Alkalinity

Natural water varies greatly in its alkalinity depending upon its source. Even when water comes from a municipal treatment plant, its alkalinity can vary from one moment to the next. Alkalinity and acidity are measured on the pH (from the French pouvoir hydrogène, meaning power of hydrogen) scale, the standard that rates alkalinity based on the concentration of hydrogen ions in a substance, with 0 suggesting strong acidity and a strong concentration of hydrogen ions and 14 for strong alkalinity.