So I just got the report back on my water and have absolutely no idea what it means when pertaining to brewing. Hopefully you guys can give me some insight on this. Copper 1.3 ppm Chlorine .335 ppm Barium .07 ppm Fluoride 1.09 ppm Iron .25 ppm Mercury .175 ppb Nitrate .19 ppm Sodium .47 ppm. That's all that was listed in the report.
What you really need from a mash pH and a flavor prespective... Ca Mg Na Cl SO4 -or- SO4 as S HCO3 -or- CaCO3 So you have Na (Sodium) but not the others. Also, I'm no expert on water safety (so don't go by me), but the copper and iron numbers look a little high.
No experience myself, but there is this - http://byo.com/resources/brewwater or this http://www.ezwatercalculator.com as well as others.
The copper is at the high limit, and the iron is just under the limit. Brewing ions are secondary standards. Ask for the ones Vikeman listed. Sodium at .47 ppm is really low.
So I'm guessing I will need to take a sample and have it tested by a lab to get detailed results. What do the copper and iron levels affect?
If you don't have well water, you may be able to find a water-report on here that is close to you: http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=1887.0
Copper: In trace amounts helps fermentation. Too much is bad for your health. Iron: Adversely affects flavor. And too much is bad for your health.
Your private well or a community well? If you got that report, did you send a sample off or get it from the community service?
ah, the amazing magical water spigot thingy in the house. if you live in a single family home that you own and you don't pay a water bill, you have a well. if you rent, ask your landlord. or look around the basement or garage for a water meter. you'd be amazed how many people never stop to think about where their water comes from. with your copper being at the action level, it is a good bet your 1, pH is screwy 2, you have well or community well service. its not a big worry, but you can call the local health dept. or the county extension if you have one. that iron level is not ideal, but you could get away with much worse. of course as others have said, this report is fairly useless for brewing. Cheers.
