We’re going to take you back to science class now. Remember doing litmus tests—dipping treated strips of paper in different liquids and watching for which rainbow color appeared? That’s measuring pH. It’s a scale that measures the degree to which a liquid is either basic or acidic. The scale runs from 1 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Less than 7 is acidic (think: citrus, coffee); greater than 7 is basic, or alkaline (think: baking soda, soap). Water is typically right around neutral, but it can be higher than that.  

What drives the pH level of water?  

In short, it’s the environment through which the water passes. Spring water passes through many layers of rock, soil, and sediment from which it naturally absorbs a variety of minerals which, in turn, determine the pH level. The higher the mineral content, the higher the pH.  

What’s the pH of JUST Still water, and what minerals are in it? 

JUST’s pH is right around 8—a reflection of the naturally occurring minerals from the mountain landscape where it’s sourced. Other spring waters will have different pH levels because they come from different places where the mineral concentrations are different.  

Those minerals include magnesium, calcium, sodium, and bicarbonate, a mix that gives JUST its delicious, crisp taste. Without minerals, water can taste very flat and dull.  

The Truth Behind Alkaline Water 

There’s a lot of chatter out there these days about high alkaline water—often with a pH of 9. But it’s a good idea to do some homework before investing. Some high alkaline waters are just tap water that’s been filtered, processed, and supplemented with powderized minerals. And a lot of the claims about the benefits of drinking water with artificially high pH aren’t backed up by science. And, unless you drink gallons at a time, your stomach acid will counter-balance the basic water anyway. There’s no need to pay a big premium for water that you can get out of a tap with extra ingredients that aren’t worth it.  

Stick with mountain-sourced spring water, full of naturally occurring minerals that’ll make your taste buds and your body dance.