Why Choose RO Purified Water?

• Tap water is “safe enough”, it meets the minimum standard. What about chlorine, traces of antibiotics and pollution like microplastics, heavy metals, pesticides, and chemicals?

• Tap water is treated for safety, not purity.

• You can’t see, smell, or taste many harmful substances in tap water.

• Contaminates makes the PH level and taste of tap water inconsistent.

• How much pollution is in the water from source or the ground water like natural springs?

• Your body is 70% water — why settle for minimum standards? A simple daily choice that gives you long term health benefits.

PH8.5 Water Shop Purification Process

What makes PH8.5 Water Shop different?

• RO purified water done correctly giving you consistency purity.

• Reduces exposure to contaminates that may accumulate in the body over time.

• Enhances the RO purified water with minerals to a stable PH level of 8.5 transforming it into “living water” using proprietary process.

• Consistent Smooth, alkaline, hydrating water with a crisp, refreshing, and clean taste.

• To ensure consistent water quality, containers are thoroughly washed with a chloride solution before being refilled.

• High quality, affordable refill options available in both glass and plastic packaging.

• For your convenience we deliver new and 5 – 25lts refilled bottles.

• Supporting local charities by donating 10% of income.

• Save more with our loyalty programme or add it to our charitable donations.

• Proudly supporting Ballito families with clean, healthy, and affordable hydration.

Where does PH8.5 source its water?
We use municipal potable water for its relative consistency and reliability, storing it in a 5,000L buffer tank to protect against supply issues or quality fluctuations. It also increases the service intervals of our RO system compared to ground water. 

What is reverse osmosis and why do we use it?
RO is a powerful filtration process that removes physical, chemical, and biological contaminants. Unfortunately, it also removes beneficial minerals, so we add them back in using our proprietary process to ensure a clean, crisp, refreshing taste.

Water Basics

Does water have a taste? 
Pure water has no taste. What you perceive as “taste” comes from the minerals or contaminants present in the water—like salts, metals, or organic compounds.

Where does drinking water come from?
Drinking water originates from rainfall, snowmelt, rivers, and dams. In South Africa, treated wastewater and runoff from industries may also enter the water system. This water is processed through municipal treatment plants before reaching our taps.

How does water get contaminated?
Water can be polluted through:

• Industrial effluent

• Poorly performing wastewater plants

• Sewer leaks

• Dumping of oil and chemicals into stormwater drains

• Atmospheric pollution

• Soil runoff

• Microplastics from plastic waste

Understanding Contaminants

What are the four main types of water contaminants?

1. Physical – Sediment, dirt, microplastics

2. Chemical – Pesticides, fertilizers, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals

3. Biological – Bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasites

4. Radiological – Radioactive elements like radon, uranium, or radium

Does spring or natural water contain contaminants?
Traditionally, spring water was clean and mineral rich. However, due to pollution over the past one hundred years, most natural sources even remote springs may have been contaminated by chemicals, plastics, and micro-pollutants.

Our Safety & Hygiene Measures

Does ozone water sanitize refill bottles?
Not sufficiently. At PH8.5 Water Shop, we use ozone and UV light to sanitize our pipes, equipment, and product as ozone disperses quickly and does not sanitize the bottles themselves. Refill bottles are cleaned with a chlorine solution before reuse to ensure proper cleanliness.

When should water bottles not be reused?
We recommend retiring a refillable bottle if:

• It becomes cloudy or translucent

• It's been used for liquids other than clean water

• It's older than 3 months

• You’re unsure of its cleanliness or origin

Water Treatment Methods (Explained Simply)

Method	Removes	Notes
Sand Filters	Sediment	Good for coarse filtration; needs regular backflushing normally fitted with an automatic system. Change out yearly
Glass Media Filters	Finer particles than sand	Like sand but more effective and hygienic than sand. Needs regular backflushing normally fitted with an automatic system. Change out 3-5 years
Activated Carbon	Chlorine, VOCs, pesticides	Needs regular backflushing normally fitted with an automatic system. Change out when depleted 1-2 years.
Cartridge type particular filters	Dirt, rust, solids	Replace regularly, elevated levels of bacterial growth.
Cartridge type Activated Carbon	Chlorine, VOCs, pesticides	Replace regularly, also ideal conditions for bacterial growth due to carbon being an organic material.
Micro/Ultra/Nano Filters	Varying levels of bacteria and solids	Higher precision = more frequent replacement. pore sizes of around 0.001–0.01 microns.
Reverse Osmosis (RO)	Only lets water through the pores if set up correctly	Removes of minerals and contaminates. pore sizes of around 0.0001 microns. Size of a water molecule (elongated) is 0.000282 microns on the long side.
Distillation	Metals, bacteria, chemicals	Energy intensive, high volumes
Water Softeners	Calcium, magnesium (hardness)	Removes calcium and magnesium ions, normally used where extremely hard water occurs or by laundry companies.
Air Stripping	Volatile organic compounds	Specialized use, normally at water treatment plants.