sold by the Watershed. However, if you slow down the flow of the water, you will see the Alkaline Water will become stronger because the water has more contact time with the platinum electrodes. The color test indicator will produce a purple result, meaning the water is indeed quite Alkaline.

Another test you can use to determine if your Water Ionizer is working properly is to take a clear glass and fill it with alkaline water that is flowing slowly through the unit. You will see very small bubbles in the water. That is the antioxidant that will revert to oxygen and give you lots of Energy.

I hooked everything up correctly, plugged in the unit and turned on the water. The water comes out but the lights don't come on. What is the problem? [ Top ]
Check the fuse in back of the Water Ionizer. That is most likely the problem since Water Ionizers are extremely reliable and have less the a 1% failure rate. The fuse is a standard 4 amp fuse obtainable at any electronics store such as Radio Shack.

The water came out dark the first time it ran through the Water Ionizer. Was that normal? [ Top ]
That is what is called "fine" coming off the carbon in the filter and it is normal. It will clear up within the first few seconds of use.

Why does the unit play music when I first turn it on and after every ten minutes of use? [ Top ]
The Water Ionizer either beeps or plays music when it is in cleaning mode, which means the electrodes have reverse polarity and acid water is coming out the silver tube and alkaline water is coming on the tube that runs into the sink. This happens when you initially turn the Water Ionizer on by running water through it and after ten minutes of use. Self-cleaning dramatically extends the use of the electrodes. Never drink the water from the Water Ionizer when it is cleaning mode.

How much water should I drink and at what level when I first get the Water Ionizer? [ Top ]
This will depend partly on what kind of shape you are in physically when you initially start drinking Ionized Water. For instance, if you have made a conscious effort to eat well and keep your body detoxified you can start drinking Ionized Water at level 4 .

However, if you have been on medication for some time, or have had a poor diet of fast food, processed food, or a diet void of fresh fruits and vegetables, you may need to begin drinking Ionized Water on Level One. Start by drinking an 8 oz. glass of water slowly. If you do not feel any negative effects, try another glass later in the day. If you are fine with that, move up to the next level. The stronger you can drink Ionized Water, the better it is for you because the water is more Alkaline, more Detoxifying, and a stronger Antioxidant that provides your body with more Oxygen.

Why do some people get headaches and diarrhea when first drinking this water? [ Top ]
The Ionization process creates water molecule clusters that are half the size of regular water molecule clusters. This is why Ionized Water is sometimes referred to as "reduced water" because it has become reduced in size from a 12 water molecule cluster to 6 water molecule cluster. This makes the water much more hydrating because it flows through our body tissue more easily, thus pushing toxins out of our system. It is this detoxifying effect that sometimes gives people headaches and diarrhea and why there are 4 levels of strength on all of our Water Ionizers. All Water Ionizers should have more than one level.

What should I expect from drinking Ionized Water? [ Top ]
This will initially depend on what level of strength you begin drinking Ionized Water. Ionized Water provides your body with lots of oxygen, which is why it gives us energy. Ionized Water is much smoother tasting than conventional water. It makes better coffee, tea, juice, etc. Alkaline Water is wonderful to cook with because it helps hydrate the food and bring out its flavor.

However, other changes in your body after drinking Ionized Water will be much more subtle and will take some time. If you have accumulated acid waste in your system, it probably took years for you to get into that condition and it will take some time to reverse it. As the body is slowly brought into pH balance by drinking Ionized Water, it will naturally begin to function more efficiently and problems will begin to correct themselves. This is one of the great advantages of pursuing the Watershed Preventative Health philosophy. Ionized Water, Spirulina and Chlorella help bring your body into balance naturally by providing it with the oxygen, alkalinity and the basic nutrients it needs so it can heal itself and prevent diseases from occurring in the first place.

Is it all right for children to drink Ionized Water? [ Top ]
Absolutely. It naturally gives children tremendous amounts of oxygen that helps their bodies function efficiently, as it does with everyone who drinks it. Having extra amounts of oxygen in our blood also naturally helps us to fight disease and build a strong immune system. Since children usually have NOT accumulated toxins in their bodies, they suffer none of the ill effects of detoxification such as headaches, diarrhea, etc.

Is there anyone who should not drink Ionized Water? [ Top ]
No. However, some people must start by drinking very small amounts of Ionized Water, such as 8 oz. of Level One Ionized Water per day. This is especially true of the elderly who often have unfortunately allowed heavy metals and other toxins to accumulate in their bodies. Sometimes years of medication has accumulated in them. Toxins and heavy metals that have accumulated in people over decades can lead to diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, Lewy Body Dementia and a host of other mental disorders and psychiatric diseases.

Can a person become too Alkaline from drinking Ionized Water ? [ Top ]
People have been known to drink as much as 1 to 2 gallons of Ionized Water every day and gotten great benefit from it and have not become too Alkaline. On the contrary, one of the most common imbalances people have today that leads to health problems is that they are too acidic. Our body pH should be approximately 7.0 (measured through saliva or urine). The more acidic we are, meaning a 6.6 pH or lower, the greater opportunity we have provided disease to flourish in us. A low body pH creates an environment in our bodies which is conducive to disease to flourish. You can observe that people who are very sick always have a very low body pH. (Not blood pH, which is always stable around 7.4) The sicker they are, the lower the body pH. Diseases will further create this acidic condition in us in order to better thrive. In short, it is very difficult for us to become too Alkaline. In fact, it is rare for a person to acquire Alkalosis, the condition of being too Alkaline. We should always drink Alkaline Water and eat Alkaline Foods such as Spirulina and Chlorella.