In the world of domestic water treatment, it’s easy to get lost between marketing promises and scientific data. Lately, we have been receiving many inquiries about ionized alkaline water machines (popularly known by brands such as Kangen by Enagic) and if they are a real alternative to systems for Reverse Osmosis that we install in Sata Manteniments.
The short answer is: They are different technologies for different purposes. The long answer (and the one that matters for your health) depends on what comes out of your faucet.
In Catalonia, water quality varies drastically from the Pyrenees to the Ebro Delta. What works in Japan (where the water is soft and low in minerals) may not be ideal for the complex water in our region. Today we analyze, data in hand, which technology is safest for your home.
The Metropolitan Area of Barcelona and the Llobregat: The salinity challenge
If you live in Barcelona city, L’Hospitalet, Cornellà, the Baix Llobregat, or cities in the Vallès supplied by the Ter-Llobregat network, you face a unique chemical reality: Salinity.
The Llobregat River crosses a basin rich in minerals and areas of old potash mines (Súria, Cardona). This causes the water to reach the treatment plants with high electrical conductivity and notable levels of chlorides and sodium.
What does a Kangen machine do here?
Kangen technology works through electrolysis. It separates water into acidic and alkaline, but it does not filter dissolved salts. In fact, to ionize water, the machine needs minerals to be present. If the incoming water has a saline background (sodium), the resulting alkaline water will retain that mineral load. It does not remove the characteristic “heavy” taste of the area; it simply changes its pH.
What does Reverse Osmosis do?
Reverse osmosis is the only domestic technology capable of desalinating water. The semipermeable membrane acts as a physical barrier (0.0001 microns) that rejects salts, chlorides, and sodium. The result is a light water, with low mineralization, similar to the best bottled brands, ideal for cooking and preparing coffee without altering the taste.
Verdict: On the coast of Barcelona, if you seek pure taste and to eliminate sodium, reverse osmosis is technically superior.
Inland Catalonia (Osona, Lleida, Girona): The invisible danger of Nitrates
In regions with strong agricultural and livestock activity (Osona, Pla d’Urgell, Alt Empordà), the main enemy is not the taste, but the Nitrates coming from fertilizers and manure that filter into the aquifers. Recent reports indicate that nearly 50% of Catalan municipalities have groundwater affected by nitrates.
The limitation of Ionizers (Kangen)
These machines usually include a basic activated carbon filter. Carbon is excellent for chlorine, but ineffective against nitrates. Nitrates are dissolved salts that pass through carbon. Although electrolysis can theoretically separate some ions, it is not a guaranteed purification method for toxic contaminants. Drinking alkaline water with nitrates is not a healthy option.
The safety of Reverse Osmosis
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and European agencies recognize the Reverse Osmosis and ion exchange as the “Best Available Technologies” (BAT) to remove nitrates from drinking water. It is a matter of food safety, especially for children and pregnant women.
Tarragona and the South: The battle against limescale (Hardness)
The waters of the province of Tarragona and areas supplied by the Ebro are characterized by very high hardness (large amounts of Calcium and Magnesium).
The Achilles’ heel of electrolysis
The titanium plates of Kangen machines heat up during the electrical process. In hard water, this causes limescale to precipitate and stick to the plates (scaling) at a rapid pace. A scaled machine loses its ionizing ability and requires constant manual cleaning with citric acid (E-Cleaning) to avoid damage.
The efficiency of direct flow
Modern reverse osmosis systems like the Vyrta 1000 they perform a “self-cleaning” (flushing) of the membrane with each use, carrying the limescale to the drain and protecting the system. They are designed to survive and operate efficiently in hard water without making you a slave to their maintenance.
Beyond pH: Let’s talk about health and purity
The main selling point of Kangen is the alkaline pH. However, the scientific community qualifies these benefits:
- The stomach is acidic: Our stomach maintains a very acidic pH (1.5 – 3.5) to digest proteins and kill pathogens. Drinking highly alkaline water temporarily neutralizes this acid, forcing the body to produce more to compensate.
- What matters is what you do NOT drink: Before worrying about “alkalizing,” we must ensure that “clean”. Removing microplastics, heavy metals (lead, mercury from old pipes), and emerging contaminants is the priority.
The proposal from Sata Manteniments: We believe in balance. Our Reverse Osmosis systems with Remineralization:
- First, they clean: They remove up to 99% of contaminants with the reverse osmosis membrane.
- Then, they balance: A remineralizing post-filter adds the right dose of plant-based Calcium and Magnesium to achieve a gentle neutral/alkaline pH (7.5 – 8.5) and perfect taste, without the risks of the original contamination.
Cost and value analysis
Finally, investment is a decisive factor for Catalan families.
Feature
Ionizer System (Type Kangen K8)
Reverse Osmosis Direct Flow (Sata Vyrta)
Approximate Price
~4.600 € – 5.000 €
~600 € – 800 €
Nitrate/Salt Removal
Low / Ineffective
High (>95%)
Maintenance in hard water
High (Frequent manual cleaning)
Low (Annual filter change)
Approximate Price
~€1,000 (Filters + Cleaning liquids)
~€400 (Filter change)
The price difference of a Kangen machine is largely due to its multi-level distribution structure (chain commissions), not necessarily to a higher manufacturing cost.
Invest in health
In Catalonia, where tap water is drinkable but chemically complex (salts, limescale, nitrates), the priority must be real purification.
If your goal is to turn your home’s water into a safe, light, and pure-tasting spring, the Direct Flow Reverse Osmosis is the rational choice, both technically and economically. It is the technology that adapts to the reality of our territory, protecting your health and your wallet.
Do you have doubts about what’s in the water in your municipality? Contact us at Sata Manteniments. We don’t sell miracles; we install hydraulic engineering solutions.
