Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Water Connundrum  (Read 3079 times)

Offline t-bone

  • 1st Kit
  • *
  • Posts: 24
Water Connundrum
« on: March 26, 2013, 11:20:16 am »
I need help with with my water adjustment.  I have been brewing with RO water but want to try to use the local water supply with no RO dilution.  The water is filtered thru an activated carbon filter.  Other than that it is untouched. 

Here's the profile

Total disolved solids           700
Phenol Alkalinity CaCO3    <1.0
Total Alkalinity CaCO3       133
Total Hardness CaCO3        230
Chlorides CL                      133
Sulfates SO4                     182
Flourides                           .62
Silica SiO2                         20
Nitrates NO3                      2.1
Nitrites NO2                     <0.05
Phosphates PO4                 .68
Calcium CA                         71
Magnesium Mg                    15
Sodium Na                         133
Potassium K                        8.6
Iron Fe                             <0.03
Manganese                      <0.0010
ph                                      7.3

I know this water is pretty bad.  I want to brew lagers (Pils, Amber, and Dortmunder).  What additions would you recommend excluding RO dilution.

Thanks

pat

Offline blatz

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3513
  • Paul Blatz - Jupiter, FL
Re: Water Connundrum
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2013, 11:24:45 am »
its not pretty bad, its really bad.  I honestly would just stick with RO water and build from there.
The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

BJCP National: F0281

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27129
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Water Connundrum
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2013, 11:27:31 am »
its not pretty bad, its really bad.  I honestly would just stick with RO water and build from there.

Yep.  IMO, that water is not suitable for brewing.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline theDarkSide

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3041
  • Derry, NH
Re: Water Connundrum
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2013, 11:40:48 am »
If you are brewing lagers anyways, I'd stick with RO.  My water is pretty good brewing water but for my lagers, I find it easier to just build from distilled.

Wow...that's a lot of sodium in there.  I think mine is 18.
Seacoast Homebrew Club - Portsmouth, NH
AHA Member
Stephen Mayo
------------------------------------------------

Offline beersk

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3721
  • In the night!
Re: Water Connundrum
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2013, 11:57:46 am »
The only good thing about that water is its Calcium content. Stick with RO dude!
Jesse

Offline dak0415

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 558
  • Winston-Salem, NC
Re: Water Connundrum
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2013, 01:24:21 pm »
Is that profile before or after the charcoal filter!
Dave Koenig
Anything worth doing - is worth overdoing!

Offline t-bone

  • 1st Kit
  • *
  • Posts: 24
Re: Water Connundrum
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2013, 01:28:44 pm »
Wow!  I knew it was bad but I didn't think it was that bad.  There's no possibility of using it? (the water that is)

pat

ps thanks for the responses

Offline kramerog

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2262
    • My LinkedIn page
Re: Water Connundrum
« Reply #7 on: March 26, 2013, 01:39:11 pm »
Wow!  I knew it was bad but I didn't think it was that bad.  There's no possibility of using it? (the water that is)

pat

ps thanks for the responses

Yes, for cooling and cleaning.

Offline mmitchem

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 358
  • Suffolk, VA
    • http://www.barfclub.org
Re: Water Connundrum
« Reply #8 on: March 26, 2013, 01:49:16 pm »
My water is bad like that too. I have gone the distilled route and it has been much better ever since. still l and clean with the crap  out of the ground
Michael P Mitchem
Beer and Ale Research Foundation (B.A.R.F.)
AHA Member since 2011

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27129
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Water Connundrum
« Reply #9 on: March 26, 2013, 01:50:55 pm »
It's hard to believe that the water is really filtered.  It must be really terrible before it is.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline kramerog

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2262
    • My LinkedIn page
Re: Water Connundrum
« Reply #10 on: March 26, 2013, 02:00:29 pm »
It's hard to believe that the water is really filtered.  It must be really terrible before it is.

Carbon filtration does not remove minerals although it can remove mercury.

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27129
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Water Connundrum
« Reply #11 on: March 26, 2013, 03:15:08 pm »
It's hard to believe that the water is really filtered.  It must be really terrible before it is.

Carbon filtration does not remove minerals although it can remove mercury.

I stand corrected!  Thanks.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell