DIY Ionizer

Home water ionizers can cost up to several thousand dollars, as of 2011. The machines ionize particles in the water and separate it into two streams, one more alkaline for drinking and another more acidic for cleaning or disposal. The water, itself, cannot be ionized; rather, minerals in the water are ionized. While fad books have arisen that make astonishing claims for the benefits of drinking ionized alkaline water, no reputable scientific or government organization has endorsed those claims. The best that can be objectively said is that there is no known harm from using ionized water. If you like the taste of it, you can make your own simple ionizer at home.

Things You'll Need

• 2 square plastic 1-gal. water containers
• 5-inch length of 2-inch diameter PVC pipe
• Marker
• Chamois leather
• Utility knife
• Waterproof caulk
• Ruler
• Insulated electric wire
• Wire strippers
• Electrical tape
• 2 titanium electrodes
• 2 crocodile clips
• 12 or 24v power adapter

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Instructions

• 1

  Place the PVC pipe against the center of one side of one of the plastic containers. Use the marker to trace around the circumference of the pipe onto the container. Set the container upright, then use the ruler to measure the distance up to the center of the circle you traced onto the container. Place a dot in the center of that circle with the marker.

• 2

  Set the other container flat, then measure up an equal distance on one of its sides and place a dot in the center of it. Use that dot to center the PVC pipe on that container and again trace around the circumference onto the container. It is important that the holes you will later cut into each of the containers mirror each other exactly when they are set next to each other.

• 3

  Fit the chamois leather into the center of the PVC pipe. Cut and stuff it so it fills the interior of the pipe. Set it aside.

• 4

  Cut holes inside the lines of the circles you drew on each container. Insert the PVC pipe into the holes of the two containers, so that it attaches them together. Caulk around the PVC pipe on the outside of both containers.

• 5

  Strip off enough insulation from two lengths of electric wire so you can wrap bare wire around each titanium electrode. Secure the wire to the electrodes with electrical tape, then use the tape to form new insulation on any exposed wire coming from the electrode until you reach the insulation of the wire. Connect the other end of each wire to one end of each of the crocodile clips.

• 6

  Put enough water into each container so that you can set one electrode into each side without it being fully submerged. Connect the other end of the crocodile clips to the adapter and turn the power on. This begins the ionization process.

• 7

  Wait at least two hours for ionization to complete. The water in one of the containers will be notably darker than the other. The darker water is the more acidic and can be used for cleaning or discarded. The clearer water is more alkaline and can be used for drinking.