Water Standards from Ward Labs

Here is a list of what Ward Labs recommends as standard levels for your drinking water. Some of us are still learning and I thought this guideline would be helpful let everyone know what the normal levels are supposed to be.

Drinking Water Standards

pH: 5.0 - 9.0 = Safe

Total Dissolved Solids: 30 - 900 ppm = Safe

Electrical Conductivity: 0.05 - 1.5 mmho/cm = Safe

Magnesium: Less than 400 ppm Mg = Safe

Total Hardness:
0 - 75 ppm CaCO3 = Soft Water
75 - 150 ppm CaCO3 = Moderately Hard Water
150 - 300 ppm CaCO3 = Hard Water
300 + ppm CaCO3 = Very Hard Water

Chloride: Less than 250 ppm Cl = Safe

Total Alkalinity: Less than 400 ppm CaCO3 = No Problem

Coliform Bacteria: No Colonies per 100 ml = Safe

Iron: Less than 0.3 ppm Fe = Safe

Manganese: Less than 0.05 ppm Mn = Safe

Copper: Less than 1.0 ppm Cu = Safe

Lead: Less than 0.05 ppm Pb = Safe

Cadmium: Less than 0.02 ppm Cd = Safe

Fluoride: 0.75 - 1.50 ppm F Optimum Level for Proper Dental Care

Sulfate - Sulfur: Less than 83 ppm SO4-S = Desirable

Nitrate - Nitrogen: Less than 10 ppm NO3-N = Safe

If the nitrate level is above 10 ppm there is a cause for concern. A safe
alternate source of water should be found for infants under six months of
age and pregnant mothers, because of the danger of prenatal
methemoglobinemia.

A nitrate-nitrogen level over 10 ppm is less critical if only adults and older
children will be drinking the water. You may wish to consult with your
personal physician or a health professional before deciding on a course of
action.

Boiling will not reduce the nitrate levels in water.
(ppm is the same as mg/L)

Some of the limit listed as 'safe' are really not of concern safety wise but rather from an aesthetic POV. For example iron above 0.3 mg/L doesn't constitute a health hazzard but water with that much iron isn't going to taste very good.

See http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/index.cfm

If the ion isn't on the list EPA is not concerned about it WRT safety but they do publish SMCLs - secondary MCLs. For example, sulfate's SMCL is 250 mg/L (83 mg/L as Sulfur).

This is a great site Aj! Thanks for posting. I bet you got a huge RO system in your house.

Wow! Look through that door to the right!!

AJ I'm jealous!
Looks like you have a sweet setup!

How big are those Stainless Steel Conical fermentors?
2 or 3 of them?

There are 2 and they are 2.5 bbl. Bit of a story but they were made for me in China. I ordered 1 at what I thought was a pretty good price. Through some misunderstanding the factory made 2 and offered me the second one at a price I couldn't refuse. They snuck them into a larger shipment going to a brewery in Pennsylvania and thus I got free shipping though I had to make 2 trips to Pa to pick them up.

Crazy setup AJ.. Are you nano or is that some kind of homebrew setup on steroids?

Homebrewer who should be on Thorazine.

I went through AJs photo album (look at the next and previous links at the lower right of the photo).

My God thats a nice setup!