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Calcium is one of the most important minerals for bones, teeth, muscles, and nerves. Drinking water from hard water regions often contains significant amounts of calcium and can contribute to your daily intake. At the same time, calcium combined with bicarbonate causes limescale buildup in kettles, faucets, and household appliances. DropVital relies on technologies that reduce limescale formation or alter the crystal structure without completely removing calcium from the water.

Chlorine is used in some water systems for disinfection to inactivate bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. Chlorine levels in drinking water are generally low in Switzerland, but can be noticeable locally and at certain times. Dropvital very effectively removes chlorine and numerous byproducts using activated carbon. This makes the water at home free of chlorine odor, milder in taste, and better tolerated by sensitive skin.

Chloride is the negatively charged ion of table salt and occurs in natural water as well as through human sources such as de-icing agents, wastewater, or seawater influence. It affects taste, conductivity, and corrosion behavior. At higher concentrations, water tastes salty and can cause more severe corrosion of metallic materials. Depending on the configuration, dropvital can reduce elevated chloride concentrations, especially when they occur alongside other harmful salts.

Electrical conductivity indicates how well water conducts an electric current. Pure water is practically non-conductive; it is only dissolved ions such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride, or sulfate that make it conductive. Conductivity is usually measured in µS/cm and is an indirect indicator of the concentration of dissolved salts. Dropvital specifically reduces harmful substances such as heavy metals, PFAS, or certain anions without completely desalinating the water.

TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids and describes the total amount of dissolved substances in water, usually in mg/l. These include minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium, as well as undesirable salts such as nitrate, chloride, or sulfate. A low TDS value does not automatically mean better water. DropVital relies on selective filtration: harmful substances are reduced, while the natural mineral content is largely preserved.

Total hardness describes the sum of alkaline earth ions—primarily calcium and magnesium—in the water. Hard water leads to limescale buildup, increases soap consumption, and can dry out the skin and hair. At the same time, calcium and magnesium are beneficial to health. DropVital uses limescale-reducing or limescale-modifying technologies and combines them with contaminant filtration. Total hardness often remains detectable, but the limescale problem is significantly mitigated.

Total hardness encompasses all calcium and magnesium ions in the water. It is divided into carbonate hardness and non-carbonate hardness. When heated, carbonate hardness partially precipitates as limescale and is responsible for deposits in kettles. Non-carbonate hardness remains dissolved even when boiled and affects taste, corrosion behavior, and total salt content. Dropvital primarily reduces the negative effects of carbonate hardness without unnecessarily reducing the overall mineral content.

TOC stands for Total Organic Carbon and describes the total content of organic carbon in water. It includes natural organic substances such as humic acids and plant residues, as well as synthetic compounds from solvents, plasticizers, or wastewater components. An elevated TOC value can affect taste, color, and microbial stability. DropVital uses activated carbon and special adsorption media that can significantly reduce organic substances.

Total salt content refers to all salts dissolved in water, primarily combinations of cations such as sodium, calcium, or magnesium and anions such as chloride, sulfate, or nitrate. A moderate salt content contributes to conductivity and taste; excessively high levels can be undesirable from both a technical and health perspective. DropVital selectively filters out problematic salts while retaining the majority of natural minerals.

Along with sodium, potassium is a key electrolyte in the human body and is important for heart rhythm, nerve conduction, and muscle function. It occurs naturally in small amounts in drinking water; the main source is typically the diet. DropVital does not focus on artificial enrichment but rather on reducing undesirable substances such as PFAS, pesticides, or heavy metals. The natural potassium content remains within the normal range.

Carbonate hardness is the portion of total hardness that is bound to bicarbonate. It is also called temporary hardness because, when heated, it partially precipitates as lime. Carbonate hardness acts as a buffer and stabilizes the pH value, but at high levels it causes significant lime buildup. dropvital reduces the lime-forming effect—or influences the crystal structure—without completely demineralizing the water.

Carbon dioxide occurs naturally in water, primarily through contact with air, soil, and rock. It exists in equilibrium with bicarbonate and influences both the pH level and corrosivity. High CO₂ levels can make water more aggressive, causing it to dissolve metals from pipes. Dropvital does not artificially interfere with this equilibrium but focuses on reducing metal ions and other contaminants that could enter the water in greater quantities due to aggressive water chemistry.

Conductivity in µS/cm is the practical unit used to measure the electrical conductivity of water. It reflects the total concentration of all dissolved ions and is highly sensitive to changes in the system. For humans, it is not the absolute conductivity that matters, but rather which ions are causing it. DropVital reduces problematic ions such as nitrate, heavy metals, or certain anions, while physiologically beneficial minerals are largely preserved.

Magnesium, along with calcium, is essential for muscle and nerve function, energy metabolism, and the cardiovascular system. Depending on the region, drinking water can contribute significant amounts of magnesium. Like calcium, magnesium contributes to total hardness and the tendency of water to form scale. DropVital takes a selective approach: Magnesium is not specifically removed but is largely retained in the water, while micropollutants, heavy metals, PFAS, and other undesirable substances are reduced.

Sodium is an essential mineral and plays an important role in fluid balance as well as in nerve and muscle function. In drinking water, sodium comes from natural sources, but also from water softeners or industrial discharges. Dropvital avoids traditional salt-based water softening and instead relies on salt-free or selective processes. As a result, no additional sodium is introduced into the water.

The nitrate level indicates the extent to which water is contaminated by nitrogen compounds from agriculture, wastewater, or natural processes. Nitrate can be converted into nitrite and other compounds in the body. Infants and young children are particularly sensitive. Using suitable adsorbent media, dropvital can significantly reduce nitrate and, to some extent, nitrite as well, thereby providing additional protection for tap water in regions with significant agricultural activity.

Nitrite is chemically related to nitrate but is significantly more reactive and toxic. It is produced, among other things, during the microbial conversion of nitrate, in contaminated systems, or through certain corrosion processes. Nitrite can impair the blood’s ability to transport oxygen, particularly in infants. dropvital relies on selective filter media that can reduce nitrite and, often simultaneously, nitrate.

The oxidation-reduction potential measures a water’s tendency to accept or release electrons. It is expressed in millivolts. A higher ORP often indicates a more oxidizing environment, such as that caused by chlorine. Marketing claims regarding negative ORP are scientifically controversial. More important than a specific ORP value is drinking water that is hygienically safe and chemically uncontaminated. DropVital specifically removes organic contaminants, micropollutants, and problematic ions without artificially manipulating the ORP.

The pH value describes how acidic or alkaline water is. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 considered neutral. Ideally, drinking water has a pH between approximately 6.8 and 8.5. Water that is too acidic can corrode pipes and faucets, thereby leaching metals such as copper or lead. DropVital does not artificially alter the pH value to extreme levels, but rather focuses on reducing contaminants, metals, and micropollutants.

The oxygen content in water describes how much dissolved oxygen is present. It influences taste and corrosion processes in pipes. A certain level of oxygen is desirable in drinking water because it imparts a fresh taste. For human health, however, the oxygen content within the normal range is less critical than contaminants and pathogens. DropVital does not specifically alter the oxygen content, but it does reduce organic contaminants, heavy metals, and other micropollutants.

Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and chromium VI pose health risks even at very low concentrations in [trinkwasser]. They can damage the nervous system, strain the kidneys, and cause developmental disorders in children. Sources of contamination include old household pipes, industrial sources, contaminated soil, or geological conditions. DropVital uses selective filter media that can specifically bind heavy metals and remove them from the water.

Sulfates are anions that originate from natural rock leaching or from industrial and agricultural sources. They contribute to the water’s mineral content and conductivity, but at higher concentrations they can taste bitter and have a laxative effect. Dropvital is able to reduce the sulfate content through selective filtration, especially when sulfate occurs alongside other problematic ions.

Temperature is a critical hygiene factor in water systems. Legionella bacteria multiply particularly well at temperatures between approximately 25 and 45 °C. In hot-water systems with storage temperatures that are too low or long, poorly flushed pipes, an ideal breeding ground is created. Filtration does not replace temperature and flow strategies, but it can effectively complement them. Dropvital reduces particles, organic matter, and, depending on the system, microorganisms as well.

Turbidity describes how clear or cloudy water appears. It is usually measured in NTU and is caused by suspended solids such as clay, rust particles, microorganisms, or organic particles. Visually turbid water can be an indication of microbiological or hydraulic problems in the system. DropVital uses fine pre-filtration and multi-stage filter media to remove particles and turbidity-causing substances from tap water.

Water activity describes how readily water in a system is available for microbiological processes. In food, it is used to assess the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and molds. In drinking water, water activity is naturally very high and can hardly be directly influenced as long as the water is to remain potable. DropVital does not lower water activity per se, but it does reduce organic contamination, particles, and potential nutrients.