Garden hose bad for beer!

[Tenchiro]

This study says that in a new hose filled with tap water and baked in an oven to simulate a day in direct sunlight had up to 100x the lead content the EPA deems "safe". They used standing water in the hose and only tested the first draw of water from it.

But I would imagine that the standard brewer uses, not only a far shorter length of hose, but also one that never really sees much sunlight, or has much standing water in it and one that gets flushed with cool water before any of it hits their kettle.

I would be interested to see what the lead content is in that situation, I would bet quite minimal.

 

[Ó Flannagáin]

I haven't noticed anything in my beers flavor profile, and I use a hose. As far as health goes? I'm pretty sure we'd have heard some horror stories by now if it's so bad for you. I remember drinking out of the hose growing up. PLaying outside all day, get hot, drink out of the hose for a few. I"m still kicking

 

[Ó Flannagáin]

This study says that in a new hose filled with tap water and baked in an oven to simulate a day in direct sunlight had up to 100x the lead content the EPA deems "safe". They used standing water in the hose and only tested the first draw of water from it.

But I would imagine that the standard brewer uses, not only a far shorter length of hose, but also one that never really sees much sunlight, or has much standing water in it and one that gets flushed with cool water before any of it hits their kettle.

I would be interested to see what the lead content is in that situation, I would bet quite minimal.

Mine's flushed by the time I turn it on and walk over to the other end of it.

 

[cheezydemon]

Good enough, no one will convince anyone to change their minds here. I just think that it is funny what people consider scary. Some people are in mortal terror of brewing in aluminum despite tons of studies showing that it is safe.

My personal point of view is that I have seen enough news to know that our collective sperm counts are greatly reduced by the amount of toxins we ingest just through normal daily life. Through things we have little or no control over(ie. air, tap water, fast food, overprocessed food, etc).
So I choose to reduce toxins where I can.

And I can't help adding that How in the Hell would you notice any "bad" effects from using hose water if that is all you do? You would have to brew an identical batch(which is nearly impossible) from non hose water, and compare the 2.

Maybe your beer would have a 3% flavor improvement? Maybe none? I certainly don't know, but why risk it?

To each their own! I wish all of you good health and great brewing.

 

[Willie3]

Wow! Not an advocate to using or promoting the use of contaminated product but man, I think our society is so overboard with this stuff. I drank from the hose when I was a kid. I swam in a pool filled from a hose. I ran through sprinklers using water from hoses and wow I am still alive and well!

I can understand flushing the hose from the stagnant water, but c'mon, drinking from hoses is not life threatening!

I wonder what standing water in pipes under basements that have high concentrations of radon might do to your body? Or the water treated from a plant with too high concentrations of chlorine? What about how chocolate causes breast cancer in women?

I know this is a leap but next thing you know everyone is using germ/bacteria killing soaps and sanitizers only to improve the fittest germs and bacteria (MRSA) which is hard to tame with the strongest of antibiotics.

Yes I did eat paint chips as a child.

- WW

 

[98EXL]

I use the hose......see no problems yet....oh god, my chest!

 

[discmann131]

Not that this isn't over and done with but if you are going to switch hoses to try to get rid of possible lead contamination make sure that you are only using SS on all your parts. Why bother with the new hose if you have exposed brass parts?

Personally, we are all gung-ho to make everything better and safer for those around us. Find your own personal level of comfort and go with it but don't forget that you can always go further with this than is necessary and it is going to cost you to do so.

Just a note, statistic can say anything depending on your view point or expected outcome. Read into them as far as necessary to make your own decisions and move along. Next week there will be a counter argument from another funded group. That is just the way it goes.

:fro:

 

[Willie3]

Hoses are bad.

- WW

 

[Willie3]

Wait hoses are good!

- WW

 

[craiger_ny]

Great, terrorists and now hoses. Is there anything not lurking around every corner that is going to kill me?

I think I am going to pop a couple of Chinese muscle relaxers to calm myself so I can get over all of this stuff I am supposed to be deadly afraid of.......

 

[Willie3]

Pretty soon you can enjoy lead in your Hershey's Chocolate. Yup Chinease bound Hershey!!!

- WW

 

[cheezydemon]

Pretty soon you can enjoy lead in your Hershey's Chocolate. Yup Chinease bound Hershey!!!

- WW

Did you know that chocolate kills dogs willie? Also hoses are estimated to have killed or not killed over a million bazillion people!!!!

Are you going to take that lying down??? Have another paint chip willie, it will all be OK.

 

[srm775]

Wow! Not an advocate to using or promoting the use of contaminated product but man, I think our society is so overboard with this stuff. I drank from the hose when I was a kid. I swam in a pool filled from a hose. I ran through sprinklers using water from hoses and wow I am still alive and well!

I love how people use the argument "well, it was fine when we/I was a kid." Just because something was done one way when we were children doesn't mean it was done the right way - just that our parents/society didn't know any better.

It wasn't common practice to have your children in car seats, most people didn't see a problem with smoking around their children either, or to wear a helmet when riding a bicylce, but you can bet that if I can make my child just a little bit healthier or a little bit safer (as small as it might be) with a very simple and inexpensive act, I'm certainly going to.

 

[Ó Flannagáin]

I love how people use the argument "well, it was fine when we/I was a kid." Just because something was done one way when we were children doesn't mean it was done the right way - just that our parents/society didn't know any better.

It wasn't common practice to have your children in car seats, most people didn't see a problem with smoking around their children either, or to wear a helmet when riding a bicylce, but you can bet that if I can make my child just a little bit healthier or a little bit safer (as small as it might be) with a very simple and inexpensive act, I'm certainly going to.

When I say as a child, I'm talking less than 15 years ago. I'm pretty sure they ahven't put MORE lead into hoses int he past 15 years.

 

[98EXL]

who wears a helmet on a bicycle?

 

[Orfy]

who wears a helmet on a bicycle?

I wouldn't be seen in anything else!

 

[Tenchiro]

who wears a helmet on a bicycle?

Depends on where I am riding. If I am just riding to the corner store or other paved areas I don't but if I am out on the local trails I do.

 

[cheezydemon]

When I say as a child, I'm talking less than 15 years ago. I'm pretty sure they ahven't put MORE lead into hoses int he past 15 years.

So I assume that you will smoke around your kids? Hell it didn't kill too many people.

It was OK when some of us were kids.

Listen folks, it has been fun. Half of us see the others as wreckless, the other half see us as anal alarmists. Cool! It takes all kinds and obviously all of us are some kind of right stubborn bastard!

I hope everyone's brews taste good....(even if they are full of little bits of toxic garden hose..lol)

 

[olllllo]

This thread is getting way off topic.

Most people that use a hose, use some measure to reduce off flavors or lead risk, including: running off the still water, to marine grade hoses, to water filters.

That wasn't so hard was it?

 

[Ó Flannagáin]

So I assume that you will smoke around your kids? Hell it didn't kill too many people.

It was OK when some of us were kids.

Listen folks, it has been fun. Half of us see the others as wreckless, the other half see us as anal alarmists. Cool! It takes all kinds and obviously all of us are some kind of right stubborn bastard!

I hope everyone's brews taste good....(even if they are full of little bits of toxic garden hose..lol)

That has absolutely no relevance to what I said in the quote you have there.

 

[cheezydemon]

I apologize "O", by that point I was feeling pretty cynical. I don't care what you all do!!! To each their own. I am even going to brew a "Garden Hose" stout, with a slightly chunky mouthfeel and just the right hint of lead.......

Sorry! I can't help it. I really just thought that the hose might effect flavor. Is that so wrong?

I also thought that the added lead (or whatever ) might explain some "off" flavors that some are having. Thought you all might want to know.

I honestly harbor no ill will towards anyone here. I apologize about the comment "O", you are right.

 

[EvilTOJ]

Kotter was a terrorist trying to poison us all.

 

[cheezydemon]

..............?

 

[Edcculus]

Wow! Not an advocate to using or promoting the use of contaminated product but man, I think our society is so overboard with this stuff. I drank from the hose when I was a kid. I swam in a pool filled from a hose. I ran through sprinklers using water from hoses and wow I am still alive and well!

I can understand flushing the hose from the stagnant water, but c'mon, drinking from hoses is not life threatening!

I wonder what standing water in pipes under basements that have high concentrations of radon might do to your body? Or the water treated from a plant with too high concentrations of chlorine? What about how chocolate causes breast cancer in women?

I know this is a leap but next thing you know everyone is using germ/bacteria killing soaps and sanitizers only to improve the fittest germs and bacteria (MRSA) which is hard to tame with the strongest of antibiotics.

Yes I did eat paint chips as a child.

- WW

+1 ...

 

[Joker]

+1 ...

+eleventy :rockin:

 

[drayman86]

Just can't resist posting on this topic.....

The entire thread really illustrates the entire concept of "hazard" vs. "risk".

The hazards associated with lead poisoning are immense.

The risk (i.e. probablility) of a significant lead exposure associated with with the occasional drink from a garden hose is very slight indeed.

Considering the concept of hazard vs. risk is always an interesting one whenever discussing topics such as terrorist attacks, driving in a car, or dietary choices.

 

[olllllo]

To your point drayman.

You can mitigate risk.
Sometimes mitigation strategies have a high cost.
Othertimes, the cost is neligible.
When it low or neligible, it pays to use such strategies.

Ideally, you strike some sort of balance.

 

[cheezydemon]

Just can't resist posting on this topic.....

The entire thread really illustrates the entire concept of "hazard" vs. "risk".

The hazards associated with lead poisoning are immense.

The risk (i.e. probablility) of a significant lead exposure associated with with the occasional drink from a garden hose is very slight indeed.

Considering the concept of hazard vs. risk is always an interesting one whenever discussing topics such as terrorist attacks, driving in a car, or dietary choices.

SORRY! but "an occasional drink from the water hose"??? I thought we were talking about ENTIRE BATCHES OF BEER!

my bad.

 

[Joker]

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...the-lead-out-of-the-garden-hose-503/overview/

 

[cheezydemon]

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...the-lead-out-of-the-garden-hose-503/overview/

"However, even extremely low levels of lead may cause health problems. A recent study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that lead levels in the blood even lower than the current definition of toxicity may adversely affect a child’s IQ."

Nice article. Thanks. (of course my kids aren't drinking my beer, but enjoy your lead)