The John Ellis LWM-5 is a steam distiller; a Kangen machine is a water ionizer. A distiller separates water from what’s dissolved in it. An ionizer filters tap water, then uses electrolysis to split it into alkaline and acidic streams at different pH levels. The LWM-5 costs $2,800 and has no filters to replace; the Kangen K8 is sold through Enagic’s independent distributors and uses a filter Enagic recommends replacing every six months.
Questions before you choose? Call 845-754-8696 (Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm ET) to talk with us or request a free 1 oz water sample.
At a glance
| John Ellis LWM-5 | Kangen K8 (Enagic) | |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Steam distillation with repeated heating and cooling cycles, plus ultraviolet treatment | Carbon filtration, then electrolysis across 8 platinum-coated titanium plates |
| Dissolved solids (purity) | Removed by distillation. York Laboratories test of an earlier John Ellis distiller: 57.91 mg/L before, less than 0.07 mg/L after (more than 99.8% removed). Details below. | Kept in the water: the built-in filter targets chlorine, and electrolysis works on the dissolved minerals in tap water. Enagic publishes no dissolved-solids reduction figures |
| Hydrogen bond angle | About 114°, as reported by John Ellis Water (how we describe it) | About 104.5°, the standard angle for water; ionizers change pH, not bond angle |
| What it changes | Separates water from dissolved solids | Changes pH; produces 5 water types from about pH 2.5 to 11.5 |
| Output | About 1 gallon of distilled water every 2 hours | On demand at the tap |
| Replacement filters | None | FC1 filter, replaced about every 6 months |
| Power | Electric | Electric, about 230 W at maximum electrolysis |
| Construction | Stainless steel; built by hand in New York | Made in Japan |
| Price | $2,800 direct | Set by Enagic; sold through independent distributors |
How a Kangen machine works
The K8 sits by the sink and connects to the faucet. Tap water first passes through a built-in filter (activated charcoal and calcium sulfite) that targets chlorine and other contaminants. It then flows across eight electrode plates, where electrolysis separates it into alkaline water and acidic water. You choose the setting: Enagic lists five types, from strongly acidic water for cleaning to strongly alkaline water. Because electrolysis works on the minerals dissolved in tap water, an ionizer keeps those minerals in the water rather than removing them.
How the LWM-5 works
The LWM-5 connects to your faucet. It heats water into steam and condenses it back into liquid, cycling the water through repeated rapid heating and cooling, then treats it with ultraviolet light. It is built from stainless steel by hand in New York by John Ellis’s family, with John overseeing the work, and is based on his U.S. Patent 6,409,888.
The core difference
The two machines do opposite things to what’s dissolved in your water. An ionizer works with the dissolved minerals to change pH. A distiller removes dissolved solids: a University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension guide reports that distillation can remove nearly all impurities, including dissolved minerals and salts, nitrate, fluoride and heavy metals such as lead, while boiling inactivates microorganisms. The same guide notes that some low-boiling volatile chemicals can carry over with the steam, and that distillation uses more electricity than most home methods.
So the question to ask is simple: do you want water with its minerals kept and its pH adjusted, or water with its dissolved solids taken out?
Which one fits
- Choose a Kangen machine if you want alkaline or acidic water on demand at the tap, multiple pH settings, and a longer manufacturer warranty.
- Choose the LWM-5 if you want distilled water, no filters to replace, all-stainless construction, and a machine built in the U.S. with direct phone support.
How pure the water tests
The purity report we publish is a York Laboratories analysis dated October 11, 1983, of an earlier John Ellis distiller, the Water Wizard 700. The lab measured the same water before and after distillation, following Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (15th edition):
| Measurement | Before distillation | After distillation |
|---|---|---|
| Total dissolved solids (mg/L) | 57.91 | less than 0.07 |
| Total hardness (mg/L as CaCO₃) | 40.0 | less than 0.2 |
“Less than” means the result was below the lowest level the lab reported, so dissolved solids dropped by more than 99.8%. For scale, the EPA’s recommended (non-enforceable) limit for total dissolved solids in drinking water is 500 mg/L. The LWM-5 is designed around the same John Ellis distillation method, and the full York report is on our Scientific Data page.
What we claim, and what we don’t
We describe the LWM-5 by what it does and what we measure. John Ellis Water also reports a measured hydrogen bond angle of about 114° in LWM-5 water, compared with about 104.5° for ordinary water. That is a structural measurement, not a pH reading — the two are unrelated — and Structured Water explains how we describe it. We don’t claim the LWM-5 or its water treats, cures or prevents any condition.
Common questions
Is Kangen water distilled?
No. Kangen machines filter and then ionize tap water; the dissolved minerals stay in. Distillation removes them.
Is distilled water alkaline?
No. Freshly distilled water is close to neutral and has very little dissolved mineral content. It can read slightly acidic after sitting, as it absorbs carbon dioxide from the air.
Does the LWM-5 need replacement filters?
No. It uses distillation, so there are no filters to replace. Periodic cleaning removes mineral buildup.
Can I taste the difference before buying?
Yes. We offer a free 1 oz sample of LWM-5 water — call 845-754-8696.
Questions, or want to hear how the LWM-5 fits your water? Call 845-754-8696, Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm ET, or see the machine and pricing.
Sources: York Laboratories report, Oct. 11, 1983 (Scientific Data page); U.S. EPA Secondary Drinking Water Standards; Enagic LeveLuk K8 product page and product comparison page (plates, water types, pH range, filter interval, power, warranty, distribution), University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension NebGuide G1493, “Drinking Water Treatment: Distillation” (rev. 2013).