I got the local water report from the water authority today. What stats should I be looking at to start building water profile. I want to start taking my beer more serious than I already have. Any input would help.
These are the values in parts per million (or in milligrams per liter, same thing) you'll need in most/all programs/spreadsheets... Ca Mg Na Cl SO4 Alkalinity as CaCO3 or as HCO3
Maybe I need a more in depth report. The one I have has..... Flouoride Turbidity Trihalomethanes Haloacetic Acids Chlorine Nitrate Lead Should I ask for a different one? Or just have a sample of my water tested?
Nothing there of real use in your report. You can ask to see if they have data for the ions that Vikeman listed, or send it to Ward Labs for analysis.
Your local water company might only be doing the minimum to meet regulations. All of the values that Vikeman mentioned are optional test, but most do them anyways.
Do you mean to test for those brewing ions? If so, no, there's no easy (and no cheap) way to do it at home.
$30+ bucks. https://producers.wardlab.com/pay/order-brewers-kit.php?step=1&op=kit I would still go back to your water supplier and see if they will provide you the information you need. My water company labeled the water report I needed as "Laboratory Report". Cheers!
I'll give it 1 more try. They seemed like no one asks any questions and they had no clue what I meant. Maybe next time I'll write it in crayon.....
I called my water company to get the bicarbonate levels and you would have thought I was talking in Spanish. Based on your first post asking what "what stats should I be looking at" I recommend reading the water section from how to brew. It explains what you should be looking at and how to adjust it. http://www.howtobrew.com/section3/chapter15-1.html Also, I recommend using a Mash Ph Calculator like this website: http://homebrewingphysics.blogspot.com/2014/01/mph-water-calculator-v12.html?m=1 I was able to find my local water report online via my local water company, minus the bicarbonate levels. I didn't need to ask or have them send one to me.
EZ water calc has the inputs you need from your water. Look at step 1 for the important mineral makeup. http://www.ezwatercalculator.com/
Yes, but they did put how it was expressed, it just says alkalinity However, since I live south of LA I was able to use Beersmith and How to brew which shows LA's water alkalinity at 120, and the alkalinity on my report is 110, so I figure that's the correct number.
I just started using Bru'n Water. You can download an older version for free. A little overwhelming at first, but it has a great introductory section and seems like a very powerful tool. I donated so I could get the updated version, but you don't really need it. Fortunately my town posts a detailed water report online every year.
my local water supply guys definitely gave me blank looks when I asked for those values...turned out that they only test for what is required in my area. I actually got one of those LaMotte water test kits and sent mine out to Ward. Turned out the LaMotte kit did a really good job...but much more expensive than Ward (though you end up with a pretty nice pH meter w/LaMotte kit). If you've got a local group that may want to test, then LaMotte maybe a good option. I passed mine around my HB club since a lot of people around here use well water.
If it's readily available I would start using RO as your base..For me it's $1.50 for 5 gallons..it's constant and I know what my base water is..After that you are able to create a "house" water profile for most of your beers..The one big to look for in your water report is alkalinity..
