San Diego water

[sdbrew1024]

Hey all,
Does anyone in San Diego know what chemicals if any are added to San Diego water (IE chlorine)? I am wondering if I need to go to the trouble and expense of charcoal filtering all of my brewing water before using it. If I do need to filter what are the best options, and where to buy?

 

[Mirage]

Just buy bottled water at the grocery store. I don't think charcoal filters filter chlorine. When I lived in Boston we just purchased bottled water.

 

[goodham]

There are 3 different water regions in San Diego from different reservoirs. I have experience with two of them. I lived in Mission Valley and had no problem with filtering my water, but now I live farther north and I have to use Campden tablets or I pick up off flavors in my lighter brews. (My darker brews are probably just maked by roasted flavors.) I know they add a considerable amount of chloramine and that cannot be filtered out. I filter my water the night before and add half of a crushed tablet. Since I started that, I have had no more problems.

Are you brewing all-grain or extract?

 

[sdbrew1024]

I do all grain and I'm in the Miramar water district.

What (if any) are the downsides to using campden tabs?

 

[goodham]

I've never heard any down side to adding campden to brewing water. It reacts with chloramine and evaporates out.

Personally, I filter my water before adding the tablets with a Brita point of use filter that goes on my kitchen faucet. I bought it for about $14 at Walmart or Target. It may be overkill, but I have not had any chlorophenol taste since I started this practice.

 

[bartyen82]

Activated charcoal (or carbon) filters definitely filter out both chlorine and chloramines (source - although there are plenty others). As I understand it (because our local water utility uses chlorine as a disinfectant), chlorine is more easily removed, and you've got to slow down your flow rate through the filter to effectively scrub out chloramines.

 

[wreals]

I live in Mt Helix water district, I had issues with off flavors from the chloramine they use before I knew better. The first thing I tried was buying bottled water but it was a hassle and too expensive.

I bought a charcoal filter housing at home brew mart. My process, which might be overkill, is charcoal water filter and also crush a campden tablet in my mash and sparge water.

It's works. I even do this routine to my sanitized water.

 

[goodham]

It took me two batches to realize that I was picking up some off flavors from the water I was using to sanitize my kegs. That is why I also adopted the filter + campden method. I've only had that problem since I moved in the Miramar district. Never before and not since I started my current water treatment process.

 

[schristian619]

I get mine from the Alvarado treatment center. I just use a charcoal house filter (same as they sell at home brew mart) and have never had off flavors due to water. Although i build up my water from RO water for some styles.

 

[spiny_norman]

I use a 1-micron charcoal filter and half a crushed campden tablet for insurance (I prepare the water the night before brew day).

I'm pretty sure that a lot of the local breweries are just using filtered City water.

 

[ThreeTaps]

I'm in PB, and this area as well as Claremont, downtown SD, etc, use the Alvarado treatment center. I've never had any issues with off tastes due to the tap water. On the contrary, everybody who has my beer says it's the best they've had. Even my dad, who's an avid fan of pale ales (has been drinking strictly those for 30 years), says my pale and blonde ales are the best he's had. I don't think the Alvarado water needs to be changed at all.

 

[schristian619]

As far as local breweries water, Ballast has told me that they just use a charcoal filter. Not sure about the others though. I've heard that Stone uses a London water profile, but can't say for sure.

 

[spiny_norman]

As far as local breweries water, Ballast has told me that they just use a charcoal filter. Not sure about the others though. I've heard that Stone uses a London water profile, but can't say for sure.

I heard that Green Flash just filter city water. Stone has an RO but some of their brews don't use it and just use filtered city water from what I understand.