Blue Jug offers Alkaline Water

In these crazy times, only “essential” businesses are still open. What can be more essential than water?

Business has been brisk at Blue Jug Alkaline Water on RR12, right across from Brookshire Brothers market.

Chuck and Laura Warlick have been running the water store for about five years. It was called the Water Tree initially, then changed to Blue Jug a few years ago.

When you enter the store you’re likely to be greeted by two small Australian Shepherds, Abigail and Daisy. On one side of the store is an array of bottles and jugs. On the other side there are various pipes and filters that make the alkaline water.

Starts with the public water supply

The process isn’t complicated. Blue Jug takes water from the public water supply, filters out the chlorine and other chemicals, then builds it back up by adding trace minerals.

“Alkaline water is the water we have been drinking since the beginning of time,” says Chuck. “It’s the water we should be drinking. We’re very proud of our water.”

Here’s how the on-line medical website WebMD describes alkaline water: “Water is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen. That’s why you call it H2O. Water’s pH level determines how acidic it is and ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is considered neutral. That seven number is considered neutral or balanced between acidic and alkaline. If water is below 7 on the pH scale, it’s acidic. If it’s higher than 7, it’s alkaline.” Adds the Mayo Clinic:

Adds the Mayo Clinic: “Because alkaline water has a higher pH level than does plain tap water, proponents say that it can neutralize acid in your bloodstream. Some say that alkaline water can help prevent disease, such as cancer and heart disease. However, more research is needed to verify these claims.” Once the water at Blue Jug is stripped of chlorine and other chemicals, 21 trace minerals — such as calcium and magnesium — are added. The water is run through small pellets that add the minerals. The pellets come from South Korea.

“You will discover you are drinking a lot more water (after it’s treated),” says Chuck. “We get a lot of good testimonials.”

The store can make up to 1,500 gallons of alkaline water a day. It’s stored in a 400-gallon tank in the back of the store that replenishes automatically.

Up to 500 gallons a day

On a typical day, the store sells between 150 and 500 gallons. Lately, with the coronavirus scare in full swing, sales have been on the high end.

Not long ago, Blue Jug had a warehouse full of bottles and other containers. That warehouse is almost empty now. “What we have here (in the store) is pretty much what we have left,” says Chuck, looking at a selection that includes everything from plastic bottles with spigots to cobalt blue glass jugs from Italy.

Blue Jug bills itself as a health store and stocks everything from organic coffee to radiation-free headphones to ozone machines.

There are some future changes planned. Chuck wants to install a vending machine so folks can get their water after regular store hours. He’s also considering a delivery service, not unlike the milkman of yesteryear, who drops off bottles on your porch.

There are nine Blue Jug locations around Texas and some stores in Alabama and Louisiana. Each is locally owned and has a lot of leeway in deciding what is stocked in addition to alkaline water.