What Are Prill Beads? A Plain-English Guide for Australians

Prill beads are small, ceramic-like pellets made from magnesium oxide that improve the quality of your drinking water by raising its pH, adding magnesium, and giving it a noticeably softer taste. They’re simple, long-lasting, and genuinely useful — but they’re not a water filter. Here’s a clear explanation of what they are and what they actually do.

Browse our magnesium prill beads or read our related guides: Do Prill Beads Work? and Can Prill Beads Be Used in Tap Water?

What Are Prill Beads Made Of?

Prill beads are made from magnesium oxide — derived from naturally occurring magnesium salts found in deep underground brine deposits. The magnesium is extracted and fired at very high temperatures to form small, hard, insoluble pellets. Because they don’t dissolve in water, they last for years of regular use.

For a more detailed look at the manufacturing process, see our article: What Are Prill Beads Made Of?

What Do Prill Beads Do to Water?

When placed in water, prill beads:

• Raise the pH — to around 7.4–8.0, making the water mildly alkaline
• Add magnesium — a beneficial mineral involved in hundreds of bodily processes
• Improve taste — water treated with prill beads has a softer, smoother flavour that most people prefer to straight tap water
• Reduce surface tension — a measurable physical change that proponents suggest improves cellular hydration

What they don’t do: prill beads are not a water filter. They don’t remove chlorine, fluoride, bacteria, or heavy metals. For comprehensive water filtration, use them alongside a benchtop water filter or reverse osmosis system.

Are Prill Beads Worth It?

For the cost — roughly equivalent to two cases of bottled water — prill beads offer genuine, ongoing value. They last 12–24 months of regular use, improve the taste of your water noticeably, and provide a supplementary source of dietary magnesium. If you’re currently buying bottled alkaline water, prill beads are a far more economical and environmentally friendly alternative.

How to Use Prill Beads

1. Rinse the bag under running water before first use.
2. Place in a glass or ceramic container (up to 5 litres).
3. Fill with drinking water and leave for 24 hours before first use.
4. Drink one-third to one-half of the water and refill — the beads treat new water within a few hours.
5. Store away from direct sunlight.

Frequently Asked Questions