Well water test results - need help interpreting info.

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by bubseymour, Nov 30, 2016.

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  1. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I had a friend of mine who works at a water treatment plant run the specs. on my well water (of course I paid him for his help with a few of my homebrews). Here are my results. Is there a good site that will explain what these mean in terms of brewing certain beers and/or what minerals and such I'll need to add when I get more advanced into this hobby?

    Here is the text I received from him on my well water...mabye someone can help translate:
    Alkalinity = 29 mg/L
    Hardness = 48 mg/L
    both expressed as CaCO3
    pH = 7.61 @ 15.8C

    He said he can run extra tests if there is any other really important data I should try to get let me know. I just had no idea what I should tell him to do.
     
  2. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    You need mineral amounts in ppm (mg/L) for Ca, Mg, Na, Cl, and SO4.

    Cheers!
     
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  3. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks Jack. I'll see what other tests he can run at his work. Nice having friends/connections to help with homebrewing stuff.
     
  4. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    You do need the values Jack states, but with the levels you have for alkalinity and hardness, I would say you have darned nice brewing water.

    My alkalinity is 293 as CaCO3, Hardness is 423 as CaCO3. The alkalinity is the deal breaker for almost all beers.
     
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  5. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    That's good info. to know. I always thought we had really hard water but I guess that is low rating? My first saison I just used straight water out of my sink and it seems to taste pretty good for a beginner beer. I'll see if the water plant can test for those other chemicals.
     
  6. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    A reading of under 60 ppm CaCO3 is considered soft, so yours is soft.
    http://water.usgs.gov/edu/hardness.html
     
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  7. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks. I could have done some google research/readding on the subject, but went straight to the BA forum instead. Got lazy I guess.
     
  8. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    Sorry to potentially hijack the thread here…but how do you treat your water Jeff? Do you have an RO system or do you use acid?

    I thought I had hard water...
     
  9. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    I buy RO that is less than <10 ppm TDS and adjust.

    Now I want to get a system at home so I don't have to lug those 5 gallon jugs around. Something easier in the back is welcome.

    Some of the breweries around here use acid to neutralize the alkalinity. That process leaves the high-ish levels of Na, Cl, and Mg that we have, which negatively influences the taste in some styles. One near me has a nano-filtration unit that gets down to 20 ppm TDS, and they are the ones winning awards.
     
  10. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    This doesn't surprise me at all. Anecdotally, I've noticed a positive correlation between upstart craft brewery beer quality and the amount of attention paid to water.
     
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  11. checktherhyme

    checktherhyme Savant (1,036) Apr 8, 2008 Washington

    I've noticed the same thing. It also means they are probably paying detailed attention in other areas that their competition overlooks.
     
  12. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    Interesting…I've got moderate levels of Cl and low levels of Na, Mg and especially SO4…so I just treat with acid. I have always used phosphoric acid to neutralize and started to play with citric acid based on BrewBetty's suggestion….I know not many people would advise it but have been tinkering with the idea of getting some sulfuric acid to play with. Kill two birds if I were to treat my water with it…nothing like donning googles, brew gloves & respirator for water treatment...
     
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  13. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    Mg should be <30. For some beers the Cl is too high. SO4 is 48, Ward Labs reports it as sulfur, so multiply by 3.

    There are 2 reports here. Store bought RO water, and then my towns water. I use the RO for brewing and add different salts to get the profile I want. I hav

    RO, Tap
    pH 6.3, 7.8
    TDS 12, 630
    Cond. mmho/cm 0.02, 1.05
    Cations/anions me/L <.1/<.1, 11,10.8

    Ion, RO, Tap Water
    Na <1, 58
    K <1, 3
    Ca <1, 114
    Mg <1, 33
    Harness CaCO3 <1, 423
    Nitrate <0.1 (Safe), 0.3 (Safe)
    SO4 <1, 16
    Cl <1, 132
    CO3 <1, <1
    HCO3 <1, 364
    Total Alkalinity CaCO3 <1, 298
     
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  14. NiceFly

    NiceFly Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2011 Tajikistan

    Just want to for those reading this not familiar with working with concentrated acids.

    Chemical Pneumonia
    is a real risk. Basically the acid begins reacting with atmospheric moisture generating a cloud of acid pollution. Do not breathe that in.

    Purchasing the lower concentration of the acid in question will lower the risk, just be aware.

    As for the OP based on those initial numbers you probably have some pretty good water. Assay the ions Jack mentioned and go from there.
     
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  15. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    The hijack posts are enjoyable yet crazy overwhelming for a noob to absorb. I'm still trying to see if my water-plant buddy can run the additional tests for Ca, Mg, Na, Cl, and SO4. Hopefully his plant test equipment can run tests on that stuff.
     
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