WO2014093049A1

WO2014093049A1 - Water stabilization, revitalization, filtration and treatment systems and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2014093049A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/072649
Authority: WO
Inventors: Glen B. CAULKINS; Michael H. COLBURN
Original assignee: Pristinehydro Development, Inc.
Priority date: 2012-12-12
Filing date: 2013-12-02
Publication date: 2014-06-19
Also published as: US20140158639A1

Abstract

Implementations of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for filtering and treating water, such as tap water, well water, spring water, etc., and producing drinking, bathing, and swimming water. More specifically, such systems, methods, and apparatus can produce purified water by removing substantially all suspended as well as dissolved solids, undesirable acids, gasses and all and any contaminates from the water. Additionally, the systems, methods, and apparatus can produce reprogrammed high biophoton mineralized drinking water by chilling vortexing over proprietary lodestones, ingenious, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and creating bicarbonate ions in the water introducing minerals and/or salts into the water.

Description

WATER STABILIZATION, REVITALIZATION, FILTRATION AND TREATMENT

SYSTEMS AND METHODS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/712,581 filed December 12, 2013, and priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/930,298 filed June 28, 2013, which patent applications are incorporated herein by specific reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

This invention relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for filtering, treating water, purifying, mineralizing, restructuring, and/or reenergizing water.

Background and Relevant Art

Although there are various hydration options, some consumers prefer drinking, bathing, and swimming in uncontaminated pristine water. Furthermore, water is frequently used in food preparation and can be an essential ingredient in a meal. There are several common sources for water, and many sources for polluting water. For example, air pollution can cause water pollution. Often, water is polluted before in comes in contact with contaminates found in our environment (e.g., contaminates in the ground). For example, water can be drawn from an aquifer; however, the aquifer can be contaminated from the pesticides sprayed onto the earth and from acid rain that has contaminated the water table. In some instances, acquiring water from the aquifer may require a well and related pumping and, at times, filtration equipment. Conversely, at locations where an aquifer intersects the ground surface, rising or clean or contaminated spring water may be acquired at the surface level.

As water (e.g., acidic water) enters and/or passes through the aquifer, various minerals can be exponentially dissolved in the water, which can make hard water that can affect the taste, smell, and other qualities of the water. Thus, for instance, depending on the location of the aquifer, absent filtration and conditioning, the water drawn from one aquifer may have a different taste than the water drawn from another aquifer. Additionally, in some instances hard water can cause serious health problems for consumers.

In rural areas, consumers frequently draw their water directly from an aquifer, which may be available near their dwellings or places of business. Drawing water directly from an aquifer is relatively uncommon for consumers in urban settings. Typically, urban consumers can obtain drinking water from a supplier or can use tap or municipal water (which at times may be filtered or otherwise treated by the consumer). Whether obtained directly from an aquifer or from a municipality, the water may have various substances that can make the water unpleasant and/or dangerous or unsuitable for consumption. For example, well or aquifer water can contain various dangerous acids, inorganic minerals, pesticides, contaminants and/or microorganisms. By contrast, municipal water, although less likely to contain microorganisms that may be found in the aquifer, typically includes chemicals used by the municipality for treating the water before distribution. For instance, municipalities often add Chlorine and Fluoride to the water. Although some people think chemical treatment of the water may be beneficial, the chemicals used to treat the water affect our health.

There are a number of ways tap water is usually filtered to remove excess minerals, disinfection byproducts, fluoride, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or the like to provide the consumer with drinking water that has an improved taste. Normally, however, such filtration removes some or most of the beneficial minerals from the water. Furthermore, the filtration may not remove the carbonic, sulfuric and nitric acids from acid rain, properly mineralize, restructure, and reenergize the water. Moreover, filtered and treated acidic water without proper bicarbonate salts, may not have the taste or smell of contaminated water, which may be desirable by some consumers, however such water may not be conducive to good health.

Accordingly, there are a number of disadvantages in water filtration, treatment, and/or conditioning systems and methods that can be addressed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Implementations of the present invention provide systems, methods, and apparatus for filtering and treating stock water (e.g., tap water, well water, spring water, etc.) to produce pristine drinking, bathing, and swimming water. More specifically, such systems, methods, and apparatus can produce purified water by removing substantially all acids, suspended as well as dissolved solids and gasses from the stock water. Thus, the purification treatment process can produce substantially pure water. The substantially pure water can have various uses, such as in laboratories and in various assays, or the like.

In one embodiment, the substantially pure water may not be suitable for human consumption. The substantially pure water may not be safe to drink because it has not been stabilized, mineralized, structured, and/or reenergized. However, the substantially pure water can be free of acids, chemicals, prescription medicines, offensive odors, unpleasant taste, or the like.

In one embodiment, the substantially pure water may be further processes so as to be stabilized, mineralized, structured, and/or reenergized prior to consumption. At least one embodiment includes a water purification system for purifying working water. Such system can have an inlet point configured to transmit working water into the system. The system also can have a first reverse osmosis device in fluid communication with the inlet point. The first reverse osmosis device can have one or more reverse osmosis membranes. Additionally, the first reverse osmosis device can be configured to remove at least a portion of dissolved solids from the working water and to discharge a portion of the working water as drain water. The system also can include an injector in fluid communication with the first osmosis device. The injector can be configured to receive the drain water from the first osmosis device and to discharge the drain water therethrough. The injector can be further configured to create a partial vacuum at a mixture inlet port thereof. Moreover, the system can include a degasification device in fluid communication with the first reverse osmosis device. The degasification device can be configured to receive the working water from the first reverse osmosis device and to separate C0₂ and other gasses there from the water. Additionally, the degasification device can be in fluid communication with the mixture inlet port of the injector. Also, the partial vacuum created by the injector can aid the degasification device to separate the C0₂ and other gasses from the working water.

In one embodiment, the system can include deionization resins. The deionization resins can be useful to remove acids and other unwanted contaminates in the water.

In one embodiment, the system can be configured to use a pump to degas the water. For example, a pump in the system can degas the water. As such, the degasification device may be omitted when a suitable pump is configured for degassing the water, such as a degassing pump.

Because this water is pure H₂0 (e.g., no ions in it), it may ionize itself. Therefore, the system can be configured to stabilize the water with suitable ions. In one embodiment, the system includes a magnesium cartridge to add ions to the water so it will not readily ionize itself, with carbon dioxide and create carbonic acid water. The magnesium cartridge can be configured to add magnesium ions to the water so it will not continually ionize itself with carbon dioxide, which creates carbonic acid. The magnesium cartridge can be configured to stabilize the water.

One or more embodiments also include a water conditioning, mineralization, and re- mineralization system for producing mineralized water. Such a system can have a primary holding tank that circulates the magnesium water, and it can contain ingenious, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock configurations, which can include lodestones, crystals and other rocks. In one embodiment, the system can include a water chiller that is configured to chill the water to get water that is relatively denser than regular room temperature water. For example, water is at its densest state at 4 degree Celsius. This can help rid the water of trauma recording and reprogram water molecules.

In one embodiment, the system can also have a carbonator tank configured to receive purified water and/or purified magnesium water from the chilled primary holding tank and to introduce a controlled amount of C0₂ into the purified water, thereby forming trace amounts of carbonic acid in the alkaline water (i.e., carbonic acid water).

The system also can have a secondary mineralization tank in fluid communication with the primary holding tank and the carbonator. The secondary tank can be configured as a vortex tank, and it can also be configured to receive the purified water (e.g., alkaline magnesium with trace amounts of carbonic acid) from the primary holding tank and carbonator injector. In one aspect, there is no chiller in the secondary tank. Carbonic acid is stable at 4 degree Celsius, and, as the carbonic acid warms up in the secondary vortex tank, which is an alkaline solution, the carbonic acid dissociates a hydrogen ion and it becomes bicarbonate ions. Bicarbonate ions can form in an alkaline solution.

Additionally, the system can have one or more stones (e.g., ingenious, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks) containing minerals, the one or more stone being located in the secondary tank, which can be configured as a vortex energizing tank. Furthermore, the vortex tank can be configured to pass the chilled magnesium water with trace amounts of carbonic acid over or through lodestones, crystals and other ingenious, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, where it warms up, thereby forming a first properly charged bicarbonate water. Lodestones are natural magnets and they posses the same energy as the telluric currents (e.g., earth currents) in the earth - magneto electric. Lodestones in conjunction with crystals and igneous rock positively charge protons, negatively charge electrons, and magnetize hydrogen and neutrons— high biophoton pristine water.

Biophotons are photons of light (e.g., energy) emitted from a biological system. For living organisms, the key reference point on the biophoton energy scale is bound at 6,500 biophoton energy units. From 0 to 6,500 biophoton, the charge is in the negative range, or life-detracting; while above the 6,500 biophoton point, the energy gradually becomes more positive, or life-enhancing. Water chilled (to make it denser) and vortexed over lodestones (DC telluric currents from the earth), crystals and other ingenious, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks in accordance with the processes of the invention can be reprogrammed or revitalized into high biophoton water (e.g., over 6,500) This will reduce the low energy & negative information that inundates the body from typical water. Telluric currents, bicarbonate ions, minerals, and biophotons (natural light energy) interact to create pristine high-biophoton drinking water under the present invention.

Another embodiment includes a method of purifying, conditioning, and re-mineralizing a working water to create a high biophoton mineralized water. The method can include removing substantially all suspended solids, acids, and gasses from the working water and removing substantially all dissolved solids from the working water, thereby producing pure H₂O, which is then stabilized with magnesium. The method also can include adding C0₂ to the magnesium stabilized water, thereby forming a chilled purified alkaline water with trace amounts of carbonic acid. Moreover, the method can include vortexing the purified magnesium water with trace amounts of carbonic acid over or through stones in the secondary tank, where it warms up. The water now contains high biophoton water molecules and magnesium bicarbonate ions.

In one embodiment, the secondary vortex tank is connected to, a vacuum line at the output line on the vortex pump. The vacuum line is connected to an oxygen generator. The oxygen generator infuses primarily oxygen with trace amounts of carbon dioxide into the water, which can saturate the alkaline magnesium water with oxygen and trace amounts of carbon dioxide to create bicarbonate ions. If the bicarbonate ions in the water are insufficient, the system can turn on the carbonator and add additional carbon dioxide to the alkaline magnesium water and create bicarbonates.

In the final stage prior to dispensing the water, the system can introduce a mineral blend of calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, and sodium and potassium bicarbonates. In one aspect, the mineral blend can be injected from-a chemical injector (e.g., Doseatron injector). In one aspect, the injector can be a vortexing mineral injector, which contains stones having the mineral blend. As such, the mineral blend can be injected into the purified magnesium bicarbonate water, which creates high biophoton, properly mineralized, and energized pristine water that contains four bicarbonate salts (i.e., calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium). Bicarbonate ions are negatively charged and can have a strong affinity for the calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide. This union creates calcium and magnesium bicarbonate salts, which can be found in liquid form.

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method of inhibiting water from ionizing and reacting with carbon dioxide, the method comprising: providing processed water having a potential for reacting H₂0 with C0₂ in a system substantially devoid of air and/or CO2; providing at least about 20 PPM of negative ions to the H₂0 in a sufficient amount to react therein in the system substantially devoid of air and/or CO₂; and inhibiting the H₂O from reacting with CO₂ to form carbonic acid by reacting the H₂0 with the negative ions in a sufficient amount in the system substantially devoid of air and/or CO2 so as to stabilize the processed water to form stabilized water. In one aspect, the processed water is processed to be acid free and/or deionized water. In one aspect, the negative ions are of calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium. In one aspect, the negative ions include bicarbonate ions and/or hydroxide ions. In one aspect, the bicarbonate ions and/or hydroxide ions combine with insoluble metals of hydroxides of calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium in the processed water to form water-soluble metal bicarbonates amounts in the system substantially devoid of air and/or C0₂. In one aspect, the water-soluble metal bicarbonates are retained in solution with a sufficient amount of bicarbonate salts, the bicarbonate salts being sufficient to prevent self-ionization. In one aspect, the negative ions are of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, potassium bicarbonate, or sodium bicarbonate, which are provided in a sufficient amount to inhibit formation of carbonic acid. In one aspect, comprising exposing the H₂0 to air and/or C0₂, wherein the H₂0 is inhibited from reacting with the C0₂ to form carbonic acid. In one aspect, comprising maintaining the pH of the processed water with a sufficient amount of the negative ions. In one aspect, wherein the negative ions are magnesium ions.

In one aspect, the method includes: obtaining the stabilized water and chilling the stabilized water to about 4 degrees Celsius. In one aspect, the method includes: obtaining the chilled water and vortexing the chilled water over lodestones. In one aspect, the vortexing is sufficient to increase coherency and/or surface tension of the chilled water compared to coherency and/or surface tension before chilling and vortexing. In one aspect, the method includes: vortexing and aerating, simultaneously, the chilled water over lodestones sufficient to increase coherency and/or surface tension of the chilled water compared to coherency and/or surface tension before vortexing and aerating. In one aspect, the vortexing and aerating is performed by a mechanical recirculation pump operably coupled to a vortexing vessel having the chilled water. In one aspect, the vortexing is as follows: lodestone present from 1 ounce to 50 pounds; flow rate for the chilled water of 3 gallons per minute to 25 gallons per minute; or a vortexing vessel having between 2 gallons and 300 gallons of the chilled water being vortexed and aerated. In one aspect, the air provided during the aerating is oxygenated air or de-nitrogenated. In one aspect, the air provided during the aeration is provided through a vacuum line fluidly coupled with a recirculation line fluidly coupled with the mechanical recirculation pump. In one aspect, comprising oxygenating and air sparging the chilled water being vortexed over lodestones. In one aspect, the method includes: oxygenating and air sparging the chilled water being vortexed over lodestones to oxygenate the air sufficiently to inhibit microbe growth once the water is stored. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. For better understanding, the like elements have been designated by like reference numbers throughout the various accompanying figures. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a piping and instrumentation diagram of a water purification and/or filtration system in accordance with one implementation of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a piping and instrumentation diagram of a water purification and/or filtration system in accordance with another implementation of the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a piping and instrumentation diagram of a water re -mineralization and/or conditioning system in accordance with one implementation of the present invention;

Figure 4 illustrates a piping and instrumentation diagram of a water conditioning system in accordance with one implementation of the present invention;

Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart of a water filtration and/or purification process in accordance with one implementation of the present invention; and

Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of a water re -mineralization and/or conditioning process in accordance with one implementation of the present invention.

Figure 7 A illustrates an embodiment of a portion of a water production system that is configured for installation under a counter.

Figure 7B illustrates an embodiment of a portion of a water production system that is configured for installation on a counter top and operably coupled with the portion from Figure 7A.

Figures 8A-8E illustrate embodiments of systems for preparing revitalized water.

Figure 9 illustrates an embodiment of a water stabilization system.

Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment of a water chilling system.

Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment of a water vortexing system.

Figure 12 illustrates an embodiment of a water vortexing and aeration system. Figure 13 illustrates an embodiment of a water stabilization and chilling and vortexing and aeration system.

Figure 14 illustrates a data chart and graph showing a proper pH response to a lemon challenge test.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Implementations of the present invention provide systems, methods, and apparatus for filtering and treating stock water (e.g., tap water, well water, spring water, etc.) to produce drinking, bathing and swimming water, or water for any type of use. More specifically, such systems, methods, and apparatus can produce purified water by removing substantially all suspended, acids, liquids, and gasses, as well as dissolved solids from the stock water. Thus, the purification treatment process can produce substantially pure water, which may not be safe to drink because there are no minerals in the water, however it is free of offensive odors and/or unpleasant taste. For example, this purified water without minerals can be useful for laboratories, such as in various biological or chemical assays or experiments.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the system can process essentially any stock water. Specifically, the system can process municipal or tap water and can remove chemicals introduced into such water during treatment at water distribution facilities, acids (e.g., acid rain, sulfuric and nitric acids, etc.), as well as any additional particulate or dissolved solids (whether existing after municipal processing or picked up during transmission through the municipal water distribution system). Likewise, the system can accept and process any other types of water, such as well or spring water from an aquifer.

Moreover, the system and/or method can be scaled to process a desired quantity of water and/or to maintain a desired rate of processing. Thus, the system and method can be equally suitable for a commercial water processing and purification operation as for residential use. Additionally or alternatively, the system and method can be used in an urban environment (e.g., to process tap water) and in a rural environment, which may require processing well or spring water.

After the purification process, the purified water can be properly mineralized and structured before consumption.. After the stock water is purified and substantially all of the acids, gasses, particulate and dissolved solids have been removed, the purified water may have no significantly discernible taste and it lacks all of the beneficial minerals that may be present before purification. This purified water, however, can be useful in biological and chemical experiments, such as use as a pure water chemical reagent for a chemical reaction. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the system and method can reintroduce particularly desirable minerals into the purified water. Thus, the system and methods can produce high biophoton re-mineralized drinking water that can have desirable palatability as well as health-promoting qualities. As used herein, the term "drinking water," generally refers to water that has been properly processed and is ready for consumption.

Moreover, in some embodiments, introduction and reintroduction of a blend of minerals into the purified water (i.e., mineralization or re-mineralization) can produce taste and other beneficial qualities of the mineralized water found in nature. Thus, for example, the system and method can introduce the minerals in a manner that produces drinking water that has a taste similar to natural spring water. Furthermore, such taste can be consistently replicated by the system and method. At the same time, as noted above, the system can remove harmful and/or undesirable particulates, liquids, and/or gasses from the stock water. Consequently, the system and method can produce drinking water that contains an optimized amount of beneficial bicarbonate salts, minerals and elements, while being substantially free of all other (e.g., non-beneficial and/or harmful) substances.

Accordingly, the system can receive stock water and can produce purified and/or mineralize or re-mineralized high biophoton drinking water. An exemplar water purification system 100 is illustrated in Figure 1. Starting at an inlet point 200, stock water enters the water purification system 100. As described above, the stock water may be municipal or tap water, well water, spring water, etc. In any event, the water purification system 100 can be adjusted to process and purify essentially any type of stock water.

Subsequently, working water enters (or is forced through) a first filter 102. As used herein, the term "working water" refers to the water located in the water purification system 100, before the purification has been completed. Additionally, various components of the water purification system 100 described herein may be connected by standard connecting elements, such as pipes or similar conduits, which can transmit the working water downstream, from one component of the water purification system 100 to another. Likewise, the water purification system 100 can be connected to a water source (e.g., at the inlet point 200) with similar connecting elements.

The first filter 102 can vary from one embodiment to another. Generally, the first filter 102 can provide initial screening (i.e., preliminary filtration) of the working water. Particularly, the first filter 102 can capture particles and solids suspended in the working water. For example, the first filter 102 can be nano-ceramic filter. In one embodiment, the nano- ceramic first filter 102 can remove substantially all suspended particles and solids, as small as 0.02 μηι (e.g., by removing 99.99% of suspended particles).

In some instances, the water purification system 100 may require a pump to force the working water through the first filter 102. Typical water pressure of available municipal water, however, may be sufficient to force the working water through the first filter 102. The working water exits the first filter 102 at a point 202. At the point 202, the working water has been substantially cleared of all small particles and solids.

Subsequently, the working water enters a UV treatment unit 104. The UV treatment unit 104 irradiates the working water by exposing the working water to ultraviolet light in order to kill any bacteria, viruses, and similar microorganisms that may be present in the working water. As mentioned above, the stock water entering the water purification system 100 may be municipal, well, spring, or other type of available water. Although some microorganisms may be removed by the first filter 102, in some instances, the stock water and, consequently, the working water at the point 202 also can have various microorganisms, which may be harmful to humans.

The UV treatment unit 104 can expose the working water to ultraviolet light, such as ultraviolet C (UVC) light, in the range of 280-100 nm (e.g., 254 nm). In light of this disclosure, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the intensity of the UVC light produced by the UV treatment unit 104 can be adjusted based on the flow rate of the working water, in order to accommodate sufficient treatment of the working water. Thus, the working water can exit the UV treatment unit 104 at a point 204, being substantially clear of all live bacterial and viral entities as well as other microorganisms.

Reducing the number of living microorganisms in the working water also can reduce potential for contaminating various components of the water purification system 100 with living microorganisms. Furthermore, such reduction also can aid in preventing growth (e.g., bacterial growth, biofilm formation, etc.) within the various components. Particularly, in the event bacteria is captured in a subsequent component, such as a filter, as the captured bacteria is less likely to be living, there may be a lower probability of contaminating such component with further bacterial growth.

Thereafter, the working water can enter a second filter 106 for additional filtration. More specifically, the second filter 106 can remove some of the solids dissolved in the working water. For instance, the second filter 106 can be a dual filter, combining KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion) media and enhanced or activated carbon. The KDF media can kill algae and fungi as well as remove chlorine, pesticides, organic matter, etc. Thus, the KDF media can reduce level of certain undesirable substances that may be present in the working water.

Similarly, the enhanced or activated carbon media (portion of the second filter 106) can absorb various small molecules from the working water. For example, activated carbon can absorb chlorine and ammonia, thereby removing chlorine and ammonia from the working water. To force the working water through the second filter 106, the water purification system 100 can include a pump, which can increase water pressure at the point 204. In some instances, however, the water pressure of the stock water may be sufficient to force the working water at the point 204 through the second filter 106. In any event, as the water passes through the second filter 106, the KDF together with the activated carbon can reduce the amount of dissolved substances and materials (particularly chlorine and ammonia) in the working water, as compared between the point 204 and a point 206, where the working water exits the second filter 106.

Thus, at the point 206, the water purification system 100 has preliminarily filtered the working water. Thereafter, the working water may pass through a control valve 108. A system controller can operate the control valve 108, allowing or prohibiting further flow of the working water. For example, the control valve 108 can remain closed to permit maintenance, replacements, or service of various components of the water purification system 100 (located downstream from the control valve 108).

Additionally or alternatively, the water purification system 100 can include a first conductivity sensor A, which can provide information to the system controller about conductivity of the working water. By obtaining the conductivity of the working water, the system controller can estimate the quality of the water at a point 208 (after the working water passes through the control valve 108). Namely, the system controller can correlate the conductivity (or resistance) of the working water at the point 208 with an amount of substances dissolved in the working water. It should be appreciated that, subsequently, (as described below) the controller can compare the conductivity between various points along the flow of the working water through the water purification system 100 to determine the percentage of dissolved solids or purity for the working water. In other words, the system controller can estimate the percentage of the dissolved solids that were removed between two or more points in the water purification system 100.

Furthermore, the water purification system 100 can include a pressure sensor B, which can provide a working water pressure reading to the system controller. As the working water passes through the first filter 102 and/or second filter 106, the pressure of the working water may drop below a desired level. Accordingly, the water purification system 100 can include a pump that can increase the pressure of the working water as may be necessary, based on the reading from the pressure sensor B. Hence, the working water can proceed downstream in the water purification system 100 at an appropriate pressure.

When the control valve 108 is in an open position (i.e., when the system controller opens the control valve 108), the working water can flow into a descaling device 110, which can reduce hardness of the working water. Reduction of the hardness can prevent or reduce damage to other components of the water purification system 100. More specifically, hard working water can be particularly harmful and damaging to reverse osmosis (RO) membranes (described below). Consequently, reducing hardness of the working water can increase longevity of the RO membranes.

The particular descaling device 110 can vary from one implementation to another. For example, the water purification system 100 can include an ESF (Enviro Scale Free) descaling device 110, which is commercially available from Dime Water. Additionally or alternatively, the descaling device 110 may include various water softeners that, for example, can remove or sequester calcium and/or magnesium ions, thereby reducing or eliminating hardness of the water. In any event, after passing through the descaling device 110, at a point 210, the working water can have reduced hardness as compared with the point 208.

Subsequently, a first pump 112 can increase the pressure of the working water from the point 210 to a point 212. Furthermore, a pressure sensor C can provide the system controller with the pressure reading of the working water at the point 212. Hence, the system controller can adjust the amount of head provided by the first pump 112 to a desired level. For instance, pressure of the working water at the point 212 can be in the range between approximately 150 and 200 psi.

It should be noted, however, that the desired pressure of the working water at the point 212 can vary from one embodiment to another and can be based on particular requirements of subsequent components (if any) of the water purification system 100. For example, downstream from the point 212, the working water can enter a first reverse osmosis device 114. The first reverse osmosis device 114 can further purify the working water by removing dissolved substances and materials from the working water.

In one embodiment, the first reverse osmosis device 114 can have two RO membranes, which can remove dissolved materials from the water. Specifically, the first and second RO membranes of the first reverse osmosis device 114 can remove approximately 95% to 98% of the dissolved matter from the working water. Thus, the working water that exits the first reverse osmosis device 114 at a point 214 can have about 2% to 5% of dissolved solids, as compared with the working water at point 212. It should be also noted that the number of RO membranes can vary from one embodiment to another. Furthermore, additional membranes can require increased pressure of the working water at the point 212.

As the working water passes through the first reverse osmosis device 114 and dissolved solids are removed therefrom, a portion of the working water is redirected toward a drain. Such drain water can exit the first reverse osmosis device 114 at a point 216. From the point 216, the drain water can flow downstream through an injector 116. A variety of suitable injectors can be used as the injector 116. For example, the water purification system 100 can incorporate a commercially available injector 116, such as an injector sold by MAZZEI (e.g., model No. 283).

The drain water can exit the injector 116 at a point 218 and flows downstream into a first drain 118. Moreover, as the drain water passes through the injector 116, the velocity of the flow increases and the absolute pressure within the injector 116 decreases. The decrease in pressure within injector 116 also leads to a reduction of pressure at mixture inlet port on injector 116, which can create a partial vacuum at a point 220. The water purification system 100 can utilize such reduction of pressure at the point 220 at another section of the purification operation, as further described below.

The working water that exits the first reverse osmosis device 114 at the point 214 (as described above), flows downstream toward a second pump 120. Moreover, the water purification system 100 also can include a second conductivity sensor D. As noted above, the percent of dissolved solids that were removed between the points 208 and 214 can be calculated by comparing conductivity or resistance readings between the first and second sensors A, D. Consequently, the system controller can determine the percentage of removed matter or, conversely, the percentage of the dissolved solids that remain in the working water at the point 214.

As the working water passes through the first reverse osmosis device 114, the pressure of the working water at the point 214 may be insufficient for subsequent components or operations in the water purification system 100. Accordingly, the second pump 120 can increase the pressure of the working water from the pressure at the point 214 to a higher pressure at a point 222, where the working water exits the second pump 120. Moreover, the water purification system 100 can include a pressure sensor E, which can read the pressure of the working water as the working water exits the second pump 120. Thus, the system controller can adjust the head of the second pump 120 in a manner that the working water at the point 222 is at a desired or required pressure.

The water purification system 100 also can include a second reverse osmosis device 122. The second reverse osmosis device 122 can be substantially the same as the first reverse osmosis device 114. Alternatively, the second reverse osmosis device 122 can have fewer RO membranes or more RO membranes than the first reverse osmosis device 114. For example, the second reverse osmosis device 122 can have a single RO membrane. As the working water passes through the second reverse osmosis device 122, the second reverse osmosis device 122 can remove at least a portion of the dissolved solids from the working water. For instance, where the second reverse osmosis device 122 has a single RO membrane, the second reverse osmosis device 122 can remove approximately 95% of the remaining (e.g., 2-5%) dissolved solids from the working water. In other words, the working water that exits the second reverse osmosis device 122 at a point 224 can have approximately 0.1 % to 0.25% of remaining dissolved solids as compared with the water at the point 212.

In some embodiments, the water purification system 100 can have a second drain connected to the second reverse osmosis device 122. The second drain can be similar to or the same as the first drain 118, described above. Accordingly, a portion of the working water can exit the second reverse osmosis device 122 as drain water and can flow toward the second drain. Furthermore, the water purification system 100 also can have a valve that can regulate the amount of drain water exiting the second reverse osmosis device 122 and/or entering the second drain. It should be appreciated that, as noted above, the working water passing through the second reverse osmosis device 122 can be 95% to 98% pure. Thus, in some instances, there may be a minimal amount of or no drain water discharged from the second reverse osmosis device 122.

Hence, at the point 224, substantially all of the dissolved solids have been removed from the working water. In some embodiments, however, the water purification system 100 can further purify the working water. For example, the water purification system 100 can include an MBDI (Mixed Bed Deionization) filter 124. Consequently, the working water from the point 224 can enter the MBDI filter 124 for further purification to remove any remaining positive and/or negative ions. The MBDI filter 124 also can serve as a backup filter, for example, in the event the second reverse osmosis device 122 is out of order (e.g., the RO membrane is damaged or clogged), which can allow the water purification system 100 to continue operating. As the working water exits the filter 124 at a point 226, the water purification system 100 can include a sensor that can be any one or more of the sensors described above, which can provide relevant information to the system controller.

In some embodiments, the water purification system 100 can include a first pH sensor F, which can obtain the pH level of the working water at the point 226. The pH level reading can provide additional information about the quality of the working water at the point 226. Such information can aid the system controller to determine proper treatment and/or adjustments to the treatment of the working water, in order to reach a desired purity and/or acidity level for the working water. The water purification system 100 also can include a degasification device 126 that can incorporate a DGM membrane. More specifically, the working water can enter the degasification device 126 as the working water flows downstream from the point 226. As the working water passes through the degasification device 126, gases (e.g., C0₂) can be removed from the working water by the degasification device 126. Hence, the working water that exits the degasification device 126 at a point 228 can be substantially gasless. As described above, as the drain water passes through the injector 116, pressure at the point 220 can be reduced. In some embodiments, the injector 116 may be connected to the degasification device 126 (i.e., to the mixture inlet port) in a manner that allows the injector 116 to apply such pressure reduction at the end of the degasification device 126 that expels gas from the working water passing therethrough. Particularly, the degasification device 126 can experience a reduced pressure at a point 230, and such reduction of pressure can pull the expelled gas out of the degasification device 126. Thereafter, the expelled gas can exit through the injector 116, together with the drain water at the point 218.

Absent the reduction of pressure at the points 220, 230 produced by the injector 116, the water purification system 100 may require a vacuum pump to generate sufficient suction at the point 230, which can help separate and remove the gas from the working water passing though the degasification device 126. Furthermore, additional energy may not be required when the drain water passes through the injector 116 and flows toward the point 218. In other words, the water purification system 100 may not require any additional power, as the drain water flows from the point 216 through the injector 116 to the point 218. Hence, the injector 116 can help to recover some of the energy from the flow of the drain water between the points 216 and 218. Particularly, such energy recovery can take the form of a pressure reduction at the points 220 and 230, which can help to separate and remove the gas from the working water passing through the degasification device 126.

The water purification system 100 also can include a pressure sensor G, which can provide the system controller with pressure information at or between the points 220, 230. In other words, the pressure sensor G can determine the amount of vacuum applied to the degasification device 126. Also, in one or more embodiments, the water purification system 100 can have a vacuum pump connected to the degasification device 126, which can provide supplement or substitute pressure reduction to the pressure reduction produced by the injector 116. For instance, when, based on the reading from the pressure sensor G, the system controller determines that the pressure reduction at the degasification device 126 (i.e., at the point 230) is insufficient, the system controller can engage a vacuum pump to reduce the pressure to a desired vacuum level. In any event, as noted above, the working water at the point 228 can have substantially less gas (e.g., C0₂) compared with the working water at the point 226. Additionally, it should be noted that C0₂, when combined with water, can form carbonic acid (e.g., H₂CO₃). Accordingly, degasification of the working water at the degasification device 126 can reduce acid formation in the working water and can normalize the pH level thereof.

Moreover, the water purification system 100 can have one or more sensors at or near the point 228, which can be any one of the sensors described above (e.g., conductivity sensor, pressure sensor, or pH sensor). Such sensors can provide relevant information to the system controller. For example, the water purification system 100 can incorporate a second pH sensor H, which can provide the system controller with the pH readings of the working water at the point 228. Hence, the system controller can compare the pH readings from the first and second pH sensors F, H, to determine whether the degasification device 126 removed a sufficient amount of gas (e.g., C0₂) from the working water.

The water purification system 100 also can include a third conductivity sensor I, which can provide information about the working water at the point 228. Consequently, the system controller can compare conductivity readings between the first, second, and third sensors A, D, I to ascertain the change in the purity of the working water between the points 208, 214, and 228. Additionally, the water purification system 100 can include a control valve 128. If, for example, the quality of the water as determined by the control system is adequate, the system controller can open the control valve 128 to allow the water to flow from the point 228 into a first reservoir tank 130. Accordingly, the water located in the first reservoir tank 130 can be purified water 300 that has been processed by the water purification system 100 and may have been tested by the above-referenced sensors.

The water purification system 100 also can include a water level sensor that can monitor the level of the purified water 300 in the first reservoir tank 130. Thus, as the level of the purified water 300 reaches a designated mark in the first reservoir tank 130, the system controller can stop further processing. Moreover, as described below, the first reservoir tank 130 can have an outlet that can allow the purified water 300 to flow out of the first reservoir tank 130. In some embodiments, the purified water 300 can flow into a mineralization / re- mineralization portion of the system for further processing. Alternatively, however, the purified water 300 can be dispensed directly from the water purification system 100, as drinking water.

In light of this disclosure, those skilled in the art should appreciate that particular characteristics of the components of the water purification system 100 can vary from one implementation to another, depending on the particular chemistry and contents of the stock water. Moreover, specific description of the components that can be used in the water purification system 100 (or any other system described herein) should not be read as limiting. For example, the first reservoir tank 130 can be a 300 gallon tank. However, those skilled in the art should appreciate that particular capacity of the first reservoir tank 130 can vary from one application or system configuration to another. Similarly, particular specifications of other components also can vary in different embodiments of the systems described herein.

As described above, the water purification system 100 drains a portion of the working water that passes through the first reverse osmosis device 114 and/or the second reverse osmosis device 122 (i.e., the drain water). Moreover, the drain water flows into the first drain 118 and does not otherwise recirculate through the water purification system 100. It should be noted, however, that this disclosure is not so limited. As illustrated in Figure 2, at least one embodiment includes a water purification system 100a, which can recirculate at least a portion of the drain water. Thus, the water purification system 100a can reduce the amount of stock water that is required for producing a unit of purified water as compared with the water purification system 100. Except as otherwise described herein, the water purification system 100a can be substantially the same as the water purification system 100. Furthermore, the same reference numbers used for identifying various components and points of the water purification system 100 (illustrated in Figure 1) are used to identify the same or similar components and points of the water purification system 100a, illustrated in Figure 2.

For instance, as described above, the drain water can exit the first reverse osmosis device 114 at the point 216. Thereafter, the drain water can enter the injector 116 and can proceed to flow along a first drain line to the point 218 and subsequently to the first drain 118. Additionally, the water purification system 100a can include a first drain control valve 132, which can regulate the amount of drain water that enters the injector 116 and subsequently flows into the first drain 118.

At least a portion of the drained water also can flow through a junction point 230 to a point 232 in a first recirculation line. Likewise, the water purification system 100a also can include a first recirculation control valve 134, which can regulate the flow of the drain water through the first recirculation line. Moreover, the water purification system 100a also can include a flow meter J that can provide the system controller information about flow rate of the drain water in the drain line and/or in the first recirculation line. Thus, the system controller can manipulate the first drain and recirculation control valves 132, 134 to adjust the amount of the drain water that flows through each of the first drain and recirculation lines.

As the drained water recirculates back into the system, the drained water can enter the system and can mix with the working water at a point 234. Subsequently, the mixed drain water and the working water form the working water that flows from the point 234 downstream, in the water purification system 100a. Particularly, from the point 234, the working water can flow through the descaling device 110 and exit at the point 210, as described above in connection with the water purification system 100 (Figure 1).

The first conductivity sensor A can estimate the amount of solids and/or ions dissolved in the working water. Consequently, the first conductivity sensor A can determine the amount of solids dissolved and/or ions in the mixture of the working water with the drained water at the point 234. As the drain water exits the first reverse osmosis device 114, the quantity of dissolved solids in the drain water at the point 216 can be greater than the quantity of solids dissolved in the working water at the point 206.

Accordingly, as drain water is mixed with the working water at the point 234, the quantity of dissolved solids in the working water at the point 234 can be greater than at the point 206. Moreover, the quantity or concentration of solids in the working water at the point 234 can increase with each cycle through the recirculation line, depending on the amount of drain water that recirculates and reenters the system at the point 234. Thus, the system controller can control the amount of drain water that exits through the first drain control valve 132 and the amount of drain water that recirculates back into the system through the first recirculation control valve 134. Particularly, the system controller can optimize the amount of water processed as well as the energy required for such processing.

Additionally or alternatively, similar to the drain water that exits the first reverse osmosis device 114, drain water can exit the second reverse osmosis device 122 at a point 236. Thereafter, the drain water can proceed to flow along a second drain line to a point 240 and subsequently to a second drain 136. Additionally, the water purification system 100a can include a second drain control valve 138, which can regulate the amount of drain water that enters the second drain 136.

In one or more embodiments, the water purification system 100a also can include a second injector that can receive drain water from the second reverse osmosis device 122. Accordingly, additional energy may be recovered from the drain water flowing out of the water purification system 100a. Similar to the injector 116 (described above), the second injector can provide additional reduction of pressure and suction at the point 230, which can assist the degasification device 126 in separating gases from the working water. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the drain water also can flow through a junction point 238 to a point 242 along a second recirculation line. Likewise, the water purification system 100a also can include a second recirculation control valve 140, which can regulate the flow of the drain water through the second recirculation line. Moreover, the water purification system 100a also can include a flow meter that can provide the system controller with information about the flow rate of the drain water in the drain line and in the second recirculation line. Thus, the system controller can manipulate the second drain and recirculation control valves 138, 140 to adjust the amount of the drain water that flows through each of the second drain and recirculation lines.

Additionally, the drain water from the second reverse osmosis device 122 can flow through the second recirculation line and can reenter the system at the point 234 (similar to the drain water exiting the first reverse osmosis device 114, described above). Moreover, in some embodiments, the first and second recirculation lines can connect at a point 244. Specifically, at point 244, the portion of the drain water that exits the second reverse osmosis device 122 and flows along the second recirculation line can mix with the portion of the drain water that exits the first reverse osmosis device 114 and flows through the first recirculation line.

Thereafter, the combined flow of drain water can mix with the working water at the point 234, as described above. It should be noted that the drain water exiting the second reverse osmosis device 122 can have a lower concentration of dissolved solids than the drain water exiting the first reverse osmosis device 114. Accordingly, the system controller can allow more drain water to recirculate from the second reverse osmosis device 122 than from the first reverse osmosis device 114. In any event, the control system can adjust the first and second drain and recirculation control valves 132, 134, 138, 140 to provide an optimal amount and concentration of the mixed drain water at the point 244, which will reenter the system at the point 234.

In one embodiment, the system 100 of Figure 1 and the system 100a of Figure 2 can include one or more filters between the degasification device 126 and the tank 130. These one or more filters can be at any location between the degasification device 126 and the tank 130. For example, point 228 can include the one or more filters. The one or more filters can be represented by a magnesium filter and/or an enhanced carbon filter. As such, point 228 can include at least one magnesium filter and/or at least one enhanced carbon filter.

In light of this disclosure, those skilled in the art should appreciate that the recirculation of the drain water from the first reverse osmosis device 114 and from the second reverse osmosis device 122 can be repeated in a closed loop arrangement. Also, similar to the water purification system 100 (Figure 1) the water purification system 100a can produce purified water 300 that can be stored in and/or dispensed from the first reservoir tank 130. In at least one embodiment, the purified water 300 can proceed to be further conditioned by a water conditioning and/or mineralization / re -mineralization system, which can introduce or reintroduce desirable elements and/or minerals into the purified water 300. Thus, at least one embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 3, includes a water conditioning system 400.

Particularly, the water conditioning system 400 can process or continue processing the purified water 300 that is located in the first reservoir tank 130. For instance, the purified water 300 can flow from the first reservoir tank 130 to a point 246. In some embodiments, the water conditioning system 400 can include a pump 402 that can force the purified water 300 to flow out of the first reservoir tank 130. Additionally or alternatively, the flow of the purified water 300 from the first reservoir tank 130 can be gravity fed (e.g., the first reservoir tank 130 can be placed at an appropriate elevation that can facilitate such flow). In any event, the purified water 300 can exit the first reservoir tank 130 and flow to the point 246. Thereafter, the purified water 300 can flow to a junction point 250. In some embodiments, the purified water 300 can flow from the junction point 250 to a point 252 and/or to a point 254. More specifically, the water conditioning system 400 can include first and second transfer valves 404, 406, which can regulate the direction and amount of flow of the purified water 300 from the point 250 to the respective points 252, 254. In other words, the system controller, which may be integrated with the system controller of any one of the water purification systems 100, 100a or may be separate therefrom, can open (partially or fully) the first and second transfer valves 404, 406 to regulate the flow.

For instance, the water conditioning system 400 can include a chiller 408, which can receive and chill the purified water 300. Hence, after the purified water 300 flows to and past the point 252, the purified water 300 can enter the chiller 408, which can lower the temperature of the purified water 300. Thereafter, the purified water 300 can flow out of the chiller 408 to a point 256. It should be understood that the purified water 300 at the point 256 can have a lower temperature than at the point 246.

In one or more embodiments, the water conditioning system 400 can incorporate a temperature sensor L, which can determine whether the temperature of the purified water 300 at the point 256 is appropriate. To the extent that the temperature of the purified water 300 at the point 256 is higher than desirable, the system controller can increase the temperature reduction of the chiller 408. Conversely, to the extent that the temperature of the purified water 300 at the point 256 is lower than desirable, the system controller can decrease the temperature reduction of the chiller 408. Thus, the system controller can optimize the cooling of the purified water 300.

Subsequently, the cooled purified water 300 can reenter the first reservoir tank 130. The cooling process can be run in a closed loop configuration. Accordingly, the purified water 300 located in the first reservoir tank 130 can be cooled to a desired temperature. In one embodiment, the water conditioning system 400 can include a temperature sensor M, which can read the temperature of the purified water 300 in the first reservoir tank 130. As the purified water 300 reaches a desired temperature, the system controller can cease further cooling of the purified water 300, in manner described above. For instance, the first transfer control valve 404 can close, thereby preventing flow of the purified water 300 into the chiller 408.

Additionally, the water conditioning system 400 can include a level sensor N that can provide reading of the level of the purified water 300 in the first reservoir tank 130. In some instance, the purified water 300 can enter the first reservoir tank 130 in a manner described above in connection with water purification systems 100, 100a (Figures I , 2). Thus, the system controller can close a valve that allows the purified water 300 to flow into the first reservoir tank 130, to prevent overflow.

Moreover, the (new) purified water 300 entering the first reservoir tank 130 can be at a temperature that is higher than the purified water 300 that exits the chiller 408 at the point 256. Also, such new purified water 300 can be at a temperature that is higher than a desirable temperature. Thus, as the new purified water 300 mixes with the purified water 300 that is present in the first reservoir tank 130 and/or with the purified water 300 that had passed through the chiller 408, the final temperature in the first reservoir tank 130 can be higher than the desirable temperature. Consequently, the system controller can manipulate the first transfer control valve 404 to produce additional amounts of chilled purified water 300, by passing the purified water 300 through the chiller 408, and thereby maintaining the desirable temperature within the first reservoir tank 130.

In some instances, the desirable temperature can be around 4° C— i.e., the desirable temperature can be approximately a melt temperature. In other words, the desirable temperature of the purified water 300 in the first reservoir tank 130 can approximate the temperature of the water formed from melting snow or ice. Such desirable temperature also can aid in simulating the conditions of natural water flow into and/or through an aquifer. The chiller 408, however, can reduce the temperature of the purified water 300 below the desirable temperature. For example, the chiller 408 can produce supercool purified water 300, which can be below the desirable temperature (and below the normal freezing temperature of the water). Thus, when the purified water 300 in the first reservoir tank 130 is at the desirable temperature, the purified water 300 at the point 256 can be cooler than the purified water 300 at the point 246 or at the point 250.

It should be also noted that the purified water 300 can flow out of the first reservoir tank 130 at any point (i.e., the point 246 can be located anywhere on the first reservoir tank 130, relative to the outside dimensions thereof). In the embodiment, the purified water 300 can exit the first reservoir tank 130 at the bottom. Thus, the purified water 300 that flows to the point 246 has the lowest temperature (i.e., the coldest purified water 300) within the first reservoir tank 130. Alternatively, however, the purified water 300 can be drawn from other points in the tank to obtain a particular desirable temperature.

As noted above, in some embodiments, the purified water 300 can flow from the point 250 to the point 254 (i.e., when the second transfer control valve 406 is at least partially open). Subsequently, the water conditioning system 400 can reintroduce C0₂ into the purified water 300. Particularly, the water conditioning system 400 can add a desirable amount of C0₂ (e.g., medical grade C0₂) into the purified water 300. Thereafter, the added C0₂ can allow the water conditioning system 400 to add minerals to the water (to form re -mineralized water), which can be in a bicarbonate form.

For example, the purified water 300 can flow into a carbonator tank 410. In some embodiments, the water conditioning system 400 also can include a booster pump 412, which can pump the purified water 300 into and/or through the carbonator tank 410. The water conditioning system 400 also can include a C0₂ tank 413 connected to the carbonator tank 410. As noted above, the C0₂ tank 413 can contain medical grade C0₂, which can be reintroduced into the purified water 300. Particularly, the water conditioning system 400 can have a C0₂ valve 414, which can open to release the C0₂ gas from the C0₂ tank 413 into the carbonator tank 410. The system controller can operate the C0₂ valve 414 to release a desired and/or precise amount of the C0₂ gas into the purified water 300, thereby forming carbonic acid purified water 310. The purified water having the carbonic acid can be referred to herein as carbonic acid purified water 310.

Subsequently, in some embodiments, the carbonic acid purified water 310 can flow out of the carbonator tank 410 and into a first mineralization tank 416. The first mineralization tank 416 can introduce various minerals into the carbonic acid purified water 310, thereby creating a first mineralized drinking water 320. For instance, the first mineralization tank 416 can have minerals and stones 428, such as lodestones, which can supply the desired minerals and elements into the carbonic acid purified water 310 to form the first mineralized drinking water 320. In at least one embodiment, the water conditioning system 400 also can have a valve 418, which can control entry of the carbonic acid purified water 310 into the first mineralization tank 416. Particularly, the valve 418 can allow or prohibit the carbonic acid purified water 310 to flow to a junction point 258. From the junction point 258 the flow can enter the first mineralization tank 416. Additionally, the water conditioning system 400 can include a drain valve 420, a return valve 422, and a transfer valve 424. The drain valve 420 can open to allow the carbonic acid purified water 310, first mineralized drinking water 320, or a mixture thereof to flow to a point 260 and subsequently to a drain 42 .

The return valve 422 can open to allow the carbonic acid water 310, first mineralized drinking water 320, or a mixture thereof to flow into the first mineralization tank 416. The transfer valve 424 can open to allow the carbonic acid purified water 310, first mineralized drinking water 320, or a mixture thereof to flow to another portion or out of the system (as described below). Also, in some instances, the water conditioning system 400 can include a pump 429, which can increase the pressure and facilitate the flow of the carbonic acid purified water 310, first mineralized drinking water 320, and a mixture thereof between the points 258 and 262 and/or 270.

Furthermore, the system controller can manipulate the valve 418, drain valve 420, return valve 422, transfer valve 424, and combinations thereof to control the flow of carbonic acid purified water 310, first mineralized drinking water 320, and mixtures thereof into and out of the first mineralization tank 416. For example, the system controller can close the drain valve 420 and the transfer valve 424, while opening the return valve 422, thereby directing the flow into the first mineralization tank 416. Additionally, closing the valve 418 can allow only the first mineralized drinking water 320 to flow back into the first mineralization tank 416. By contrast, if the valve 418 is open, a mixture of carbonic acid purified water 310 and first mineralized drinking water 320 can flow into the first mineralization tank 416.

In one or more embodiments, the water conditioning system 400 also can include an injector 426. The injector 426 can be similar to or the same as the injector 116 (Figures 1, 2). Hence, the carbonic acid purified water 310 and/or first mineralized drinking water 320 can pass through the injector 426, exit at the point 262, and flow into the first mineralization tank 416. For example, the first mineralized drinking water 320 and/or carbonic acid purified water 310 can enter the first mineralization tank 416 at a top thereof (e.g., above the water line).

While the first mineralized drinking water 320 and carbonic acid purified water 310 remain in the first mineralization tank 416, some of the CO₂ can separate therefrom as gas. The injector 426 can create a reduced pressure at a point 264. Moreover, the C0₂ that separates from the carbonic acid purified water 310 and first mineralized drinking water 320 contained in the first mineralization tank 416 can exit the first mineralization tank 416 at a point 266. Accordingly, the injector 426 can recover at least a portion of the C0₂ that separates from the carbonic acid purified water 310 and/or first mineralized drinking water 320 in the first mineralization tank 416 and reintroduce it into the carbonic acid purified water 310, first mineralized drinking water 320, or a mixture thereof that flows through the injector 426 and into the first mineralization tank 416.

The first mineralized drinking water 320 produced in the first mineralization tank 416 can exit the first mineralization tank 416 at the bottom thereof. Also, the stones 428 can be located at the bottom of the first mineralization tank 416, such that the carbonic acid purified water 310 and/or first mineralized drinking water 320 flows through or about the stones 428. Particularly, the water conditioning system 400 can create a vortex of the carbonic acid purified water 310 and/or first mineralized drinking water 320 during the exit thereof from the first mineralization tank 416. As such, the carbonic acid purified water 310 and/or first mineralized drinking water 320 can pass through the stones 428 in a more turbulent manner, which can stimulate release of the various minerals and elements from the stones 428 as well as mixing thereof with the carbonic acid purified water 310 and/or first mineralized drinking water 320.

In any event, in at least one embodiment, at a point 268, the water conditioning system 400 can contain the first mineralized drinking water 320. Accordingly, the system controller can close the valve 418 and drain valve 420 and at least partially open the transfer valve 424 to allow the first mineralized drinking water 320 to flow to the point 270. Thereafter, the first mineralized drinking water 320 can flow into another portion of the system, which can store and/or dispense the first mineralized drinking water 320. Additionally or alternatively, the other portion of the system can further process and/or condition the first mineralized drinking water 320, as described below.

In one or more embodiments, the mineralization tank 416 can be initially filled with carbonic acid purified water 310. For example, the valve 418 can be open, while the drain, return, and transfer valves 420, 422, 424 remain closed. Thus, the carbonic acid purified water 310 can flow from the carbonator tank 410, to the point 258, to the point 268, and into the first mineralization tank 416. Once the mineralization tank 416 is filled is filled to a desired level, the valve 418 can close. Also, it should be noted that various combinations and ratios of open/closed valve 418, drain valve 420, return valve 422, and transfer valve 424 can be implemented by the system controller to produce a desired flow of the carbonic acid purified water 310 and/or first mineralized drinking water 320 into and out of the first mineralization tank 416.

In one embodiment, the water conditioning system 400 can include an oxygen generator operably coupled to the first mineralization tank 416 and/or the points 262, 264, 266, 268 and/or the injector 426, or anywhere there between. The oxygen generator can be any known or developed oxygen generator, which can be configured for introducing oxygen into the system 400. Also, the system 400 can include an oxygen sensor at any of these aforementioned locations that can measure the oxygen, and thereby signal a controller to introduce oxygen into the system from the oxygen generator. In one aspect, the oxygen generator can be connected to a fluid flow path that includes a valve (e.g., check valve) and/or an oxygen feed controller that alone or together control the amount of oxygen introduced into the system 400. In one example, the oxygen generator is connected to a valve under control of an oxygen feed controller that ports the oxygen directly into the injector 426. Other variations of combining an oxygen generator for introducing oxygen into the system can be utilized in accordance with the skill in the art.

As described above, from the point 270 the first mineralized drinking water 320 can flow to a dispensing device. Additionally or alternatively, the first mineralized drinking water 320 can be further processed in a conditioning system 450, illustrated in Figure 4. More specifically, the system controller can open the transfer valve 424 and can allow the first mineralized drinking water 320 to flow to the point 270. Thereafter, in some embodiments, the first mineralized drinking water 320 can enter the conditioning system 450.

For instance, the conditioning system 450 can include a pump 452 which can increase the pressure of the first mineralized drinking water between the point 270 and a point 272. The conditioning system 450 also can include a proportional feeder 454. The proportional feeder 454 can be a non-electric proportional feeder, which can create a partial vacuum at a point 274. In some embodiments, the proportional feeder 454 can be the same as or substantially similar to the injector 116 (Figure 1). In any event, the partial vacuum can draw fluids from a second stage second mineralization tank 456.

For example, the second mineralization tank 456 can contain a salt mixture 500 of natural salts, such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. The proportional feeder 454 can draw the salt mixture 500 from the second mineralization tank 456 and mix the salt mixture 500 with the first mineralized drinking water passing through the proportional feeder 454. Thus, the proportional feeder 454 can process the first mineralized drinking water 320 to produce a second mineralized drinking water at a point 276. In some embodiments, the proportional feeder 454 can proportionally mix 0.2% to 2% of salt mixture 500 with the first mineralized drinking water. The proportion of salt mixture 500 mixed with first mineralized drinking water by the proportional feeder 454 also can be greater than 2% or less than 0.2%. In some embodiments, the conditioning system 450 also can have a pump 458 that can circulate the salt mixture 500 out of the second mineralization tank 456 and back into the second mineralization tank 456. For instance, the second mineralization tank 456, similar to the first mineralization tank 416 (Figure 3), can have minerals and stones 460 that contain natural salts of potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. The stones 460 can be located on the bottom of the second mineralization tank 456. The pump 458 can drain the salt mixture 500 from the bottom of the second mineralization tank 456, creating a vortex about the stones 460. As noted above, such vortex can incorporate the minerals and elements contained in the stones 460 into the salt mixture 500. Thereafter, the pump 458 can pump the salt mixture 500 back into the second mineralization tank 456. This process can be repeated in a closed loop arrangement, until the desired concentration of the above -noted salts is achieved in the salt mixture 500.

After the salt mixture 500 is mixed with the first mineralized drinking water 320, the second mineralized drinking water can flow to a water dispenser. Alternatively, in one or more embodiments, the second mineralized drinking water can flow from the point 276 into a UV treatment unit 462. The UV treatment unit 462 can kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that may be present in the second mineralized drinking water. For example, as the purified water is further processed by the water conditioning system 400 and/or conditioning system 450, during certain processes the water may be exposed to air and airborne microorganisms, which may be present in the second mineralized drinking water. Thus, treating the second mineralized drinking water with the UV treatment unit 462 can kill harmful microorganisms that may be therein.

Hence, a final mineralized drinking water exits the UV treatment unit 462 at a point 278. The conditioning system 450 also can include one or more sensors to measure the quality of the final mineralized drinking water at the point 278. For instance, the conditioning system 450 can have a final conductivity sensor O, which can measure the conductivity and/or resistivity of the final mineralized drinking water. Thus, the system controller can obtain an approximate percentage value of dissolved solids in the final mineralized drinking water. Moreover, the system controller can compare the readings of the final conductivity sensor O with the readings of the third conductivity sensor I to determine the quantity of reintroduced minerals or percentage of mineralization of the final mineralized drinking water as compared with the purified water 300 (Figure 1). The conditioning system 450 also can have a final pH sensor P, which can read the pH level in the final mineralized drinking water. The final pH sensor P can assure that the final mineralized drinking water has acceptable pH level for dispensing. Furthermore, the conditioning system 450 also can have a dispensing valve 464, which can regulate the flow of the final mineralized drinking water to a point 280. Thereafter, from the point 280, the final mineralized drinking water can be dispensed.

The conditioning system 450 can have a pressure sensor Q, which can assure that the pressure of the final mineralized drinking water at points 278 and/or 280 is adequate for dispensing. A standard water dispensing device, as may be suitable, can connect at the point 280. In any event, at the point 280, the final mineralized drinking water can be ready for dispensing.

Accordingly, Figures 1-4 and the corresponding text, provide a number of different components and mechanisms for purifying, conditioning, treating, and re -mineralizing water. In addition to the foregoing, embodiments also can be described in terms one or more acts in a method for accomplishing a particular result. Particularly, Figure 5 illustrates a method of water filtration and/or purification process. The acts of Figure 5 are described below with reference to the components and diagrams of Figures 1 through 4.

For example, Figure 5 shows the method can include an act 610 of passing the working water through one or more preliminary filters. Particularly, as described above, the working water can pass through the first filter 102 and, in some instances, through the second filter 106. Additionally, the working water can pass through the UV treatment unit 104 and/or through the descaling device 110.

The method also can include an act 620 of passing the working water through the first reverse osmosis device, such as the first reverse osmosis device 114. The first reverse osmosis device 114 can include a single or multiple reverse osmosis membranes. Accordingly, in some embodiments, passing the working water through the first reverse osmosis device 114 can be substantially equivalent to passing the working water through multiple reverse osmosis devices.

In one or more embodiments, the method includes an act 630 of passing the drain water out of the first reverse osmosis device through the injector 116. Thereafter, the working water can exit the injector 116 and flow into the first drain 118. Furthermore, the flow of drain water through the injector 116 can reduce pressure at a mixture inlet port of the injector 116. Such reduction of pressure may be used in other acts of the method. In other words, the method can allow recovery of at least a portion of the energy from the drain water, as the drain water flows out of the first reverse osmosis device 114. Also, in some instances, at least a portion of the drain water can recirculate back through the first reverse osmosis device 114.

Additionally, the method can include an act 640 of passing the working water through a subsequent reverse osmosis device, such as the second reverse osmosis device 122. As the working water passes through the second reverse osmosis device 122, a portion of the working water becomes drain water, which can flow into the second drain 136. Also, a portion of the drain water can recirculate through the first reverse osmosis device 114 and/or the second reverse osmosis device 122. For instance, such drain water can first recirculate through the first reverse osmosis device 114 and subsequently through the second reverse osmosis device 122. Moreover, the drain water from the second reverse osmosis device 122 can mix with the drain water from the first reverse osmosis device 114 before recirculating through the first reverse osmosis device 114. Thereafter, the drain water from the second reverse osmosis device 122, first reverse osmosis device 114, and/or a mixture thereof can recirculate through the second reverse osmosis device 122.

The method can further include an act 650 of passing the working water through a degasification membrane (DGM) degasification device 126. In some instance, the working water can pass through the filter 124 before entering the degasification device 126. As the water passes through the degasification device 126, gases separated by the degasification device 126 can be suctioned out of the working water in an act 660. Particularly, as noted above, the pressure reduction created by the injector 116 (in the act 630) can be used to suction the gases. Additionally or alternatively, a vacuum pump can be used to create or increase reduction of pressure required for suctioning the gases in the act 660.

At least one embodiment includes another or a further method of conditioning and/or mineralizing / re-mineralizing water, as illustrated in Figure 6. The acts of Figure 6 are described below with reference to the components and diagrams of Figures 1 through 4. For example, as illustrated in Figure 6, such method can include an act 670 of chilling the purified water 300. Particularly, the purified water can circulate out of the first reservoir tank 130, through the chiller 408, and back into the first reservoir tank 130. As the chiller 408 cools the purified water 300 that circulates therethrough, the purified water 300 in the first reservoir tank 130 also will be cooled. For instance, the purified water 300 can be cooled to approximately 4° C.

Additionally, the method can include an act 680 of introducing C0₂ into the purified water 300, thereby producing the carbonic acid purified water 310. In some embodiments, the purified water 300 may be initially cooled (e.g., in the act 670), before the introduction of CO2. Also, a controlled and precise amount of C0₂ can be added to the purified water 300, thus forming the carbonic acid purified water 310 with a desired concentration of C0₂.

The method may further include an act 690 of adding minerals and/or salts to the carbonic acid purified water 310, thereby forming mineralized drinking water. For example, the carbonic acid purified water 310 can circulate through the first mineralization tank 416, which can have stones 428 therein. Particularly, the stones 428 can be located on the bottom of the first mineralization tank 416, and the carbonic acid purified water 310 can form a vortex upon exiting the first mineralization tank 416, which can aid in dissolving and absorbing the minerals from the stones 428 into the carbonic acid purified water 310, thereby forming the first mineralized drinking water 320.

Moreover, the carbonic acid purified water 310 and/or first mineralized drinking water 320 can receive salts. For example, the carbonic acid purified water 310 or first mineralized drinking water 320 can pass through the proportional feeder 454, which can draw minerals from the second mineralization tank 456. The second mineralization tank 456, in turn, can contain the salt mixture 500. More specifically, in one embodiment, the second mineralization tank 456 can contain alkaline magnesium water (e.g., water that is alkaline and contains magnesium) that can circulate through the minerals and stones 460 thereby forming the salt mixture 500, which can be drawn into the carbonic acid purified water 310 or into the first mineralized drinking water 320 that may pass through the proportional feeder 454.

Thereafter, the mineralized drinking water can be made available through a standard dispensing machine. Additionally, prior to dispensing the mineralized drinking water, the method also can include an act of further sterilizing the mineralized drinking water by passing the mineralized drinking water through the UV treatment unit 462. Accordingly, the mineralized water available for dispensing may contain no or minimal amounts of live microorganisms .

Figure 7A illustrates an embodiment of a portion of a water production system 700a that is configured for installation under a counter. As shown, the system 700a includes: an adapter 702 that is configured for attachment to a cold side domestic water supply via an assembly that also includes an on/off valve to permit ease of installation and service : a filter 704 that is fluidly coupled to the adapter 702 and filters the water so that no particles in excess of 5 microns in size pass through which could cause premature plugging of membrane 710: a filter 706 which is fluidly connected to filter 704 which contains a metallic based and bio static material such as KDF or one of its substitutes that removes chlorine via a redox reaction that changes the chlorine (a gas) to chloride (a harmless, tasteless, odorless dissolved ion) and has a capacity for this removal approximately 5X that of activated carbon and also a special enhanced activated carbon. By placing the KDF in the filter so that the flow of water is exposed to it first, the resulting water prior to passing through the enhanced activated carbon is void of chlorine thus increasing the potential life of the activated carbon which has as a purpose the removal of chloramines and volatile organics. The resulting extended life of the filter is intended to protect the polyamide rejection material used in element 710 from the deleterious effects of chlorine and remove possibly harmful to health volatile organics such as trichloromethane from the processed water.

Fluidly connected to filter 706 is a shut-off valve 708. This valve is has fluid connections that allow the inlet feed water to pass through it to the remainder of the device until the processed water in the hydro pneumatic RO accumulator tank which also is connected fluidly to the 708 shut off valve reaches a pressure of approximately 80% of the pressure passing through filter 706 at which point the shut off valve 708 ceases the flow of water. The treated and pressurized water from the tank 730 is separated from the untreated water by a flexible elastic diaphragm that prevents mixing of the two qualities of water. In another iteration, valve 708 can be replaced with an electrically operated solenoid valve that would be operated by a pressure switch arranged so that it measured the pressure in tank 730.

Fluidly connected to the water from filter 706 through valve 708 is a cylindrical housing or housings containing the reverse osmosis membrane(s) 710. The water from valve 708 flows axially through the membrane and divides into two paths internally. One path is to drain where the flow and the resulting back pressure is controlled with a capillary tube 720 which is also fluidly connect to a waste drain normally through a fitting on a drain pipe represented by drain clamp 722. The drain flow rate through the capillary tube 720 is normally in the range of 50% of the flow from valve 708 and the user is instructed to periodically open valve 724 to flush accumulated suspended solids that may have been created within the geometry of the membranes.

The other flow from the membrane/housing assembly 710 is referred to as the product water. This water exits the housing through a check valve 712. The product water has been forced through the membrane which is formed by a thin polyamide semi permeable rejection layer supported by a permeable backing material. Such membranes have a porosity in the range of 0.0002 microns. Such small porosity prevents passage of most identified bacteria, viruses and cysts. The water molecule will pass through but through a process of mass transfer 90% or more of the dissolved ions in the water are rejected by the membrane thus remaining in the drain flow and discharged along with any suspended matter through the drain fitting 722. The product flow after the check valve is fluidly connected to the shut-off valve 708 and from there it is fluidly connected to cation resin cartridge filter 714.

Water entering filter 714 is first exposed to a cation resin were all remaining dissolved solids with a positive valence are exchanged for hydrogen ions. The resulting water thus is an accumulation of mineral acids created by hydrogen and the un-removed anions - HCL (Hydrochloric), HN03(Nitric), H2S04(sulfuric), HC03(carbonic), etc. The resulting acid water then passes through a volume of special anion resin. This resin will remove anions thus neutralizing the acids EXCEPT for the mild carbon dioxide portion of the carbonic acid which is desired to produce the desired resulting chemistry of the finished water for the user. Water exiting filter 714 is fluidly connected to filter 716 which is a duplicate polishing version of filter 714.

Filter 718 is fluidly connected to filter 716 and contains a salt of magnesium. Because water from filter 716 is like water from filter 714 in that it contains mild carbonic acid, the salt is slowly dissolved thus imparting magnesium bicarbonate to the water. This results in an elevated pH and the water is often referred to as alkaline water. Valve 726 fluidly connects the inlet to the outlet of filter 718 permitting the end user to variably control the degree of magnesium bicarbonate in the water. When valve 726 is fully closed all water from filter 716 will pass through filter 718 thus maximizing the concentration. When valve 726 is fully open virtually all water from filter 716 will by-pass filter 718 due to the pressure drop caused by the need for water to pass through the media thus minimizing the presence of magnesium bicarbonate. By carefully adjusting valve 726 the end user is then able obtain a level that meets their requirements.

The outlet of filter 718 is fluidly connected via a hydraulic TEE to the hydro pneumatic storage tank 730 and activated carbon filter 728. If there is no flow demand for use, water from filter 726 will flow to tank 730 where the processed water is pressurized by an air pre- charge within the tank. The water is held in a chemically inert elastomeric bag within the tank thus separating the treated water from the tank material and the air for sanitary safety. On the way into tank 730 the water passes through a container 732 that contains small sedimentary and igneous rocks as well as lode stones to replicate the passage of water within a natural stream. Upon a flow demand caused by the opening of faucet 736 or from the float water valve 756 detailed in Fig. 7B, water will exit tank 730, pass through the mineral contact chamber 732 and enter carbon filter 728 in a flow path reversed from the filling of tank 730. This flow being higher in rate than the fill rate will create an upward vortex flow within the contact chamber 732 where it then enters carbon filter 728 and flows through the carbon to the exit of filter 728. Any taste components given off by the magnesium salt in filter 718 will be removed by the activated carbon.

Filter 728 is fluidly connected to a Hall Effect turbine meter such as item 734 or alternately to a flow sensing magnetic reed switch. Either sensor activates an battery operated electronic signal counter pre -set to a volume of water that gives a signal to the consumer advising that replacement of deionizer cartridge 714 and 716 is required. Three signals are provided -a green light indicating all is well, an amber light indicating 20% of filter life remains and a red light indicating filter life is exhausted.

The outlet of the sensor 734 is fluidly connected to a hydraulic TEE 738 so that either or both faucet 736 or valve 756 when opened will cause water to flow from tank 730, through chamber 732, and through filter 728. If however tank 730 has failed to fill or if extraction of water from faucet 736 or the brewer detailed in Fig. 7B has emptied the tank 730, then water at a very low flow will go directly from filter 718 regardless of the position of by-pass valve 726, through filter 728 , indicator 734, and to either or both faucet 736 and float valve 756. Figure 7B illustrates an embodiment of a portion of a water production system 700b that is configured for installation on a counter top and operably coupled with the system 700a from Figure 7A. Fully treated water from the system shown in Fig. 7A, couples to system 7B using a connector device 796 that includes a male and female portion wherein when the male portion is inserted into the female portion, water flows freely. However when separated by the release of a single button pressurized water from the components in Fig. 7A cannot flow and water cannot flow from the system in Fig. B because it is not pressurized. Optionally or in addition to the connector device 796, a manual valve 754 may be employed between the two systems.

The water from the use of either or both items 796 and 754 is fluidly connected to another connector 796 half of which is permanently assembled to the appliance structure 792 of system 700b and delivers water to the holding vessel 750. Vessel 750 can be preferentially constructed of glass or crystal or alternately by a ceramic crock or stainless steel vessel. Water from connector 796 flows through a preferentially stainless steel tube fill line 794 which can be alternately made of plastic, glass or some other inert material. The start and stop of the water flow is controlled by a float valve 756 fluidly connected to the fill line 794. Once in the vessel 750, which is elevated above the counter surface the entire system 700b rests upon, the treated water may be removed by opening the dispenser valve 752. Alternately, the residing water may be further treated. By activating switch 768 with the power cord 780 plugged into a standard household electrical outlet, re-circulation pump 764 and chiller 760 are activated. The pump receives power directly and the chiller receiving power from transformer 766.

The suction side of pump 764 is fluidly connected to and draws water from the bottom of vessel 750, and between the tank and the pump a chiller chamber 758 is placed. Circulating water passes into and out of chamber 758 via offset hydraulic fittings 788, which are placed to create a vortex action within the chamber of vessel 750. The chamber also contains crystals, lode stones and stones to replicate the flow of water in a natural stream.

The outlet of pump 764 is fluidly connected to a probe 782 with noble metal electrodes. The probes 782 are connected to a battery operated device 784 that measures the conductivity of the water converts the conductivity electronically to a familiar value called Total Dissolved Solids and displays it digitally for the end user. Water leaving the holding probe 782 is fluidly connected to a suction creating injector 786. Water flowing into and out of injector 786 creates a suction that draws air into the water and mixes it well via mass transfer. For sanitary purposes, the air being included passes through a sub-micron filter 790 to remove spores and bacteria.

The outlet of the injector 786 is fluidly connected to a connector 796 half of which is permanently attached to the structure of the appliance 792. The outlet of connector 796 is a tube similar in size and material to fill line 794 and with a geometry where it enters vessel 750 designed to induce a visible vortex within the vessel. Vortexing water contacts more crystals, lode stone and stones 762 to further enhance replicating natural stream water.

The user of the system may add magnesium or other electrolyte salts, vitamins, minerals, flavors and other nutricuticals to the water as it circulates and obtain a close approximation of the level of additives by viewing the meter 784. By using connectors 796, the user may disconnect the feed and re-circulation tubes to facilitate cleaning of vessel 750. Additionally, where vessel 750 joins the appliance structure 792, quick connect tubing can be used to facilitate vessel removal.

Additionally, the present invention provides systems and methods for producing pristine water. The pristine water can be obtained by the process described herein, which includes stabilizing water (e.g., filtered and/or purified water) and stabilizing and brewing (e.g., brewing includes at least chilling, vortexing, and recirculating the water over lodestones). The pristine water can be referred to as revitalized water because the processes revitalize water to be pristine water. The water can be filtered and/or purified as obtained by the processes of U.S. Patent Application No. 13/712,581, and then stabilized and/or brewed. Unless specifically identified by the filtering and/or purification processing, the water used in the present invention can be filtered and/or purified, and reference to one can indicate that the water is processed in accordance with filtering and/or purification. In some instance, the water may be merely passed through a filter. In other instances, the water can be purified by the treatments of U.S. Patent Application No. 13/712,581. In addition to the specific processing described herein, the water may also be subject to the processing with the equipment of U.S. Patent Application No. 13/712,581, including, but not limited to: purified; degassed; removal of solids; deionized; mineralized; filtered; UV treated; descaled; reverse osmosis; cooled; carbon dioxidized; carbonic acidified; oxygenated; vortexed; or the like. Such processing can be performed before the stabilization and brewing described herein; however, processing, such as UV treatment, can be done with the stabilizing or brewing. The oxidation, carbon dioxidation, and carbonic acidification can be performed during brewing as described herein. The systems can also include the various sensors of U.S. Patent Application No. 13/712,581 in order to analyze the water, and then using computerized control, modulate the processing to obtain pristine or revitalized water with desired properties, such as properties described herein as being the water product. Accordingly, computerized control systems can be operably coupled with the systems and devices described herein, which can control the processing.

In one aspect, the water product can be stabilized deionized water with alkaline ions, which stops the water from self-ionizing itself with carbon dioxide. This inhibits the water from having carbonic acid. The process of stabilization can inject calcium and magnesium hydroxide and sodium and potassium bicarbonates into the water to increase the parts per million, which is conducted prior to the water coming in contact with air, which contains carbon dioxide. This will stop the water from self-ionizing. The stabilization process is performed in the absence of air, oxygen, or carbon dioxide.

In one aspect, the water product can be deionized water stabilized with magnesium ions to stop the water from ionizing itself with carbon dioxide. The process of stabilization can inject magnesium ions (e.g., negative ions) into the water, which is conducted prior to the water coming in contact with air, which contains carbon dioxide. This will stop the water from self-ionizing. The stabilization process is performed in the absence of air, oxygen, or carbon dioxide. The magnesium ions are injected by circulating the water through an additional magnesium oxide cartridge to increase the parts per million.

In one aspect, the stabilized water can be brewed by chilling and vortexing acid-free alkaline water over lodestones and crystals to erase trauma recording and to reprogram the water, which reprogramming enhances surface tension and increases the coherency of water molecules to produce revitalized water. In one aspect, the water product can be stabilized, deionized water with alkaline ions prior to brewing in order to stop the water from ionizing itself with carbon dioxide. The stabilization process injects calcium, magnesium hydroxide, sodium, and potassium bicarbonates into the water to increase the parts per million, which stabilization process is conducted prior to the water coming in contact with air, which contains carbon dioxide. This will stop the water from self-ionizing.

In one aspect, the water product can be stabilized, deionized water with magnesium ions prior to brewing to stop the water from ionizing itself with carbon dioxide. This can include adding magnesium ions (e.g., negative ions) to the deionized water or other water prior to the water coming in contact with air, which contains carbon dioxide. This will stop the water from self-ionizing. The water is stabilized by circulating the water through a magnesium oxide cartridge in a water filter housing in the water brewing process to increase the parts per million. In one aspect, brewing stabilized acid-free alkaline water with air that contains carbon dioxide can create carbonic acid in the alkaline water, which dissociates into bicarbonate ions.

In one embodiment, brewing acid-free water that contains sodium, potassium bicarbonate, calcium, and magnesium hydroxide with air that contains carbon dioxide can create carbonic acid in the alkaline water, which dissociates into bicarbonate ions to create sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, calcium bicarbonate, and magnesium bicarbonate.

In one embodiment, the water (e.g., deionized water) can be stabilized by adding ElectrolyteBalance™ (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium bicarbonate with or without water) to increase the PPM or the buffering capacity of the water, which helps to neutralize excess acids in the body.

Implementations of the present invention provide systems, methods, and apparatus for processing filtered water, stock water (e.g., tap water, well water, spring water, etc.), and deionized water in order to produce pristine drinking, bathing, and swimming water. This can include revitalized water. More specifically, such systems, methods, and apparatus can produce purified water by removing substantially all acids, suspended as well as dissolved solids and gasses, from the stock water. Thus, the purification treatment process can produce substantially pure water. The substantially pure water can have various uses, such as in laboratories and in various assays, or the like. The substantially pure water can then be stabilized and brewed to produce pristine or revitalized water.

After the purification process, the purified water can be properly mineralized and structured before consumption by the stabilization and brewing protocols. After the stock water is purified and substantially all of the acids, gasses, and particulate and dissolved solids have been removed, the purified water may have no significantly discernible taste and it lacks all of the beneficial minerals that may be present before purification. This purified water, however, can be useful in biological and chemical experiments, such as use as a pure water chemical reagent for a chemical reaction. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the system and method can reintroduce particularly desirable minerals into the purified water by stabilization and then brewing. Thus, the system and methods can produce high biophoton re-mineralized drinking water that can have desirable palatability as well as health- promoting qualities. As used herein, the term "drinking water" generally refers to water that has been properly processed and is ready for consumption. In one embodiment, the substantially pure water may be further processed so as to be stabilized, mineralized, structured, and/or reenergized prior to consumption. At least one embodiment includes a water purification system for purifying working water, and then the stabilization and brewing can be performed.

Moreover, in some embodiments, introduction and/or reintroduction of a blend of minerals into the purified water (i.e., mineralization or re-mineralization) can produce taste and other beneficial qualities of the mineralized water found in nature. Thus, for example, the system and method can introduce the minerals in a manner that produces drinking water that has a taste similar to natural spring water. Furthermore, such taste can be consistently replicated by the system and method. At the same time, as noted above, the system can remove harmful and/or undesirable particulates, liquids, and/or gasses from the stock water. Consequently, the system and method can produce drinking water that contains an optimized amount of beneficial bicarbonate salts, minerals, and elements, while being substantially free of all other (e.g., non-beneficial and/or harmful) substances.

Another embodiment includes a system method of purifying, conditioning, and re- mineralizing a working water to create a high biophoton mineralized water. The high biophoton mineralized water can be obtained from the stabilized water and the stabilized and brewed water. The high biophoton mineralized water can be the pristine water or revitalized water obtained with the following systems and processes.

Figure 8A illustrates a water revitalization system 800a in accordance with the present invention. The water revitalization system 800a is shown to include a water filtration system 810 that provides filtered water to a water stabilization system 820. The water filtration system 810 can be any water filtration system, or the water filtration system or water purification system described in U.S. Patent Application No. 13/712,581 filed December 12, 2012, which is incorporated herein by specific reference. However, in any of the embodiments of the invention, the water filtration system 810 or water filtration protocol can be omitted, and filtered water can be obtained as pre-filtered water. The water stabilization system 820 can be any system that can stabilize water in accordance with the principles described herein. The water stabilization system 820 can receive the filtered water and then stabilize the water with the ions described herein, such as alkaline ions, bicarbonate ions, magnesium ions, or stabilized with calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate. A water stabilization system 820 can include a water stabilization device 910 of Figure 9, or other similarly configured mixing or dosing apparatus (e.g., Dosatron device). The water stabilization system 820 can provide the stabilized water to a water chilling system 830, which can be any system or one or more devices that can chill water to the temperatures described herein for chilled water (e.g., 4 degrees Celsius). The water chilling system 830 can include a water chiller 1310 of Figure 10, or other similarly configured chilling device. The water chilling system 830 can provide the chilled water to a water vortexing system 840, which includes a vortexing vessel 1410 (see Figure 11) that includes lodestones 1420, and optionally includes other stones 1422. Figure 8B illustrates another embodiment of a water revitalization system 800b in accordance with the present invention. This water revitalization system 800b includes a water chilling and vortexing system 835, which includes the components of the water chilling system 830 and water vortexing system 840. The components can be combined so that the water chilling and vortexing system 835 chills and vortexes the water in a single unit.

Figure 8C illustrates another embodiment of a water revitalization system 800c in accordance with the present invention. This water revitalization system 800c includes a water chilling and vortexing and aeration system 837, which includes the components of the water chilling system 830 and water vortexing system 840 in addition to components that can facilitate aeration. The components can be combined so that the water chilling and vortexing and aeration system 837 chills, vortexes, and aerates the water in a single unit. The components of an aeration system are shown in Figure 12, which includes a vortexing vessel 1510 having the aeration components.

Figure 8D illustrates another embodiment of a water revitalization system 800d in accordance with the present invention. This water revitalization system 800d has a separate water chilling system 830 but combines the water vortexing and aeration components into a water vortexing and aeration system 845. The water vortexing and aeration system 845 can include the vortexing vessel 1 10 and aeration components as shown in Figure 12.

Figure 8E illustrates another embodiment of a water revitalization system 800e in accordance with the present invention. This water revitalization system 800e includes a water stabilization and chilling and vortexing and aeration system 825, which includes the components of the water stabilization system 820, water chilling system 830, and water vortexing system 840 in addition to components that can facilitate aeration. The components can be combined so that the water stabilization and chilling and vortexing and aeration system 825 stabilizes, chills, vortexes, and aerates the water in a single unit. The water stabilization and chilling and vortexing and aeration system 825 can be a combination of the individual systems thereof, or a single unit having the components to perform the water stabilization and chilling and vortexing and aeration function, which is shown in Figure 13. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to systems and method for stabilizing water (e.g., deionized water) with appropriate ions (e.g., calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium alkaline ions). The water can be stabilized by a process that provides the water with appropriate ions. The stabilized water with appropriate ions can reduce, inhibit, or stop the water from ionizing itself with carbon dioxide, which makes carbonic acid. As such, the stabilized water with appropriate ions can inhibit the water from producing carbonic acid, and thereby can inhibit acidification of water. This can also promote neutrality or alkalinity of water.

Figure 9 illustrates an embodiment of a water stabilization system 900 having a water stabilization device 910 and a water stabilization composition 920. The water stabilization composition 920 can be any composition in accordance with the teachings provided herein for a composition that can be used to stabilize water. The water stabilization device 910 can be configured as a water stabilization mixer that mixes the water (e.g., filtered water) with the water stabilization composition 920. The water stabilization device 910 is shown to include a water inlet 902, water outlet 904 fluidly coupled with a vessel 906, where one or more valves 908 can be included to regulate water flow. The vessel 906 optionally includes baffles 912 for enhanced mixing. The vessel 906 optionally includes a motor 915 that drives a shaft 916 with mixing blades 918a, 918b. However, other mixing devices can be used. The water stabilization system 900 can have a support structure 930 that holds the vessel 906 for structural stability. The vessel 906 can be airtight and operated without any air therein. However, the vessel 906 can include a nonreactive gas, such as nitrogen or noble gas, to fill the headspace above the water. The vessel 906 includes a lid 932 that can be opened as desired or needed, such as for cleaning. The water inlet 902 can include a pre-filter 940 to pre-ftlter the water before stabilization. The water stabilization composition 920 can be included within a reservoir 922 that can selectively dose the water with the water stabilization composition 920. As such, the reservoir 922 can be airtight. While not shown, a valve can separate the vessel 906 from the reservoir 922, and the water stabilization composition 920 can be metered and selectively added to the water in specific and controlled amounts. The water obtained from the water outlet 904 can be tested or analyzed for water stabilization composition content and to determine whether or not the water is stabilized. A computing system (not shown) can then monitor the water at the water outlet 904 and determine whether more or less water stabilization composition 920 is needed to reach an optimal stabilized water composition. Any of the components of the water stabilization system 900 can be combined with the other components of the systems described herein. The water stabilization system 900 can be any system that can stabilize water in accordance with the principles described herein. The water stabilization system 900 can receive the filtered water and then stabilize the water with the ions described herein, such as alkaline ions, bicarbonate ions, magnesium ions, or stabilized with calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate. A water stabilization system 820 can include a water stabilization device 910 of Figure 9, or other similarly configured mixing or dosing apparatus (e.g., Dosatron device).

The water stabilization system can introduce a mineral blend of calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, and sodium and potassium bicarbonates. In one aspect, the mineral blend can be injected from a chemical injector (e.g., Doseatron injector). In one aspect, the injector can be a vortexing mineral injector, which contains stones having the mineral blend. As such, the mineral blend can be injected into the water, which creates high biophoton, properly mineralized, and energized pristine water that contains four bicarbonate salts (i.e., calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium). Bicarbonate ions are negatively charged and can have a strong affinity for the calcium and magnesium hydroxide. This union creates calcium and magnesium bicarbonate salts, which can be found in liquid form.

Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment of a water chilling system 1300. The water chilling system 1300 can include a water chiller 1310 that is configured to chill water to a set or desired temperature. The water chiller 1310 includes a chilling vessel 1312 having a chilling medium 1314 with a water passageway 1316 passing therethrough to be chilled by the chilling medium. The water passageway can be configured with an inlet portion 1320 providing the water to be chilled and an outlet portion 1322 chilling the water. A temperature sensor 1324 can monitor the temperature of the chilled water and operational parameters, such as temperature, residence time, flow rate, or the like and such can be modulated in order to provide the water chilled to the specified or desired temperature (e.g., 4 degrees Celsius). Another temperature sensor 1326 can monitor the temperature of the chilling medium 1314. The chilling medium 1314 can be a liquid, gas, supercritical fluid, solid, or any other temperature transferring phase or substance. For example, metal that has a chilled temperature can be used as the chilling medium, or a refrigerated fluid can cool the metal. However, the water chilling system 1300 can be configured as any active chilling system, and can provide temperatures of any common, industrial, scientific, cryogenic, or any other freezer or temperature reducing apparatus. Any mechanical temperature reducing devices can be included. The chilling system 1300 can include a water chiller that is configured to chill the water to get water that is relatively denser than regular room temperature water. For example, water is at its densest state at 4 degrees Celsius. This can help rid the water of trauma recording and reprogram water molecules.

Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment of a water vortexing system 1400. The water vortexing system 1400 can include a vessel 1410 having an inlet 1412 to receive water and an outlet 1414 to provide vortexed water. The vessel 1410 can include lodestones 1420, and optionally includes other stone mixtures 1422 as described herein. The vessel 1410 can include any means of vortexing the water, which can include directional water jets that cycle the water in a swilling motion until a vortex 1430 in the water is achieved or bottom suction as well as stirring or other vortex forming devices. In one embodiment, the vessel 1410 can have minerals and stones 1422 that contain natural salts of potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. The stones 1422 can be located on the bottom of the vessel 1410. A pump (not shown) can drain the water from the bottom of the vessel 1410, creating a vortex 430 about the stones 1422. As noted above, such vortex can incorporate the minerals and elements contained in the stones 1422 into the water. The forms of potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium can be the same as recited herein. Optionally, a mechanical recirculation pump 1450 can be placed at the outlet 1414 and connected to recirculation passageways 1452 that provide the recirculated water to the top of the vessel 1410. This can include the mechanical recirculation pump 1450 providing suction at the bottom or outlet 1414 of the vessel 1410 to produce a vortex 1430 in the water. By creating suction at the bottom of the vessel 1410 and simultaneously forcing the water to spin with the recirculating water at the top of the tank, a vortex forms in the water.

The system can have one or more stones (e.g., igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks) containing minerals, the one or more stones being located in the vessel, which can be configured as a vortex energizing tank. Furthermore, the vortex tank can be configured to pass the chilled water over or through lodestones, crystals, and other igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, and forming a first properly charged bicarbonate water. Lodestones are natural magnets and they possess the same energy as the telluric currents (e.g., earth currents) in the earth - magneto-electric. Lodestones in conjunction with crystals and igneous rock positively charge protons, negatively charge electrons, and magnetize hydrogen and neutrons to produce high biophoton pristine water.

Biophotons are photons of light (e.g., energy) emitted from a biological system. For living organisms, the key reference point on the biophoton energy scale is bound at 6,500 biophoton energy units. From 0 to 6,500 biophoton, the charge is in the negative range, or life-detracting, while above the 6,500 biophoton point, the energy gradually becomes more positive, or life-enhancing. Water chilled (to make it denser) and vortexed over lodestones (DC telluric currents from the earth), crystals, and other igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks in accordance with the processes of the invention can be reprogrammed or revitalized into high biophoton water (e.g., over 6,500) This will reduce the low energy and negative information that inundates the body from typical water. Telluric currents, bicarbonate ions, minerals, and biophotons (natural light energy) interact to create pristine high-biophoton drinking water under the present invention.

Figure 12 illustrates an embodiment of a water vortexing and aeration system 1500. The water vortexing system 1500 includes a vessel 1510 having an inlet 1512 to receive water and an outlet 1514 to provide vortexed water. The vessel 1 10 can include lodestones 1520, and optionally includes other stone mixtures 1522. The vessel 1510 can include any means of vortexing the water, which can include directional water jets that cycle the water in a swilling motion until a vortex 1530 in the water is achieved or bottom suction as well as stirring or other vortex forming devices. The vessel 1510 can include an aeration inlet 540 that lets the air into the vessel for oxygenation. The aeration inlet 1540 can be oriented to facilitate vortexing. In one embodiment, the vessel 1 10 is connected to a vacuum line (not shown) at the outlet 1514 on a vortex pump (not shown). The vacuum line can be connected to an oxygen generator (not shown). The oxygen generator infuses primarily oxygen with trace amounts of carbon dioxide into the water, which can saturate the water with oxygen and trace amounts of carbon dioxide to create bicarbonate ions. If the bicarbonate ions in the water are insufficient, the system can turn on the carbonator and add additional carbon dioxide to the alkaline magnesium water and create bicarbonates.

Figure 13 illustrates an embodiment of a water stabilization and chilling and vortexing and aeration system 1600. The water vortexing system 1600 includes a vessel 1610 having an inlet 1612 to receive water and an outlet 1614 to provide vortexed water. The vessel 1610 can include lodestones 1620, and optionally includes other stone mixtures 1622. The vessel 1610 can include any means of vortexing the water, which can include directional water jets that cycle the water in a swilling motion until a vortex 1630 in the water is achieved or bottom suction (e.g., via a pump at 1614) as well as stirring or other vortex forming devices. The vessel 1610 can include an aeration inlet 1640 that lets the air into the vessel for oxygenation. The aeration inlet 1640 can be oriented to facilitate vortexing. Also, a water stabilization composition 920 can be included within a reservoir 922 that can selectively dose the water in the vessel 1610 with the water stabilization composition 920. Also, a water chiller 1310 can be thermally coupled with the vessel 1610.

Any features of the systems of Figures 8A-8E and Figures 9-13 can be combined as desired, and they may also be combined with the features and systems of Figures 1 -4 and 7A-7B. It is known that pure water (e.g., substantially H2O) has a high potential for acquiring ions, which ions can be acquired from the environment surrounding the water. In layman terms, the water is "hungry" for ions. As such, the high potential results in water usually having ions, and vary rarely is pure water (e.g., substantially H₂0) found in nature. When pure water is exposed to air, the pure water will pull the carbon dioxide (i.e., C0₂) out of the air and into the water, which consequently results in acidification of the water by production of carbonic acid from the carbon dioxide. It has been found that water has a high potential for spontaneously acquiring ions from the environment, which ions can be both positive ions (e.g., cations) or negative ions (e.g., anions). Accordingly, any carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can be capable of being directly dissolved into water (e.g., pure or substantially pure H₂0), and the water and carbon dioxide can immediately react to form carbonic acid (i.e., H2CO3), which is a positive ion or cation. However, carbonic acid is stable at 4 degrees Celsius and does not dissociate, but when carbonic acid warms up, the carbonic acid dissociates a hydrogen ion (H+) and the result is water having a hydrogen (i.e., proton or H+) cation and a bicarbonate anion (HCO3 ). The equation for the reaction between water and carbon dioxide is: H₂0 + C0₂ <=> H₂C0₃ <=> H+ and HCO3 . It is desirous to inhibit the reaction between water and carbon dioxide in order to inhibit acidification of water. However, if the water does not have enough negative ions (e.g., calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium) contained therein, the water will continually and rapidly react with carbon dioxide to produce carbonic acid. It has been discovered that the carbonic acid does not dissociate into bicarbonates due to excess acids and the lack of metals (e.g., negative ions) to stabilize the bicarbonates. As such, the carbonic acid can persist in the water, which is highly unfavorable for a variety of reasons, such as the reasons provided herein. As such, stabilizing water against reacting with carbon dioxide and inhibiting formation of carbonic acid in water can be favorable.

In one embodiment, water can be stabilized with bicarbonate ions. The bicarbonate ions can combine with insoluble metals (i.e., calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium hydroxides) in the water to form a water-soluble metal bicarbonate solution. While the bicarbonate ions may be able to combine with insoluble metals outside of water, the water provides a suitable environment for the bicarbonate ions to combine with the insoluble metals to form an aqueous metal bicarbonate solution. The metal bicarbonate solution can remain in the water until the supply of bicarbonate salts is exhausted, and there is no further bicarbonate salts to combine with the insoluble metals. Additional bicarbonate can be added as needed to maintain the aqueous metal bicarbonate solution. However, the bicarbonate ions can self-ionize and combine with the insoluble metals until there is no more bicarbonate ions left for this combination process. Also, the bicarbonate ions can inhibit the water from self- ionizing and reacting with carbon dioxide, which can inhibit formation of carbonic acid and the acidification of water. Accordingly, water can be stabilized by being inoculated with bicarbonate ions.

In one embodiment, water is stabilized with metal ions (e.g., calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium ions). This can include water being stabilized with at least 25 PPM anions added to the water or a total of 25 PPM anions in the water. However, this parts per million can range from about 20 PPM to about 500 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 400 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 300 PPM, from about 50 PPM to about 200 PPM, from about 60 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 70 PPM to about 80 PPM, which can be a broad range of parts per million. The parts per million can have a smaller range of from about 20 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 25 PPM to about 80 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 60 PPM, from about 35 PPM to about 50 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 45 PPM. The metal ions can include bicarbonate ions. The bicarbonate ions can stabilize the water and inhibit the water from reacting with carbon dioxide, and thereby inhibit the formation of carbonic acid or water acidification.

In one embodiment, water is stabilized with calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate. This can include water being stabilized with at least 25 PPM calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate added to the water and/or a total of 25 PPM calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate in the water. However, this parts per million can range from about 20 PPM to about 500 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 400 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 300 PPM, from about 50 PPM to about 200 PPM, from about 60 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 70 PPM to about 80 PPM, which can be a broad range of parts per million. The parts per million can have a smaller range of from about 20 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 25 PPM to about 80 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 60 PPM, from about 35 PPM to about 50 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 45 PPM. The bicarbonate ions can stabilize the water and inhibit the water from reacting with carbon dioxide, and thereby inhibit the formation of carbonic acid or water acidification.

In one embodiment, water is stabilized with ions other than bicarbonate ions. This can include water being stabilized with at least 25 PPM ions added to the water and/or a total of 25 PPM anions in the water after stabilization. However, this parts per million can range from about 20 PPM to about 500 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 400 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 300 PPM, from about 50 PPM to about 200 PPM, from about 60 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 70 PPM to about 80 PPM, which can be a broad range of parts per million. The parts per million can have a smaller range of from about 20 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 25 PPM to about 80 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 60 PPM, from about 35 PPM to about 50 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 45 PPM. The ions can stabilize the water and inhibit the water from reacting with carbon dioxide, and thereby inhibit the formation of carbonic acid or water acidification. The ions can help maintain the water to be acid free, while the water is brewed to produce bicarbonate ions.

In one example, the water obtained from the filtration process described herein or in the incorporated patent application can be combined with the ions. As such, water that is obtained from the filtration unit can be run water through a Dosatron, which injects calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate into the filtered water in order to increase the ion parts per million. The anion parts per million can be increased to 25 PPM. However, this parts per million can range from about 20 PPM to about 500 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 400 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 300 PPM, from about 50 PPM to about 200 PPM, from about 60 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 70 PPM to about 80 PPM, which can be a broad range of parts per million. The parts per million can have a smaller range of from about 20 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 25 PPM to about 80 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 60 PPM, from about 35 PPM to about 50 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 45 PPM. The injection of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate can be performed by addition and mixing as described. The injection of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate can be performed before the filtered water contacts air or other gas having carbon dioxide. The water injected with calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate can inhibit the water from interacting with carbon dioxide and forming carbonic acid. As such, the injection of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate into water can stop the water from self-ionizing and/or self- acidification. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to systems and methods for stabilizing water (e.g., deionized water) with appropriate magnesium ions (e.g., magnesium oxide, carbonate and hydroxide, with Mg₂ ⁺). The water can be stabilized by a process that provides the water with favorable magnesium ions. The stabilized water with appropriate magnesium ions can reduce, inhibit, or stop the water from ionizing itself with carbon dioxide, which makes carbonic acid. As such, the stabilized water with appropriate magnesium ions can inhibit the water from producing carbonic acid, and thereby can inhibit acidification of water. This can also promote neutrality or alkalinity of water.

In one embodiment, water is stabilized with magnesium ions. This can include water being stabilized with at least 25 PPM magnesium anions added to the water and/or a total of 25 PPM magnesium anions being in the water after stabilization. However, this parts per million can range from about 20 PPM to about 500 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 400 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 300 PPM, from about 50 PPM to about 200 PPM, from about 60 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 70 PPM to about 80 PPM, which can be a broad range of parts per million. The parts per million can have a smaller range of from about 20 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 25 PPM to about 80 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 60 PPM, from about 35 PPM to about 50 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 45 PPM. The magnesium ions can include magnesium bicarbonate anions. The magnesium ions can stabilize the water and inhibit the water from reacting with carbon dioxide, and thereby inhibit the formation of carbonic acid or water acidification. The magnesium ions can help maintain the water to be acid free, while the water is brewed to produce bicarbonate ions. In one example, the water obtained from the filtration process described herein or in the incorporated patent application can be combined with minerals. As such, water that is obtained from the filtration unit can be run water through a magnesium oxide cartridge or water filter housing having magnesium ions, which injects magnesium ions into the filtered water in order to increase the magnesium anion parts per million. The magnesium ion parts per million can be increased to 25 PPM. However, this parts per million can range from about 20 PPM to about 500 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 400 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 300 PPM, from about 50 PPM to about 200 PPM, from about 60 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 70 PPM to about 80 PPM, which can be a broad range of parts per million. The parts per million can have a smaller range of from about 20 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 25 PPM to about 80 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 60 PPM, from about 35 PPM to about 50 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 45 PPM. The injection of magnesium ions can be performed by addition and mixing as described. The injection of magnesium ions can be performed before the filtered water contacts air or other gas having carbon dioxide. The water injected with magnesium ions can inhibit the water from interacting with carbon dioxide and forming carbonic acid. As such, the injection of magnesium anions into water can stop the water from self-ionizing and/or self-acidification. In one embodiment, the system includes a magnesium cartridge to add ions to the water so it will not readily ionize itself with carbon dioxide and create carbonic acid water. The magnesium cartridge can be configured to add magnesium ions to the water so it will not continually ionize itself with carbon dioxide, which creates carbonic acid. The magnesium cartridge can be configured to stabilize the water.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to systems and method for brewing water. As used herein, "brewing water" refers to chilling and vortexing water, but does not refer to heating or boiling water. The water can be chilled down to about 0 to 10 degrees Celsius (e.g., still flowable water), from 1 to 8 degrees Celsius, from 2 to 6 degrees Celsius, or about 4 to 5 degrees Celsius. The vortexing can be clockwise vortexing at any rate that causes a vortex to occur, which can be obtained by clockwise or counterclockwise vortexing about an axis. In one aspect, it can be counterclockwise. In another aspect, it can be clockwise. The vortex can be in either or both clockwise and counterclockwise. The vortexing can be performed to emulate nature during the brewing of the water. The brewing of the water can be over lodestones. A lodestone can be characterized by any of a variety of magnetite that possesses magnetic polarity and attracts iron, which lodestone can serve as a magnet for brewing water. The lodestone can be natural magnets and provide a source of pulsed field DC currents (e.g., from geological physics) during the brewing process.

The water can be brewed in order to reprogram the water to a healthier state. The water that is brewed can be alkaline water and/or acid-free water. The water that is brewed can be the water that is stabilized with anions, alkaline ions, magnesium ions, and/or bicarbonate ions. Also, the water that is brewed can be stabilized with calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate as described herein.

For example, water in today's environments can become traumatized and the molecules in water can record such trauma in the kinetic motions of the atoms and arrangements. The trauma can occur from various interaction of water with the environment, as described herein. Brewing the water with chilling and vortexing can erase the trauma recorded in the water and reprogram the water. This provides revitalized water that is trauma-free. The revitalized water that is brewed can have enhanced surface tension that is increased over water with recorded trauma. Additionally, the revitalized water can have increased coherency of water molecules. The increased coherency of water molecules can provide better cohesion therebetween as well as improved consistency of the water composition. The water brewing technology of the present invention can chill and vortex acid-free alkaline water over lodestones to erase trauma recorded in the water, and to reprogram the water, which enhances surface tension and increases the coherency of water molecules. It is thought that water has a certain type of memory, which is attributed to the dipolar nature of the water, and which means the overall polarity of the water molecule creates a region of positive charge and a region of negative charge. Once water receives trauma, the trauma is recorded in the water to have the region of positive charge and a region of negative charge in the water molecule. Such trauma needs to be removed so that the water can be reprogrammed to remove the region of positive charge and a region of negative charge so that the water is overall neutralized. Water can become depleted of coherency as plants, animals, and other natural and manmade processes drain the life out of the water and induce trauma that is recorded. Brewing the water with chilling and vortexing can reprogram the water. Also, processing the water to be acid free and alkaline before brewing can improve the revitalization of water.

It is thought that most water that is consumed in today's environments can be classified as "lifeless," due to a vast sum of contaminates and/or the lifeless water has not come into contact with the telluric currents of the earth. Most water that is consumed is acidic from acid rain, and it is hard from minerals. As such, this acidic hard water can lose beneficial molecular structures and have poor surface tension.

Also, when water is cooled to near freezing point, the presence of hydrogen bonds means that the water molecules, as they rearrange to minimize their energy, form a structure that is actually of lower density than flowable water. A strong hydrogen bond gives water a high cohesiveness and, consequently, high surface tension. For example, a large body of fresh water that is frozen in winter can have the bulk of the water still liquid at about 4 degrees Celsius beneath the icy surface. Accordingly, brewing can be conducted at about 4 degrees Celsius in order to revitalize the water.

In one embodiment, the brewing and revitalizing of water can include aerating the water. The aerating can be with air, substantially pure oxygen, and/or substantially pure carbon dioxide, which aerating can be by mixing in the presence of the gas (e.g., passive aeration) or injection of the gas into the water (e.g., active aeration). As such, the brewing and revitalizing of water can include chilling, aerating, and vortexing water over lodestone. The brewing and revitalizing water can include chilling, aerating, and vortexing water over lodestone, and over one or more of crystals, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, (e.g., certain select river rocks). This brewing and revitalizing of water is a synthetic or artificial process to revitalize water, which is configured to duplicate the natural process to erase trauma recording, reprogram the water, enhance surface tension, and increase the coherency of water molecules and create alkaline drinking water. As such, the brewing and revitalizing can erase trauma recording, reprogram the water, enhance surface tension, and increase the coherency of water molecules and create alkaline drinking water.

In one aspect, the water can be chilled by any process or mechanism that reduces the water to the appropriate temperature of chilled water, such as about 4 degrees Celsius. In one example, mechanical chilling can be used which uses processes in common refrigeration and/or freezing equipment. In another example, absorption chilling can be used, which can include creating chilled baths around a vessel having the water so that the water absorbs the cold temperature (e.g., the heat is transferred out of the water into the chilled bath), where acetone and dry ice baths can be used, or having the water vessel in contact with liquid nitrogen. Other chilling processes can be used.

In one aspect, the vortexing can be by any mechanical equipment capable of making water vortex. A stirrer can be used to rotate the water in the same direction in order to induce vortexing. In one example, the vortexing can be accomplished with a mechanical recirculation pump, which includes suction at the bottom to produce a vortex in the water. By creating suction at the bottom of the vortex tank and simultaneously forcing the water to spin with the recirculating water at the top of the tank we create a vortex in the water.

In one aspect, the lodestone under the vortexed water acts as a natural magnet and source of direct current voltage. The lodestone provides a unique form of voltage, delivering optimal and relative amounts of pulsed field magnetism and pulsed direct current. When chilled water is run over lodestones, it will positively charge protons, negatively charge electrons, and magnetize neutrons and hydrogen. Molecular oscillations are highly complex oscillation patterns which are emitted by atoms and/or molecules, which can be controlled by the lodestone for reprogramming and revitalizing water so as to remove trauma from the water. For example, drinking water can be chilled, vortexed, and come in contact with the telluric currents to properly recharge and reprogram its molecules to provide the revitalized water. In one embodiment, the lodestone is magnetite that has been struck by lightning. The lodestone struck by lightning becomes characterized as biophoton-magnetoelectric lodestone. This occurs naturally when certain types of crystal structures in magnetite are struck by the strong bioelectric current of lightning, which creates a magnetoelectric charge. Also, magnetite may become a lodestone is when the minerals are heated past a certain temperature and then cooled back down, which can be done naturally or by protocol.

In one embodiment, the water brewing and revitalization protocol uses about 2 ounces of lodestone for 2 gallons of water. The vessel having the lodestones with the water vortexed thereover can be batch or continuous in operation. Any of the systems or vessels described herein can be batch or continuous in operation. When continuous, the flow can be a rate of 3 gallons per minute in order to revitalize 2 gallons of water being vortexed over the 2 ounces of lodestone. These parameters can be increased by using more lodestones to vortex and revitalize more water. A larger vortexing vessel may include up to as much as 50 pounds of lodestones in a 300-gallon tank, with a flow rate of 25 gallons per minute. These values can be used to interpolate for particular amounts of lodestones, vortexing quantities, and flow rates for revitalizing water in accordance with the present invention. Flow rates vary with different brewing capacity configurations and do not affect the brewing process. Lodestones can be placed in a number of locations (e.g., depending on the configuration), which can include the bottom of the vortexing vessel, or in discrete locations in the sides thereof. The water should constantly pass over the lodestone as the water circulates in the brewing process during vortexing.

It is known that lodestones vary in gauss (magnetism). The gauss of the earth is approximately 0.05. Accordingly, the lodestones used in the present invention can have substantially more natural magnetism than the earth. For example, the lodestones can have approximately 2.5 gauss. The lodestones can have a range of approximately 0.5 to 3.5 gauss, 1 to 3 gauss, 2 to 2.75 gauss, or about 2.5 gauss. In one example, the magnetoelectricity in the lodestone can have at least about 0.5 volts of pulsed field DC. The magnetoelectricity of the lodestones can vary from about 0.2 to about 1, from about 0.3 to about 0.9, or from about 0.5 to about 0.8, or from about 0.6 to about 0.7 volts of pulsed field DC For comparative purposes, the magnetoelectricity of the earth is less than 0.2 volts of pulsed field DC magnetricity.

In one aspect, the water can be brewed and revitalized by vortexing chilled water over lodestones for various times. In fact, the brewing and revitalizing can occur for a long duration. However, it has been found that water can be brewed and revitalized in less than 5 minutes while vortexing chilled water and recirculating the water over lodestones to erase trauma recording of the water and reprogram the water to produce revitalized water. For example, the brewing and revitalizing can be for less than 30 minutes, less than 20 minutes, less than 10 minutes, less than 5 minutes, or as low as 1-2 minutes.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to systems and methods for stabilizing water (e.g., deionized water) with appropriate ions (e.g., alkaline ions) prior to brewing and revitalizing the water. The brewing and revitalizing can include vortexing chilled water over lodestones as described herein. Also, the brewing and revitalizing can include vortexing chilled water over lodestones and other river rocks (e.g., sedimentary, igneous, and/or metamorphic rocks) as described herein. Accordingly, the features of brewing and revitalizing water described herein can be combined and performed with stabilized water that is stabilized with appropriate ions. The water can be stabilized by a process that provides the water with appropriate ions, and then brewed by vortexing chilled water over lodestones. The stabilized water with appropriate ions can reduce, inhibit, or stop the water from ionizing itself with carbon dioxide, which makes carbonic acid. As such, the stabilized water with appropriate ions can inhibit the water from producing carbonic acid, and thereby can inhibit acidification of water. This can also promote neutrality or alkalinity of water. The chilled water that is vortexed over lodestones can be stabilized with calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate. This can include water being stabilized with at least 25 PPM calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate added to the water and/or a total of 25 PPM calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate in the water. However, this parts per million can range from about 20 PPM to about 500 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 400 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 300 PPM, from about 50 PPM to about 200 PPM, from about 60 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 70 PPM to about 80 PPM, which can be a broad range of parts per million. The parts per million can have a smaller range of from about 20 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 25 PPM to about 80 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 60 PPM, from about 35 PPM to about 50 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 45 PPM. The bicarbonate anions can stabilize the water and inhibit the water from reacting with carbon dioxide, and thereby inhibit the formation of carbonic acid or water acidification. The stabilized water is then brewed by chilling the stabilized water and vortexing the stabilized water over lodestones as described herein. Alternatively, the water can be chilled and vortexed over lodestones while being stabilized, where the calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate is added during the vortexing. In one example, the filtered water is processed through a Dosatron to inject calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate into the water for stabilization before the filtered water contacts air, and then the stabilized water is brewed with contact to air or without contact to air. As such, the brewing can include aeration or exclude aeration.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to systems and methods for stabilizing water (e.g., deionized water) with appropriate magnesium ions (e.g., magnesium anions or negatively charged magnesium ions) prior to brewing and revitalizing the water. The brewing and revitalizing can include vortexing chilled water over lodestones as described herein. Also, the brewing and revitalizing can include vortexing chilled water over lodestones and other rocks (e.g., sedimentary, igneous, and/or metamorphic rocks) as described herein. Accordingly, the features of brewing and revitalizing water described herein can be combined and performed with stabilized water that is stabilized with appropriate magnesium ions. The water can be stabilized by a process that provides the water with appropriate magnesium ions, and then brewed by vortexing chilled water over lodestones. The stabilized water with appropriate ions can reduce, inhibit, or stop the water from ionizing itself with carbon dioxide, which makes carbonic acid. As such, the stabilized water with appropriate ions can inhibit the water from producing carbonic acid, and thereby can inhibit acidification of water. This can also promote neutrality or alkalinity of water. Accordingly, the chilled water that is brewed by vortexing over lodestones is stabilized with magnesium ions (e.g., magnesium carbonate and hydroxide). This can include water being stabilized with at least 25 PPM magnesium ions added to the water and/or a total of 25 PPM magnesium ions being in the water to stabilize the water. However, this parts per million can range from about 20 PPM to about 500 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 400 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 300 PPM, from about 50 PPM to about 200 PPM, from about 60 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 70 PPM to about 80 PPM, which can be a broad range of parts per million. The parts per million can have a smaller range of from about 20 PPM to about 100 PPM, from about 25 PPM to about 80 PPM, from about 30 PPM to about 60 PPM, from about 35 PPM to about 50 PPM, from about 40 PPM to about 45 PPM. The magnesium anions can include bicarbonate anions. The magnesium anions can stabilize the water and inhibit the water from reacting with carbon dioxide, and thereby inhibit the formation of carbonic acid or water acidification. The magnesium anions can help maintain the water to be acid free, while the water is brewed to produce bicarbonate ions. For example, water that is obtained from the filtration unit can be run water through a magnesium oxide cartridge or water filter housing having magnesium ions (e.g., magnesium anions), which injects magnesium ions into the filtered water in order to increase the magnesium anion parts per million, and then the water is chilled and vortexed over loadstones to increase the magnesium ion parts per million in accordance with the magnesium ion parts per million described herein. In one example, the filtered water is processed through a magnesium oxide cartridge or water filter housing having magnesium ions (e.g., magnesium anions) to inject magnesium ions into the water for stabilization before the filtered water contacts air, and then the stabilized water is brewed with contact to air or without contact to air. As such, the brewing can include aeration or exclude aeration.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to systems and methods for stabilizing water (e.g., deionized water) with appropriate magnesium ions (e.g., magnesium anions or negatively charged magnesium ions) and brewing and revitalizing the water with aeration. The brewing and revitalizing can include vortexing chilled water over lodestones as described herein. The water can be stabilized acid-free magnesium water. The aerating and brewing the chilled vortexed water (e.g., over lodestones) can stabilize acid- free magnesium water with air which contains carbon dioxide, which creates carbonic acid in the alkaline water, which dissociates into bicarbonate ions to create magnesium bicarbonate. This also oxygenates the stabilized acid-free magnesium water.

Also, the brewing and revitalizing can include aerating and vortexing chilled water over lodestones and other rocks (e.g., sedimentary, igneous, and/or metamorphic rocks) as described herein. Accordingly, the features of brewing and revitalizing water described herein can be combined and performed with stabilized water that is stabilized with appropriate magnesium ions. The water can be stabilized by a process that provides the water with appropriate magnesium ions, and then brewed by aerating and vortexing chilled water over lodestones. The stabilized acid-free magnesium water can be considered the water that is stabilized with the magnesium ions as described herein, and such magnesium water is aerating and vortexed over lodestones while chilled.

As described and obtained by the processes of the invention, oxygenated water is considered water that has had additional oxygen introduced into it under pressure. Air is commonly 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gasses. The oxygenated water can be obtained by running air through an oxygen generator, which removes the nitrogen from the air to produce oxygenated air having about 98% oxygen and 2% other gasses. Portable oxygen generators can produce from 1 to 10 liters oxygenated air per minute. Most water is fully oxygen- saturated within 20 minutes with 1 liter per minute. In one aspect, the process can use a vacuum line to introduce the oxygen and other gasses (e.g., oxygenated air) into the recirculation line during vortexing. The oxygenated air contains the carbon dioxide which is necessary to create carbonic acid in the water, which dissociates into bicarbonate ions. The bicarbonate ions stabilize themselves with magnesium, which creates magnesium bicarbonate. The vortexing water also allows oxygen to be easily absorbed into the water molecules. As the fine oxygenated air bubbles rise to the surface, they push gasses from the water, which process is known as "air sparging." This aerobic or oxygenated environment discourages and neutralizes the growth of pathogens in water, which are generally anaerobic. Bacteria, viruses, and other pathogenic organisms will not flourish in an oxygenated environment of the aerated and brewed stabilized acid-free magnesium water.

In one example, a smaller scale water brewing system can be operated with a unique methodology. As such, tap water can be loaded with air, which results in the water coming out of the processing system (e.g., out of a PristineHydro Living Water Unit) is almost white, as the air (e.g., 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gasses) is forced through the RO membrane (e.g., prior to the deionization cartridge, which removes the acids, which can remove acid rain) and creates millions of small bubbles of air which oxygenates the water. The water clears up substantially immediately after it comes out of the processing system; however, clearing of the water may occur in a minute or two. This process can utilize air sparging.

It is thought that while the chemical property of water is H₂0, the oxygen content in the water is also a physical property of water, just as pH, temperature, and purity are physical properties of water. It is also thought that a human body cannot get oxygen through water because H₂0 is bound tightly with hydrogen bonds, which are very strong. The hydrogen bonds of water are what allow water to not boil until it reaches a very high temperature (e.g., 100 degrees Celsius). Because of this strength of hydrogen bonds, a human body does not have enough heat to break apart the bonds and produce oxygen. In order for a human body to use oxygen it has to have tiny areas where oxygen exchange can occur between the blood and air. These spaces are called alveoli, and they are found only within lungs. Accordingly, the present invention can include using oxygen to improve the quality of water, which helps degas the water. It also prevents bacteria, viruses, and other pathogenic organisms from proliferating in a non-oxygenated environment.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to systems and methods for stabilizing water (e.g., deionized water) with calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate, and brewing and revitalizing the water with aeration. That is, the vortexing of chilled water over lodestones is performed with aeration and using water stabilized with calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate. This can include water brewing by vortexing chilled acid-free water that contains calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate with air, which contains carbon dioxide, which creates carbonic acid in the alkaline water, which dissociates into bicarbonate ions to create calcium and magnesium bicarbonate. It also oxygenates the stabilized water. Accordingly, the aeration and brewing process described herein with stabilized acid-free magnesium water can be performed with water that is stabilized with calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate, where other protocols are maintained. The stabilized water can have similar properties because it is stabilized and oxygenated, and thereby may be anti-microbial or at least inhibit microbial growth. The stabilized water can have calcium and magnesium bicarbonate, and can be referred to as stabilized acid-free calcium and magnesium water.

In one embodiment, the present invention can include preparing a composition with electrolyte balance (e.g., ElectrolyteBalance™). The composition with electrolyte balance can have sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, calcium bicarbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, magnesium hydroxide and/or calcium hydroxide. In one aspect, the composition with electrolyte balance can include sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, calcium bicarbonate, and magnesium bicarbonate. Optionally, the magnesium hydroxide and/or calcium hydroxide can be added. The composition with electrolyte balance can have sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, calcium bicarbonate, and magnesium bicarbonate introduced to water to increase the parts per million in accordance with the parts per million ranges described herein. Also, the composition with electrolyte balance can increase the buffering capacity of the water or aqueous composition prepared therefrom. The composition with electrolyte balance can facilitate neutralization of excess acids in the body. In one embodiment, a composition with electrolyte balance can be used for stabilization. The composition with electrolyte balance can stabilize the water, which allows the pancreas to balance (e.g., store and secrete ions) the internal pH of the body. The composition with electrolyte balance can be about 85% magnesium bicarbonate, 5% calcium bicarbonate, 5% potassium bicarbonate, and 5% sodium bicarbonate. These values can range from +/10%, 5%, 2%, or 1%. The composition with electrolyte balance provides bio-available bicarbonate electrolyte salts. The benefits of the composition with electrolyte balance are as follows: replenishes severe magnesium bicarbonate deficiency; facilitates calcium, potassium, and sodium voltage gated ion channels that allow magneto-electrical signaling in neurons and other excitable cells; treating magnesium bicarbonate deficiency to increase memory, focus, and/or deep relaxation; the magnesium bicarbonate can protect cells from heavy metal poisoning, such as from inorganic aluminum, mercury, lead, nickel, cadmium, fluoride, etc., or from noxious chemicals and radiation exposure; magnesium bicarbonate can reduce insomnia, headaches, and inflammation in the body; and/or magnesium bicarbonate can increase life span up to 30%, which increase in life span is due to low carbon dioxide concentrations in the body's intracellular waters. The composition with electrolyte balance can buffer the excess bad acids out of the body and allow the pancreas to balance (e.g., store and secrete ions) pH.

The revitalized water obtained with the processes herein, which include the magnesium, can provide a body proper balance of mineral content. The revitalized water can provide a healthy balance ("homeostasis") of important minerals such as calcium and sodium and potassium bicarbonate, which are involved in the conduction of nerve impulses, muscle contraction, and heart rhythms.

The revitalized water can be used for maintaining or repairing sodium -potassium pumps. Magnesium deficiency impairs the sodium-potassium pump, allowing potassium to escape from the cell, to be lost in the urine, potentially leading to potassium deficiency (hypokalemia). Those with a known potassium deficiency, therefore, often do not respond to treatment until magnesium deficiency is also corrected. Accordingly, the revitalized water can be used for treating potassium deficiency and/or magnesium deficiency.

In one embodiment, the revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to promote a healthy lifestyle. This can include consuming the revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance, such as in-between meals, at breaks, throughout the day, before bed, and/or first thing in the morning. Also, the consumption of revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be coupled with eating more alkaline-friendly foods to promote a healthy lifestyle.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to treat metabolic acidosis, as well as ailments or disease conditions associated therewith, such as those described herein. Metabolic acidosis can cause a person to retain more fluoride than individuals with a balanced pH. The more acidic the body, the less excretion of fluoride. Retained fluoride will be chemically bound in different organs, principally in the hard tissues of the body, primarily the teeth and bones.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can contain laboratory- grade alkalizing bicarbonate salts that will help buffer excess acids that overwhelm the pancreas, which allows the pancreas to recover its bicarbonate reserves and balance physiological pH. This can promote the body for self-healing.

In view of the foregoing, water can be stabilized and revitalized by these processes and protocol in order to obtain the desired water product. Each protocol has a nuance that contributes to the revitalized water product. The revitalized water products range from stabilized water to stabilized acid-free magnesium water and to stabilized acid-free calcium and magnesium water and others described herein. The processing of the water can be performed with equipment and/or systems and/or the U.S. Patent Application No. 13/712,581 filed December 12, 2012, which is incorporated herein by specific reference. Also, the water obtained by processing with the invention of this patent application can be processed by the protocols described herein in order to obtain the water products.

In one embodiment, the present invention can provide an artificial or simulated hydrologic cycle and/or carbon cycle to process the water into a desired water product. This allows the water products produced in accordance with this invention to be considered pristine drinking water.

In one aspect, treating metabolic acidosis can treat a poorly- functioning kidney so as to: improve ability of the kidneys to excrete the metabolic acids, improve kidney generating sufficient bicarbonate, or inhibit excessive loss of bicarbonate via kidney or gastrointestinal tract.

In one aspect, treating metabolic acidosis can treat a poorly-functioning liver. The liver is important in acid-based physiology, and important as a metabolically-active organ which may be either a significant net producer or consumer of acids.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to facilitate complete oxidation of carbohydrates and fat, which occurs in the liver, to produce carbon dioxide but no fixed acids. As the liver uses 20% of the body's oxygen consumption, this hepatic metabolism represents 20% of the body's carbon dioxide production. As the carbon dioxide diffuses out of the liver it helps sustain the carbonic acid/bicarbonate buffer system of the blood.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to maintain or improve metabolism of various organic acids in the liver resulting in consumption of H+ and regeneration of the extracellular bicarbonate.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to maintain or improve metabolism of ammonium to urea (a weak base). Human bodies cannot tolerate high concentrations of urea. However, it is less toxic than ammonia and urea is removed efficiently by the kidneys.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to maintain or improve production of plasma proteins. Plasma protein has several functions in the human body, making it an important component of the fluid that carries red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells. Proteins contribute to healthy skin and hair, help the body produce energy and assist in the production of hormones and enzymes.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to maintain blood pH. Human blood pH has a very narrow range of around 7.35 to 7.45. If human blood pH deviates from this range, the person can be sick or have symptoms of falling sick. If the pH falls below 6.8 or above 7.8, human body cells can stop functioning and death will occur.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to treat the pancreas. Bicarbonate generation is stimulated by a high-protein diet and exercise. However, metabolic acidosis (e.g., acute or chronic) can overwhelm the pancreas' ability to operate effectively. With excess acids in the body the pancreas cannot store or secrete enough bicarbonate to neutralize the acids and balance pH. Without sufficient bicarbonate reserves, the pancreas is slowly destroyed and the body is not able to maintain its normal pH levels. The body is now forced to pull calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium from the bones to counteract the acids and keep the pH of our blood in check. If this process is not sufficient, the liver goes into ammonia cycle to neutralize the acids. Accordingly, the revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to alleviate these problems.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to inhibit or treat problems associated with acute metabolic acidosis, which affects a number of organ systems, such as the cardiovascular system. Adverse effects of acute metabolic acidosis can include decreased cardiac output, arterial dilatation with hypotension, altered oxygen delivery, decreased ATP production, predisposition to arrhythmias, and impairment of the immune response. Mental confusion and lethargy are often observed in patients with acute metabolic acidosis, despite minor changes in cerebrospinal and brain pH. Lymphocyte function is suppressed with acute metabolic acidosis, leading to increased inflammation and an impaired immune response.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to inhibit or treat problems associated with chronic metabolic acidosis. The main adverse effects of chronic metabolic acidosis are increased muscle degradation and abnormal bone metabolism, as well as indirect effects on these tissues emanating from alterations in the secretion and/or action of several hormones. These abnormalities are more frequent and severe with greater degrees of metabolic acidosis, but even mild metabolic acidosis contributes to the development of bone disease and muscle degradation. Cellular energy production is compromised with chronic metabolic acidosis. In addition, the cellular response to insulin can be impaired with chronic metabolic acidosis, partly as a result of a pH-dependent decrease in the binding of insulin to its receptor, which plays a role in type 2 diabetes. Metabolic acidosis can also cause brain damage and cerebral palsy in newborns.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to provide calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium bicarbonates to a body. When calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium bicarbonates are supplemented in the body, they buffer excess acids, which allows the pancreas to store bicarbonate. The pancreas can be provided with sufficient reserves to secrete bicarbonate when needed and keep our pH balanced.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to treat magnesium deficiency and treat or inhibit problems associated therewith as well as provide magnesium. When a body has magnesium deficiency, inorganic calcium builds up in the cells causing angina, arrhythmia, hypertension, headaches, and asthma. Magnesium is an inorganic calcium channel blocker. Magnesium is also a potassium antagonist. Magnesium is our defense from inorganic calcium and potassium poisoning. Magnesium is one of the most common co-factors in the body. Its presence is crucial to: glucose and fat breakdown; production of proteins, enzymes, and antioxidants such as glutathione; creation of DNA and RNA; and regulation of cholesterol production. The benefits of magnesium include the well- known decrease in ischemic heart disease and sudden death, prevention of platelet clumping (clot prevention), dilation of blood vessels, and improves the functioning of the heart muscle. Magnesium calms the nerves. Magnesium mediates digestive processes. A lack of it is associated with many eating-related problems, including vomiting, indigestion, cramps, flatulence, abdominal pain, and constipation. When under stress, we use up much magnesium. Magnesium deficiency has been implicated in depression, diabetes, heart disease, migraines, and menopausal symptoms.

The revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used to treat, inhibit, or prevent metabolic acidosis and a magnesium deficiency. Thus, it can treat, inhibit, or prevent: cancer, arthritis, decreased bone density, diabetes, heart disease, chronic fatigue, allergies, dry skin, weight gain or inability to lose weight, depression, inability to concentrate or focus, being prone to colds and bronchitis, parasites infection, fungus infection, Candida infection, kidney stones, trouble with sleep patterns, or other. When magnesium bicarbonate enters body cells, the concentrations of bicarbonate ions inside body cells are increased. The bicarbonate derived from magnesium bicarbonate produces hydroxide ions (OH-) inside body cells, which neutralize the acid (H+) from carbon dioxide concentrations, ATP hydrolysis, and other sources. This occurs via a series of sequential and simultaneous reactions. Magnesium bicarbonate enters body cells and dissociates to increase bicarbonate ion concentrations inside body cells. Magnesium bicarbonate assists in the maintenance of cell homeostasis.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of monitoring bicarbonate mineral reserves to see if the pancreas has the ability to keep pH balanced. The method can be performed after not drinking or eating anything for two hours (approximately) prior to taking the test. The best time to perform the method is first thing in the morning. The method includes: tear off seven strips of pH paper, each about 2" long, optionally, set on tissue; measure out (and have ready in a cup) 1 tablespoon of lemon juice mixed with 1 tablespoon water; make a pool of saliva in mouth; dip 1 end of strip of pH paper into the pool and wet it (do not suck on strip - just wet it); remove and compare color immediately (strip will darken with time so compare immediately); place the pH paper against the pH scale provided and record the result as a baseline in the attached chart; quickly sip down the lemon juice mix in four sips (e.g., with a quick swish with each sip); as soon as the whole mix is swallowed, test pH again and record (in the lemon column in the chart of Figure 14), and also start timer; for the next five minutes, one minute apart, test the saliva with the last five pH strips, and record each reading on the attached chart; after finished recording results, put a mark for each result on the appropriate location on the graph, draw a line, and connect the dots. The results can be compared for different tests and to the graph of Figure 14. The graph of Figure 14 shows a proper pH response to lemon challenge test. The test can be repeated, as many as five times, and compared to the chart. If the pH is not able to be balanced, the revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance can be used help balance the pH. If the pancreas can secrete enough bicarbonate to handle the acid, the pH will correspond proportionately with the chart. However, if the pH does not drop down to 4.5, then acute metabolic acidosis may be present or chronic metabolic alkalosis may be present. Both can be treated with the revitalized water and/or the composition with electrolyte balance.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A water purification system for purifying working water, the system comprising:

an inlet point configured to transmit a working water into the system;

a first reverse osmosis device in fluid communication with the inlet point, the first reverse osmosis device having one or more reverse osmosis membranes, the first reverse osmosis device being configured to remove at least a portion of dissolved solids from the working water and to discharge a portion of the working water as drain water;

an injector in fluid communication with the first reverse osmosis device, the injector being configured to receive the drain water from the first reverse osmosis device and to discharge the drain water therethrough, the injector being further configured to create a partial vacuum at a mixture inlet port thereof; and

a degasification device in fluid communication with the first reverse osmosis device, the degasification device being configured to receive the working water from the first reverse osmosis device and to separate C0₂ therefrom, and the degasification device being in fluid communication with the mixture inlet port of the injector, wherein the partial vacuum created by the injector aids the degasification device to separate the C0₂ from the working water.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first recirculation line in fluid communication with the first reverse osmosis device in a manner that recirculates at least a portion of the drain water through the first reverse osmosis device.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second reverse osmosis device, the second reverse osmosis device being in fluid communication with the first reverse osmosis device in a manner that allows the working water flowing out of the first reverse osmosis device to flow into the second reverse osmosis device, the second reverse osmosis device being configured to discharge at least a portion of the working water as drain water.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, further comprising a second recirculation line in fluid communication with the second reverse osmosis device in a manner that recirculates at least a portion of the drain water from the second reverse osmosis device through the first reverse osmosis device.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising one or more preliminary filters in fluid communication with the first reverse osmosis device, the one or more preliminary filters being configured to remove one or more of suspended solids and dissolved solids from the working water prior to the working water passing through the first reverse osmosis device.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the one or more filters comprise a nano- ceramic filter and a dual KDF and activated carbon filter.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a UV treatment unit configured to irradiate the working water in a manner that kills substantially all living microorganisms in the working water.

8. A water conditioning, mineralization, and re -mineralization system for producing mineralized drinking water, the system comprising:

a carbonator tank configured to receive water and to introduce a controlled amount of CO₂ into the water, thereby forming a carbonic acid water;

a first mineralization tank in fluid communication with the carbonator tank, the first mineralization tank being configured to receive the carbonic acid water from the carbonator tank; and

one or more stones containing minerals, the one or more stone being located in the mineralization tank, wherein the mineralization tank is configured to pass the carbonate water over or through the stones, thereby forming a first mineralized water.

9. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the water is a purified water, and the first mineralized water is a first mineralized drinking water.

10. The system recited in claim 8, further comprising a chiller configured to cool the water.

11. The system as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a second mineralization tank containing a salt mixture; and

a proportional feeder in fluid communication with the second mineralization tank, the proportional feeder being configured to draw the salt mixture from the second mineralization tank and to mix the salt mixture with the water.

12. A method of purifying, conditioning, and re-mineralizing a working water to produce a mineralized drinking water, the method comprising:

purifying the working water to produce a purified water; stabilizing the purified water with magnesium to produce alkaline magnesium water; chilling and vortexing the alkaline magnesium water over igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks;

adding CO₂ to the alkaline magnesium water, thereby forming trace amounts of carbonic acid in the alkaline magnesium water, thereby producing bicarbonate water;

vortexing the bicarbonate water over or through one or more stones containing one or more minerals and/or one or more lodestones to charge water molecules;

oxygenating the bicarbonate water; and

injecting calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, sodium and potassium bicarbonate into the carbonate water thereby producing first mineralized drinking water.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising cooling the purified water.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the purified water is cooled to about 4 degrees Celsius.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the alkaline magnesium water is cooled before adding the CO₂ to the alkaline magnesium water.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein passing the magnesium bicarbonate water over or through one or more stones containing the one or more minerals comprises creating a vortex as the water exits a mineralization tank containing the one or more stones.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising adding one or more minerals to the bicarbonate water and/or the first mineralized drinking water.

18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein purifying the working water comprises removing substantially all suspended solids from the working water.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein purifying the working water further comprises removing substantially all dissolved solids and gasses from the working water.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein purifying the working water further comprises degasifying the working water by removing at least a portion of CO₂ therefrom.

21. A method of inhibiting water from ionizing and reacting with carbon dioxide, the method comprising:

providing processed water having a potential for reacting ¾0 with CO₂ in a system substantially devoid of O2 and/or CO2;

providing at least about 20 PPM of negative ions to the ¾0 in a sufficient amount to react therein in the system substantially devoid of O₂ and/or CO₂; and

inhibiting the H₂O from reacting with CO₂ to form carbonic acid by reacting the H₂O with the negative ions in a sufficient amount in the system substantially devoid of O₂ and/or CO₂ so as to stabilize the processed water to form stabilized water.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the processed water is processed to be acid free and/or deionized water.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the negative ions are of calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the negative ions include bicarbonate ions and/or hydroxide ions.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the bicarbonate ions and/or hydroxide ions combine with insoluble metals of hydroxides of calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium in the processed water to form water-soluble metal bicarbonates amount in the system substantially devoid of 0₂ and/or C0₂.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the water-soluble metal bicarbonates are retained in a solution with a sufficient amount of bicarbonate salts, the bicarbonate salts being sufficient for self-ionization.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the negative ions are of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, potassium bicarbonate, or sodium bicarbonate, which are provided in a sufficient amount to inhibit formation of carbonic acid.

28. The method of claim 24, comprising exposing the H₂0 to 0₂ and/or C0₂, wherein the H₂0 is inhibited from reacting with the C0₂ to form carbonic acid.

29. The method of claim 28, comprising maintaining the pH of the processed water with a sufficient amount of the negative ions.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the negative ions are magnesium ions.

31. The method of claim 23, comprising:

obtaining the stabilized water; and

chilling the stabilized water to about 4 degrees Celsius.

32. The method of claim 31 , comprising:

obtaining the chilled water; and

vortexing the chilled water over lodestones.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the vortexing is sufficient to increase coherency and/or surface tension of the chilled water compared to coherency and/or surface tension before chilling and vortexing.

34. The method of claim 33, comprising vortexing and aerating, simultaneously, the chilled water over lodestones sufficient to increase coherency and/or surface tension of the chilled water compared to coherency and/or surface tension before vortexing and aerating.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the vortexing and aerating is performed by a mechanical recirculation pump operably coupled to a vortexing vessel having the chilled water.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the vortexing is as follows:

lodestone present from 1 ounce to 50 pounds;

flow rate for the chilled water of 3 gallons per minute to 25 gallons per minute; and vortexing vessel having between 2 gallons and 300 gallons of the chilled water being vortexed and aerated.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the air provided during the aerating is oxygenated air or de-nitrogenated.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the air provided during the aeration is provided through a vacuum line fluidly coupled with a recirculation line fluidly coupled with the mechanical recirculation pump.

39. The method of claim 34, comprising oxygenating and air sparging the chilled water being vortexed over lodestones.

40. The method of claim 39, comprising oxygenating and air sparging the chilled water being vortexed over lodestones to oxygenate the air sufficiently to inhibit microbe growth once the water is stored.