Is Essentia Water Really Healthy? An In-Depth Look at the Facts

December 13, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Beverage Marketing Corp, bottled water consumption has steadily risen, driven partly by brands like Essentia that promise enhanced health benefits. Essentia markets itself as "supercharged ionized alkaline water," but consumers are right to ask: is Essentia Water really healthy and worth the premium price tag?

Quick Summary

An in-depth analysis evaluates Essentia Water's purification process, added electrolytes, and 9.5 pH level. This article examines the marketing claims against existing scientific evidence, expert opinions, and the potential risks of consuming high alkaline water.

Key Points

Alkaline pH: Essentia achieves its 9.5+ pH through a proprietary ionization process, not from naturally occurring minerals.
Enhanced Hydration: One small study showed Essentia was more effective at rehydrating participants than a leading bottled water, though long-term benefits are unclear.
Lack of Evidence: Most broad health claims, such as balancing body pH, are not supported by robust scientific research, as the body tightly regulates its own pH.
Potential Risks: Excessive long-term consumption could lead to side effects like metabolic alkalosis or interference with stomach acid function.
Purification Process: The water is 99.9% pure after microfiltration and reverse osmosis, with electrolytes added back in for taste.
Cost vs. Benefit: For most healthy people, the premium cost of Essentia may not be justified by demonstrable health benefits over regular water.

What is Essentia Water?

Essentia Water is a popular bottled water brand known for its 9.5 pH or higher alkaline status. The company uses a three-step proprietary process to create its product. First, water from local sources is purified through microfiltration and reverse osmosis to achieve 99.9% purity. Next, a blend of trace electrolytes, including sodium bicarbonate, dipotassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, and calcium chloride, is added for taste. Finally, the water is ionized by running an electrical current through it, which removes bitter-tasting acidic ions and elevates the pH level. This process is what distinguishes it from both regular tap water and naturally alkaline spring water.

The Health Claims and the Scientific Reality

Proponents of alkaline water, including Essentia, suggest a range of health benefits from neutralizing body acidity to enhanced hydration. Essentia's website references a double-blind clinical study demonstrating better rehydration post-exercise compared to a leading bottled water. Some smaller studies on alkaline water have also indicated potential benefits for specific conditions like acid reflux and for improving hydration in healthy adults.

However, a significant body of medical opinion remains skeptical, noting a lack of robust, large-scale scientific evidence to support widespread health benefits.

The Body's pH Balance

One of the most debated claims is that alkaline water helps balance the body's pH levels. In reality, the body's pH is tightly regulated by the kidneys and lungs and remains in a very narrow, slightly alkaline range (7.35 to 7.45) for essential functions. Drinking alkaline water has little to no lasting impact on this balance, as the stomach's strong acid quickly neutralizes the water. Any temporary change is quickly corrected by the body's natural processes.

Dehydration Study Context

The hydration study cited by Essentia, while seemingly promising, measured blood viscosity over a two-hour period after exercise. Critics note that ionized water loses its potential for antioxidants and that the long-term health implications from such studies are unclear. While Essentia may rehydrate you well after a workout, so will a sufficient amount of regular water or a sports drink with electrolytes.

Potential Risks and Side Effects

While generally safe for most, excessive consumption of high pH alkaline water can have drawbacks, especially for sensitive individuals or those with kidney conditions.

Some potential risks include:

Disrupting the natural acidity of stomach acid, which is crucial for killing harmful bacteria and aiding digestion.
Interfering with the body's absorption of certain minerals.
Overconsumption leading to metabolic alkalosis, causing nausea, confusion, or muscle twitching.
Being contraindicated with certain medications that require an acidic stomach environment for proper absorption.

Essentia Water vs. Other Options

To understand where Essentia fits in the market, it's helpful to compare it against other common water types.


Feature	Essentia Water	Regular Tap Water	Natural Alkaline Water	Natural Spring Water
pH Level	9.5+ (Ionized)	Variable (usually ~7)	Variable (often 8+)	Variable (often near 7)
Purification	Microfiltration, RO	Municipal treatment	Natural filtration	Minimal filtration
Electrolytes	Added for taste	Variable	Natural minerals	Natural minerals
Source	Municipal/Local	Local reservoir	Underground source	Underground source
Taste	Smooth, clean	Variable	Mineral-rich	Crisp, clean
Cost	High	Low	Medium to High	Medium
Antioxidants	Lost during bottling	N/A	Variable (lost)	Variable (lost)

The Essentia Manufacturing Process

Essentia uses a meticulous process to create its final product. The proprietary three-step ionization process is the core of its marketing.

Purification: The process begins by purifying the local water supply through microfiltration and reverse osmosis to remove impurities and unwanted particles.
Electrolyte Infusion: A proprietary blend of trace electrolytes is added to the purified water, which is done to complement the body's natural mix and improve the smooth taste.
Ionization: An electrical current is used to ionize the water, separating acidic ions from alkaline ions. The process removes the bitter-tasting acidic ions, resulting in the signature 9.5+ pH alkaline water.

Conclusion: Is Essentia Worth the Price?

Ultimately, the question of whether Essentia Water is truly healthy depends on one's definition and needs. For the average, healthy individual, Essentia is a highly purified, clean-tasting bottled water with added electrolytes. While it may offer a pleasant and effective rehydration experience for some, especially after exercise, the more dramatic health claims often associated with alkaline water lack strong scientific backing.

Given the premium price point, many can achieve similar hydration from standard water and a balanced diet. Individuals with specific medical conditions should consult a doctor before incorporating high-alkaline water into their routine, as excessive consumption could pose risks. For those who enjoy the taste and are willing to pay for a premium water experience, Essentia is a safe option. However, from a strictly health-based perspective, there is not enough evidence to justify the cost over regular filtered tap water for most people.

For more information on the potential effects of alkaline water, consult a trusted medical resource like the Mayo Clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Essentia Water has an alkaline pH of 9.5 or higher, which is achieved through a proprietary ionization process.

Yes, Essentia Water is infused with a blend of trace electrolytes, including sodium bicarbonate, dipotassium phosphate, and magnesium sulfate, which are added for taste.

No, Essentia Water is not naturally alkaline. Its high pH is the result of an artificial, three-step ionization process that separates acidic ions from the water.

The idea that alkaline water can significantly alter the body's pH is largely unsupported by science. The body has natural mechanisms, like the kidneys and lungs, to maintain a tightly regulated pH balance.

While generally safe, over-consuming high alkaline water could disrupt stomach acid, potentially leading to issues like metabolic alkalosis, nausea, or impaired nutrient absorption.

Essentia references a study showing better rehydration compared to a leading bottled water after moderate exercise. However, many experts believe regular water or sports drinks are equally effective for hydration.

For most people, the health benefits of Essentia over regular filtered water are not scientifically proven and may not justify the higher cost. The decision often comes down to personal taste preference.