HCO3 Water report wrong?

[GertSels]

I'm just getting started with a little water chemistry and I found the water report for my tap water here in Belgium, filled in all the values in Brewfather but there was still one value missing in the report, HCO3 (also no mention of CaCO3). After contacting the water company by mail, they said their water has an average of 247 milimol/ liter HCO3.

I calculated the amount in PPM (=mg/L) using the Molar Mass of HCO3: 0.247M x 61.0168 = 15.071 g/L = 15071 mg/L This can't be right so is there something wrong with my calculations or did the water company make a mistake? Maybe it should be 247 mg/L instead of mmol? It takes a lot of time for them to respond so I want to rule out any possible errors on my part before contacting them again.

 

[Vale71]

They must have gotten their units wrong. You couldn't drink water with such a high mineral content (not regularly at least) much less brew with it.

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

It's probably 247 mg/L (ppm), but it wouldn't hurt to check back with them for clarification.

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

List the mg/L (or ppm) values for Ca++, Mg++, Na+, Cl-, and SO4-- and I will calculate the Alkalinity and Bicarbonate values via Cation/Anion balance.

 

[GertSels]

I just got an answer from the water company and it was a mistake. It should be 247 mg/L instead of mmol/L. My values in Brewfather:

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

Nice! My method would have derived Alkalinity at 189.7 ppm, and Bicarbonate at 231.4 ppm. Go with your Water Authority's values.

 

[GertSels]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

Thanks for the info!

The main difference between my derived values and the values from your Water Authority is likely due to some level of Potassium cations present within your water which I did not account for.