How to preserve well water?

[Shalenkur]

Ok guys I filled two sanke kegs with really good 80ppm well water to brew with. I won't be able to brew for a while, maybe a month. Aside from putting bleach in, how do I sterilize and keep it fresh? I was thinking maybe hydrogen peroxide?

 

[VikeMan]

Assuming the kegs were clean, I wouldn't add anything else. You'll be boiling this water later anyway, right?

 

[Shalenkur]

Kegs were very clean and bleached. I guess I'm concerned because I had some of the same water indoors for a few weeks in a plastic jug and it took on an off taste like dirt that I attributed to microbial activity. I'm keeping the sankes in an outside building so they will stay cold this time of year, maybe I'm overly concerned but boiling/mashing would kill bacteria, high temps might not take out any off flavors from bacteria.

Thanks!

 

[Toxxyc]

Potassium Metabisulfite.

 

[marc1]

Kegs were very clean and bleached. I guess I'm concerned because I had some of the same water indoors for a few weeks in a plastic jug and it took on an off taste like dirt that I attributed to microbial activity. I'm keeping the sankes in an outside building so they will stay cold this time of year, maybe I'm overly concerned but boiling/mashing would kill bacteria, high temps might not take out any off flavors from bacteria.

Thanks!

Bleach and stainless don't get along. Be careful you don't ruin your kegs.

 

[Dland]

Maybe see if kegged water stores OK before you add anything.

Many plastic jugs are permeable to air, so that might be a factor. But could be what is in well water. Well water varies a lot, it can be quite pure, or can have bacteria that react w minerals in the well water, often producing off taste.

My current (old) well for instance, has pretty good water, but has iron bacteria that live of the iron in the old steel casing. If left to sit, it will change flavor in not good ways, but is still technically potable. Sulfur is another common mineral that can support microbial activity, and there are probably others.

 

[Shalenkur]

Awesome thanks for the replies! I might try one with bisulfate and one with nothing as a control.....

 

[Dgallo]

You do not have to do anything if your kegs are clean. The aquifer and your well has stored this water for a very, very long time. As long is your house is up to code and using the proper sedimentation products and charcoal filter, there is nothing that can cause it to go “bad” unless your kegs are dirty and as stated previously, you will be boiling this water on brewday.