# Is Alkaline Water Better Than Tap Water? Dietitians Explain
The alkaline water industry markets its products as superior to regular tap water, claiming higher pH levels can neutralize body acid and improve health outcomes. Registered dietitians push back on these marketing claims with evidence showing no scientific support for the benefit.
Alkaline water has a pH above 7, while tap water typically sits at a neutral pH of 7. Proponents suggest drinking it can reduce acid reflux, boost energy, improve digestion, and even fight cancer. None of these claims hold up under scrutiny.
Your body maintains its own pH balance through the kidneys and lungs, not through drinking water. The digestive system naturally acidifies whatever enters it, neutralizing alkaline water before it reaches your bloodstream. Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Elizabeth Ward explains that the stomach's acidic environment breaks down the purported benefits before absorption occurs.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has found insufficient evidence supporting alkaline water's health claims. A 2016 systematic review published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition concluded that while alkaline water might provide mild hydration benefits, the effect differs minimally from regular water.
Cost matters too. Alkaline water products can run three to ten times more expensive than tap water, while offering no documented advantage. Your body gets adequate hydration from plain water, which remains the gold standard for health.
For those concerned about tap water quality, registered dietitians recommend getting your local water tested rather than switching to alkaline alternatives. Filters and water treatment through municipal systems address legitimate safety concerns more effectively than pH manipulation.
Water intake itself supports health. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends adequate daily water consumption, but the source matters less than the total volume. Regular tap water meets those needs completely, making expensive