BlueHouseBrewhaus
Well-Known Member
OK, sorry for a long post.
So, I've been scratching my head lately because I have had to use way more lactic acid than Brunwater predicts to adjust my sparge pH. My last brew I even had to add lactic to my mash even though there was a fair amount of dark grains. I last had my water analyzed about 2 years ago and it was quite soft. Here are the basics.
Alk. 23
Hardness 17
HCO3 28
Na 17
Ca 5
Mg 1
SO4 (x3) 6
Cl 9
I decided it was time to get a new water analysis. Last week I sent off a sample to Ward and just got it back. HOLY COW!!!
Alk. 203
Hardness 219
HCO3 246
Na 42
Ca 71
Mg 10
SO4 (x3) 15
Cl 66
I called my town water dept. They said they typically mix regional reservoir water with the local town well water at 70%/30%. Lately, they have drawn more from the wells (which have a bit more alkalinity) but these numbers are still way above what they would expect. He said the Na especially was crazy high and they have never seen it that high.
Then a little light bulb went on in my head. I use a Pur faucet filter, mainly because it is supposed to reduce chlorine. It occurred to me that I haven't changed it lately. I started to wonder if that could be the source of my crazy water report even though the little red light on the filter hasn't come on, yet. So here are some questions:
1 - Does anyone know if these filters "max out" and start to release all the stuff they have been filtering?
2 - The filter package says it has "MaxIon technology" and "filters over natural minerals for great taste". Does anyone know what these minerals are? I've tried looking online but no luck.
3 - How would this high alkalinity and other minerals effect fermentation? My latest brew is stuck about 6 points above FG, which hasn't happened in over a year.
The strange thing is that I have been using the faucet filter for several years and never had a problem. The original Ward sample was taken through a filter. However, I think this is the first time that I bought replacement filters with the MaxIon technology.
So, today I am going to take 2 more samples - one filtered and one straight from the tap - and send them to Ward. I'll post an update when I get the results.
So, I've been scratching my head lately because I have had to use way more lactic acid than Brunwater predicts to adjust my sparge pH. My last brew I even had to add lactic to my mash even though there was a fair amount of dark grains. I last had my water analyzed about 2 years ago and it was quite soft. Here are the basics.
Alk. 23
Hardness 17
HCO3 28
Na 17
Ca 5
Mg 1
SO4 (x3) 6
Cl 9
I decided it was time to get a new water analysis. Last week I sent off a sample to Ward and just got it back. HOLY COW!!!
Alk. 203
Hardness 219
HCO3 246
Na 42
Ca 71
Mg 10
SO4 (x3) 15
Cl 66
I called my town water dept. They said they typically mix regional reservoir water with the local town well water at 70%/30%. Lately, they have drawn more from the wells (which have a bit more alkalinity) but these numbers are still way above what they would expect. He said the Na especially was crazy high and they have never seen it that high.
Then a little light bulb went on in my head. I use a Pur faucet filter, mainly because it is supposed to reduce chlorine. It occurred to me that I haven't changed it lately. I started to wonder if that could be the source of my crazy water report even though the little red light on the filter hasn't come on, yet. So here are some questions:
1 - Does anyone know if these filters "max out" and start to release all the stuff they have been filtering?
2 - The filter package says it has "MaxIon technology" and "filters over natural minerals for great taste". Does anyone know what these minerals are? I've tried looking online but no luck.
3 - How would this high alkalinity and other minerals effect fermentation? My latest brew is stuck about 6 points above FG, which hasn't happened in over a year.
The strange thing is that I have been using the faucet filter for several years and never had a problem. The original Ward sample was taken through a filter. However, I think this is the first time that I bought replacement filters with the MaxIon technology.
So, today I am going to take 2 more samples - one filtered and one straight from the tap - and send them to Ward. I'll post an update when I get the results.