RO water question

[JCallicoat13]

I switched to using RO water because I was getting a chlorophenol off flavor. The first batch turned out great. Then I took the empty water jugs back to the grocery store and refilled them from the RO water refill station. I've made a few batches with the RO water from the refill stations, and some have still had a chlorophenol problem, but some haven't. Has anyone else had this experience? I'm thinking of going back to buying RO water sealed up in jugs again, even though it's more expensive. I was just curious if anyone else has had problems with using "RO" water from the jug refill stations in grocery stores?

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

Be sure the refill station specifically says it is RO water and not just filtered water. Super Wal-Marts in my area have the "Prime" RO bottles and refill stations. These are definitely RO and say so. Another possibility is that the off flavor you are detecting is not chlorophenol but something with a similar flavor. However, I have no idea what that would be.

 

[SEndorf]

Yesterday I went to a nearby Cub Foods store that has a refillable water station they advertise as RO. I've checked this store before and found their maintenance lacking. TDS again measured 97.
Then I went to a Hy-Vee store with a refillable water station that makes no mention of RO, but states "filtered water treated with UV light"
TDS measured 34. I'll be brewing with this water.

 

[IslandLizard]

If you suspect chlorophenol in your beer, simply treat your brewing water (even when sold as "RO") with Campden or K-meta. Adding a very small amount to all your brewing water (1/16 of a teaspoon per 5 gallons, then stir) eliminates all the Chlorine or Chloramines it contains.

 

[GPP33]

The quality of water coming out of any RO system is only as good as the system maintenance. It's entirely possible that you are getting loads of chlorine and TDS from the RO machine.

 

[jaymosbeershack]

When i started using RO water i went to whole food(thinking they would maintain their system better than walmart) the tag on the machine said it hadnt been seviced in 6 months and my tds meter showed 70-something ppm. The walmart station seems to be serviced monthy and is steadily showing 5 or 6 tds. Now i look at that sticker every time i get water.