What to ask for in a water report

**D2T** · 06-12-2007, 01:07 AM

I contacted my water company and they said they'd be happy to send me a report and asked me to specify what I'd like to know specifically. This kind of threw me cause I'd really like to know *everything*, but I'm trying to come up with a list...been searching various posts and this is what I've come up with. If you have anything to add, I'd appreciate it!

Alkalinity as CaCO3
Arsenic
Bicarbonate
Cadmium
Calcium
Carbonate
Chloride
Copper
Flouride
Hardness as CaCO3
Iron
Lead
Magnesium
Manganese
Mercury
Nitrate
Nitrite
pH
Potassium
Silver
Sodium
Sulfate
Total Dissolved Solids
Zinc

Some of these are probably not necessarily related to brewing...but I'm also just curious how much lead and arsenic is my water.

**Lil' Sparky** · 06-12-2007, 03:20 AM

That's probably more than what's in our water report.

perfectsim · 06-13-2007, 03:19 AM

You might also want to ask about Cryptosporidium and ask whether they use chlorine gas (which will eventually dissipate out if the water is left out) or chloramines which will remain in the water unless treated chemically. According to wikipedia, sodium metabisulfite can be used to remove chloramines, though I have no idea how much is used.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_metabisulfite

FlyGuy · 06-13-2007, 03:41 AM

Good suggestion. You might ask about all microbiological levels (e.g., E. coli).

And 1/4 to 1/2 of a campden tablet is all you need to precipitate out chlorine/chloramine in 5 gal of water.