State water reports vice buying Brew Lab when it comes back in stock?

[Silver_Is_Money]

Thanks for the responses - the world of paying attention to my water reports is fairly new to me, but there were a number of things I new were slightly problematic given Boston area water - namely our high pH.

Still looking for a little ballpark guidance on using the water reports - go with the most recent (knowing it's at least one month behind), or an average of the last three?

Also, I've seen two different calculations for hardness:
(Ca*2.5*)+(Mg*4.1)
or
((Ca/20)+(Mg/12.15))*50

Which is correct?

They should both give the same answer.

For a bit more precision:

TH = 2.49730(Ca++) + 4.11796(Mg++)

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

MW CaCO3 = 100.0869
EQW CaCO3 = 50.04345

MW Ca++ = 40.078
EQW Ca++ = 20.039

MW Mg++ = 24.305
EQW Mg++ = 12.1525

50.04345/20.039 = 2.49730

50.04345/12.1525 = 4.11796

 

[cire]

pH of water is of no relevance to the brewer for brewing beer. It is of merit for other purposes which might or might not hold your interest.

My water is supplied under pressure from an underground source and upon arrival is typically at pH 6.1. CO2 from air dissolved in the water forms carbonic acid, but once more at atmospheric pressure the air is slowly released. This causes pH to rise as CO2 escapes and by the following day it has a high pH, although not as high as is reported for yours.

 

[QTikiBrew]

I will say, emailing the state water department, just to verify that they are reporting hardness as CaCO3, was useful, as it turns out their COO is a homebrewer, and asked me if I'm using Bru'n Water, and to ask him for any further clarifications on the report - reminding me that they chloraminate the water, and to fix that with campden tablets.

Never hurts to ask for info!

 

[Sotko]

As a relatively new Boston based brewer, I’m really thankful for this thread! I’ve got no knowledge to contribute on the brewing water side (again, thanks QTikiBrew et al), but I can clarify the lead pipe pice from earlier.

Boston, and eastern MA generally have a lot of hold housing stock. My home, whole neighborhood really, is all 100 year old buildings - horse hair plaster, lines for gas lights, etc. Neither the homes nor the city’s water lines are lead, but the service lines connecting homes to the city’s lines often were. There is an abatement program (you can see in our basement where a previous owner had the line replaced) but with some of those lines still in place I appreciate MWRA’s caution… and that their COO is a homebrewer less important than preventing another Flint water crisis but still cool.