PH anomaly? tap 7.2 britta 5.7

Newbie to using a PH meter so thought I would post here, hope that is appropriate.

Just got my digital PH meter in the mail today and calibrated it. Tested my tap water and got 7.2 then I poured water through the britta filter and got 5.7. Is this normal/possible? I did do some searches but couldn't find anything useful. I have repeated the tests 4 times to be sure. Also, I have tested it on vinegar and some other things to make sure it is generally working properly.

Has anyone else experienced this?

One of the threads I found with an internet search had someone asking the same question and the responses were basically "that is not possible you have a bad meter". If it helps I live in an 80 year old house that still has some of the original pipes. If the faucet is not used for an extended time the initial water will have a yellow tinge to it. Could metal from the pipes being filtered out of the britta account for this?

Any insight on this would be great,

Cascadian

My water runs about 7.3 and 170 ppm, Which is more then good for what I'm running, The ppm is a little high for some people but it is not overly hard and the plants love it. The ph is about is good as you can get it out of a well or out of anywhere . The britta filters are designed for better tasting water, Not for ph balanced water. : http://www.brita.net/glossary.html?&no_cache=1&range=&lex=pH+value . If it was me I would use the water out of your tap as it is more then ok for the plants to use. As for the yellow ting. It could be the pipes or the water in the well itself, I used to live in a place in a swamp where the well was only about twenty feet deep and it would smell bad, produce a yellow tint and throw particles out of the facuet when you were using it/ The house was only 6 years old . If I were you I would get a cheap ppm meter too then you will have more control over what you are giving them , I bought this one and am happy with it http://www.ebay.com/itm/300908182575. I hope this all provides a little bit of insight to your questions.

Thanks for the insight. Though I don't get my water from a well, it is a municipal source. I didn't even think to go directly to the brita site. One of the quotes off the link you provided states:
"Amongst other things, BRITA purposely decreases water hardness to improve the taste of drinking water. As a result, the pH value of BRITA filtered water tends to be in the slightly acid range"

I think that explains it. Brita also says that calcium hydrogen carbonate can be removed, calcium hydrogen carbonate makes water more alkaline.

PH is affected by the minerals in the water. You could definitely see a reduction in your water if you had rust or iron in your water and you removed it. Plants don't like rust. I would filter it.

idk what this filter does, but if its similar to distilled water: while it should be pH 7 it quickly "catches" CO2 out of the air which lowers its pH

filters are not for ph but more for lowering the PPM. if you want your ph to be more neutral you need to get a RO system. myself the water from the well is 4.0 here so all i get now is ph up lol probably dont even need it cause i have good soil amendments but it eases my mind when i go mixing up nutes in my lab (aka the bathroom).

mrblu said:

filters are not for ph but more for lowering the PPM. if you want your ph to be more neutral you need to get a RO system. myself the water from the well is 4.0 here so all i get now is ph up lol probably dont even need it cause i have good soil amendments but it eases my mind when i go mixing up nutes in my lab (aka the bathroom).

Click to expand...

4.0 out of the well???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? seriously, i'd be moving if that were true...

yep its almost as acidic as orange juice. i thought my PH meter was off untill i tested it with strips and the kit that comes with PH up and down and calibration solutions lol on my PH pen to make sure it was right.

If your water is 7.2 out of the tap then you are fine, you dont need RO water .if its city water then let the chlorine evaporate and your going to be just fine. and as for the 4.0 well water, I would not be drinking it or using it, that is insane.