We Claim:
1. An apparatus for producing a volume of plasma activated water, the
apparatus comprising:
an electrically non-conducting container of a predefined height, wherein the container is to accommodate a volume of water up to a level less than the height of the container, wherein the volume of water comprises at least one of a plurality of mineral salts, and wherein the volume of water when accommodated in the container provides a portion of air column above the water level, such that the height of the volume of water is less than the portion of the air column in the container;
a power supply;
an electrically conducting metal electrode assembly with a dielectric insulation, in the air column of the container, coupled to the power supply, wherein the electrically conducting metal electrode assembly is to generate a cold plasma discharge in the air column of the container; and
means for subjecting the volume of water to the generated cold plasma discharge in the air column for a certain time period.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the volume of water corresponds to tap water, filtered RO water or demineralized water with or without addition of mineral salts.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically non-conducting container is of a material comprising borosilicate glass, ceramic or plastic.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inclusion of at least one of the plurality of mineral salts in the volume of water is to buffer the pH of the water to be activated.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply has an open circuit voltage in the range of about 4 kilovolts (kV) to 10 kilovolts (kV), and operates in a frequency in the range of about 20 kilohertz (kHz) to 40 kilohertz (kHz).
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically conducting metal electrode assembly is a braided coiled copper electrode with silicone insulation or any other metallic electrically conducting material with a dielectric separating the electrodes.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically conducting metal electrode assembly has a capacitance in the range of about 20 picofarads (pF) to 100 picofarads (pF).
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cold plasma discharge in the air column of the container generates a plurality of chemically reactive species comprising oxygen and nitrogen.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for subjecting the volume of water to the generated cold plasma discharge is a water agitator.
10. A method for producing a volume of plasma activated water having near neutral pH conditions with antimicrobial properties, the method comprising:
accommodating a volume of water up to a level along a height of an electrically non-conducting container, wherein accommodating the volume of water provides a portion of air column above the water level in the container, such that the height of the volume of water is less than the portion of the air column in the container;
providing a power supply to an electrically conducting metal electrode assembly with a dielectric insulation;

generating a cold plasma discharge in the air column of the container, by the electrode assembly; and
subjecting the volume of water to the generated cold plasma discharge in the air column for a certain time period.