The "alkaline" in alkaline water refers to its pH level, which is a number that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale of 0 to 14. pH of 1 being very acidic, pH of 13 being very alkaline Alkaline water has a higher pH level than regular drinking water, which is believed to neutralize the acid in our bodies. Normal drinking water generally has a neutral pH of 7, whereas our alkaline water typically has a pH of 8.5 or 9.5 However, pH alone isn't enough to impart substantial alkalinity to water. It must also contain alkaline minerals and negative oxidation reduction potential (ORP). ORP is the ability of water to act as a pro- or antioxidant.