Category: Water intoxication

The human body's kidneys can process only about 0.8 to 1.0 liters of water per hour, making the consumption of 5 gallons (19 liters) of water a day an extremely dangerous and potentially fatal undertaking. Attempting to drink this excessive amount can overwhelm the body's systems, triggering a severe and life-threatening condition called water intoxication.

The kidneys can only excrete about one liter of water per hour. Knowing how much to drink to cause hyponatremia is vital for understanding the limits of fluid intake, as overconsumption can lead to water intoxication and a dangerously low sodium level in the blood.