glorifiedbusdriver
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I just sent two samples to Ward Laboratories. One was my tap water in Lexington, KY and one was filtered tap water from my fridge. I was extremely impressed with them. It was $15 per sample and the results were emailed to me the day after they received them.
So here's the thing...I am no water expert. Can anyone make sense of these findings. I think I read in a book that for all-grain brewing you should use water with total hardness less than 200. If this is correct I guess my filtered water should be fine at 150.
I am confused because some of the mineral content is higher in the filtered water than the tap water. Can someone explain this to me and also assure me that my filtered water is fine for mashing? Thanks.
TAP WATER
pH 7.5
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Est 326
Electrical Conductivity, mmho/cm 0.54
Cations / Anions, me/L 5.6 / 5.4
Sodium, Na 18
Potassium, K 4
Calcium, Ca 51
Magnesium, Mg 26
Total Hardness, CaCO 3 236
Nitrate, NO 3-N 0.3 (SAFE)
Sulfate, SO -4S 49
Chloride, Cl 19
Carbonate, CO 3 < 1
Bicarbonate, HCO 3 112
Total Alkalinity, CaCO 3 92
FILTERED WATER
pH 8.4
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Est 343
Electrical Conductivity, mmho/cm 0.57
Cations / Anions, me/L 5.7 / 5.6
Sodium, Na 61
Potassium, K < 1
Calcium, Ca 25
Magnesium, Mg 21
Total Hardness, CaCO 3 150
Nitrate, NO 3-N 0.1 (SAFE)
Sulfate, SO -4S 43
Chloride, Cl 21
Carbonate, CO 3 6
Bicarbonate, HCO 3 125
Total Alkalinity, CaCO 3 113
So here's the thing...I am no water expert. Can anyone make sense of these findings. I think I read in a book that for all-grain brewing you should use water with total hardness less than 200. If this is correct I guess my filtered water should be fine at 150.
I am confused because some of the mineral content is higher in the filtered water than the tap water. Can someone explain this to me and also assure me that my filtered water is fine for mashing? Thanks.
TAP WATER
pH 7.5
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Est 326
Electrical Conductivity, mmho/cm 0.54
Cations / Anions, me/L 5.6 / 5.4
Sodium, Na 18
Potassium, K 4
Calcium, Ca 51
Magnesium, Mg 26
Total Hardness, CaCO 3 236
Nitrate, NO 3-N 0.3 (SAFE)
Sulfate, SO -4S 49
Chloride, Cl 19
Carbonate, CO 3 < 1
Bicarbonate, HCO 3 112
Total Alkalinity, CaCO 3 92
FILTERED WATER
pH 8.4
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Est 343
Electrical Conductivity, mmho/cm 0.57
Cations / Anions, me/L 5.7 / 5.6
Sodium, Na 61
Potassium, K < 1
Calcium, Ca 25
Magnesium, Mg 21
Total Hardness, CaCO 3 150
Nitrate, NO 3-N 0.1 (SAFE)
Sulfate, SO -4S 43
Chloride, Cl 21
Carbonate, CO 3 6
Bicarbonate, HCO 3 125
Total Alkalinity, CaCO 3 113