Call for NJ Water Chem Stats

**Bobby_M** · 10-16-2009, 03:26 PM

With all the guys in NJ coming out of the woodwork, there's got to be some others that have sent their water off for testing. I'm trying to put together a database of actual test results on different NJ water systems.

First, I found a good website for pinpointing exactly which of the NJ systems you're on:

http://www.nj.gov/dep/swap/creport.htm

Two guys, myself included, have gotten recent results for at least one system (Elizabethtown water) and I've posted the results here:

Whales NJ water data

Look how many cities are on the same water system....

All the cities served by Elizabethtown Water system #2004002
Link to source data -click

Municipality County
Raritan Twp. Hunterdon
Readington Twp. Hunterdon
Tewksbury Twp. Hunterdon
Hopewell Twp. Mercer
Lawrence Twp. Mercer
Princeton Boro Mercer
Princeton Twp. Mercer
West Windsor Twp. Mercer
Cranbury Twp. Middlesex
Dunellen Boro Middlesex
Edison Twp. Middlesex
Middlesex Boro Middlesex
Piscataway Twp. Middlesex
Plainsboro Twp. Middlesex
South Brunswick Twp. Middlesex
South Plainfield Boro Middlesex
Chester Boro Morris
Bedminster Twp. Somerset
Bound Brook Boro Somerset
Branchburg Twp. Somerset
Bridgewater Twp. Somerset
Franklin Twp. Somerset
Green Brook Twp. Somerset
Hillsborough Twp. Somerset
Manville Boro Somerset
Millstone Boro Somerset
Montgomery Twp. Somerset
North Plainfield Boro Somerset
Peapack-Gladstone Somerset
Raritan Boro Somerset
So. Bound Brook Boro Somerset
Somerville Boro Somerset
Warren Twp. Somerset
Watchung Boro Somerset
Clark Twp. Union
Cranford Twp. Union
Fanwood Boro Union
Garwood Boro Union
Hillside Twp. Union
Kenilworth Boro Union
Linden City Union
Mountainside Boro Union
Plainfield City Union
Roselle Boro Union
Roselle Park Boro Union
Scotch Plains Twp. Union
Union Twp. Union
Westfield Town Union

Lunarpancake · 10-16-2009, 04:02 PM

wow some cool info.....too bad monmouth county isn't on the list!

**Bobby_M** · 10-16-2009, 04:32 PM

That's why I'm posting this. It's also possible that two people that find they are on the same system can split the cost of a water test or "virtual handshake" that one will pay for the test now and the other will have a test done in the spring to track changes.

**flananuts** · 10-18-2009, 03:34 PM

Here's the water profile for Monmouth County NJ American Water. I also had my RO water profiled as well to see the differences. BTW- I definitely need help on what to do with this info now....

Sample 1 - tap water
pH 7.7
TDS 187
Electrical conductivity .31
Cations/Anions 2.8/2.6

Below in ppm
Na 33
K 3
Ca 19
Mg 4
Total hardness 64
Nitrate 0.2
Sulfate 5
Chloride 53
Carbonate not detected or below detection limit
BiCarbonate 45
Total Alkalinity 37
Fluoride 1.4
Iron .01

Sample 2 RO water
pH 6.5
TDS 27
Elec. conductivity .05
Cations/Anions .4/.3

Below in ppm
Na 7
K below detection limit
Ca 1
Mg below detection limit
Total Hardness 3
Nitrate .1
Sulfate below detection limit
Chloride 7
Carbonate below detection limit
BiCarbonate 6
Total Alkalinity 5
Fluoride .38
Iron below detection limit

I knew I had soft water but it's amazing how much the RO membrane strips out. I recently changed the three pre carbon / sediment filters on my RO system and they were suprisingly clean, a major difference from when I lived in Hoboken. I hope that this helps

Flananuts

wilserbrewer · 10-18-2009, 05:23 PM

Nice info Flan...where in Monmouth County are you? I'm in Wall and am curious about my water...problem is I believe my water is like 57 varieties. Some well, some reservoir all feeding the grid??? Oh, just chlorine i believe and not chloramine correct???
Thanks
Mike

Went back and read from the top...Nice job bobby...again...what you never sleep.

**flananuts** · 10-18-2009, 06:12 PM

I'm near Rumson

**Bobby_M** · 10-18-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flananuts

Here's the water profile for Monmouth County NJ American Water. I also had my RO water profiled as well to see the differences. BTW- I definitely need help on what to do with this info now....

Flananuts

You don't have to tell me your exact city, but could you go to this link and find out what your water system number is?

http://www.nj.gov/dep/swap/creport.htm

If it's Rumson Boro, all the cities on this list would be the same:

Municipality County Population Served - 2003
Aberdeen Twp Monmouth 8114
Allenhurst Boro Monmouth 1507
Asbury Park City Monmouth 6923
Bradley Beach Boro Monmouth 4293
Colts Neck Twp. Monmouth 6
Deal Boro Monmouth 2848
Eatontown Boro Monmouth 7696
Fair Haven Boro Monmouth 5507
Highlands Boro Monmouth 3523
Holmdel Twp. Monmouth 4524
Interlaken Boro Monmouth 1370
Little Silver Boro Monmouth
Little Silver Boro Monmouth 6617
Loch Arbour Village Monmouth 384
Long Branch City Monmouth 18917
Middletown Twp. Monmouth 54445
Monmouth Beach Boro Monmouth 2307
Neptune City Boro Monmouth 3648
Neptune Twp. Monmouth 25461
Ocean Twp. Monmouth 21049
Oceanport Boro Monmouth 5314
Red Bank Boro Monmouth 3359
Rumson Boro Monmouth 7207
Sea Bright Boro Monmouth 1384
Shrewsbury Boro Monmouth 4493
Shrewsbury Twp. Monmouth 279
Tinton Falls Monmouth 15059
Union Beach Boro Monmouth 6842
West Long Branch Boro Monmouth 6557

**Bobby_M** · 10-18-2009, 07:39 PM

Na 33 - good
Ca 19 - too low
Mg 4 - too low
Sulfate 5 - too low compared to Chloride
Chloride 53
Total Alkalinity 37

Alkalinity is good for Ambers.

For lighter beers, you'd want some Gypsum and Epsom Salt to get calcium and magnesium up and lower residual alkalinity.

For darker beers, Chalk and Epsom and maybe a bit of baking soda.

Our water is pretty similar.

**flananuts** · 10-18-2009, 07:58 PM

Thanks

I'm in Fair Haven 5507 which is on the list. Thanks for the details on my water profile. I've been reading about mash additions and boil additions. What amounts to you add to your mash and to your boil on 5 gallon batches? I'm not sure exactly how to calculate how much to add. My next two beers are a winter spiced ale with a 10lb grain bill and a peach wheat ale, both AG recipes from Northern Brewer. Suggestions on amounts to add?

**Bobby_M** · 10-18-2009, 08:12 PM

Of all the tools, I like this one best: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f128/ez-water-adjustment-spreadsheet-135095/

Just a quick idea for the spiced ale (i'm assuming on the SRM here and that the mash water and sparge are about 4 gallons each:

Starting Water:
Ca: 19 ppm
Mg: 4 ppm
Na: 33 ppm
Cl: 53 ppm
SO4: 5 ppm
CaCO3: 37 ppm

Mash Vol: 4 gal
Dilution Rate: 0%

Adjustments mash:
CaCO3: 2 grams
MgSO4: 2 grams
NaHCO3: 1 grams

Add the same amount to the boil, but leave out the NaHCO3 (baking soda)

Results:
Ca: 72 ppm
Mg: 16 ppm
Na: 51 ppm
Cl: 53 ppm
SO4: 57 ppm
CaCO3: 164 ppm

RA: 103 (14 to 18 SRM)
Cl to SO4: 0.94 (Balanced)

For peach wheat, you want similar numbers but lower RA.