Tap water?

[danegon]

Hello to all from Spain:

An issue has been raised recently in a Spanish Homebrewers Forum. It is about whether or not tap water should be used for rinsing bottles after sanitation has been completed. According to what I´ve read, even if drinking tap water causes no health problems due to chlorine, it could contain some bacteria that can affect to the fermentation process. Some of the Spanish homebrewers think that using tap water for rinsing causes no contamination, because it is duly treated; Others, including myself, think that that bottle sanitization has no effect after all if tap unboiled water is used. What is your common practice over there? Isn´t there a high chance of contamination if water hasn´t been boiled?

Thank you and salud!!!

Daniel

 

[snaproll]

I have some of the best tap water in the world here in Detroit, but bottles sanitzed with a no rinse solution need not be rinsed with tap water.
You will not notice anytaste or ill effects. so why chance it.
That is why you use NO RINSE, and that is my opinion and practice.

 

[Passload]

bottles sanitzed with a no rinse solution need not be rinsed with tap water.

I agree with snaproll if a no rinse sanitizer(like Iodophor) is used then there is no need to rinse.

 

[danegon]

Thank you Snaproll adm Passload for your answers. I had no idea that iodophorm could be used for sanitizing. Even without rinsing, that sounds great.
Is that iodophorm the same as the one that´s used for medical purposes?

If not, where can I get it?

Could you please mention any other NO RINSE sanitizers?

Gracias again!!!


Daniel

 

[anthrobe]

Here is what you are looking for. You may be able to find it locally, but I have never been to Spain....yet

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?products_id=506&osCsid=53e3e4851479aecc5e2003b78b948234

 

[MrSaLTy]

There are some on this page from northern brewer, but you can get them from may brewstores.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/sanitizers.html

one-step and BTF Iodophor seem to be the most popular as far as I can tell.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

Setting aside the issue of no-rinse sanitizers, as far as rinsing with tapwater goes, I do it. However, I also drink water directly from my tap. Is this common in Southern Europe? I've never been to Spain, but I know in Italy nobody drank water from the tap which led me to believe it wasn't safe, although perhaps it was just personal preference?

In any case, I would let the empirical evidence guide me (as I always do).

 

[cgravier]

or you could just ignore everyone and do nothing. i just clean and rinse my bottles really well and let them airdry...

 

[danegon]

Thank you all.

I´ll have to see If we can find iodophorm in our local brewshop: I guess so. BeeGee, we drink tap water in Spain, al least in Madrid, we do. Water here is good treated and has no side flavors. In other Spanish cities some people prefer to buy bottled water due to the high chlorine flavor, but it is surely safe to drink it. Anyway, you all are invited to come to Spain and try our water. But I guess you would prefer beer .

Next time I brew I´ll use one of this sanitizers to see if I find any difference in my beer.

Thanks again-

Daniel

 

[sheephrdr]

I know in germany they didnt drink the tap water

 

[Dude]

I have some of the best tap water in the world here in Detroit,

Is that facetious?

 

[Mikey]

I know in germany they didnt drink the tap water

But in Germany, we were always amazed that in the US they renamed hot and cold water as 'coffee' and 'bud'

 

[snaproll]

No Dude that ain't, I'm told that it's true, as far as tap water goes it is really good. I mean it comes from a very large supply of fresh water,
I'm not bragging just stating what I believe is the truth.
But I could be full of sh** too. Who knows I never tested it myself ( as if I'd know how).
I do brew with it, unfiltered and all. and it seems ok. I started out using Spring water I bought, then got to thinking, that was the most expensive thing in my beer, and that is just plain dumb.

 

[SteveM]

I am one of the ones who rinse out his "no rinse" sanitized bottles with tap before filling. I have never had a problem with this and I am pretty old school about ingesting chemicals regardless of how many assurances I get about the safety.

I am in the states, but I also fall into the camp of not really drinking tap water. We have an office style water cooler and get five gallon bottles delivered. There is nothing wrong with the tap water but taste - the bottled water tastes a lot better. I sometimes snitch one of the five gallon bottles for brewing, but this also annoys my wife and kids, so mostly I just go buy five single gallon bottles of spring water for my beer.

 

[Walker]

No Dude that ain't, I'm told that it's true, as far as tap water goes it is really good. I mean it comes from a very large supply of fresh water,
I'm not bragging just stating what I believe is the truth.

Your clean tap water might actually be piped in from Canada. This is not unheard of in major cities in the northern USA.

-walker

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

Your clean tap water might actually be piped in from Canada. This is not unheard of in major cities in the northern USA.

-walker

Is that the "UN Water for Cigarettes Program"?

 

[Mikey]

Is that the "UN Water for Cigarettes Program"?

No, we sell you water just like we sell you electricity and soft wood. That way we get to turn them off if you annoy us.

Be nice!

 

[parasonic]

What's the difference between iodophor and povidone-iodine/betadine? You all may be buying something easily available at the drug store...

 

[Texas65]

I here Iodophorm is great to use, but you have to be careful with any iodine based solution. A lot of people are allergic to iodine and could have a serious reaction if they ingest any, so I would be sure to rinse well after using it.

 

[BrewBrothaRick]

The big problem with brewing beer that may have chlorine in the water has nothing to do with bacteria. The problem is that some proteins may bond with some of the chlorine in the water and form chlorophenolics.

This makes a medicine-like rubbery taste in your brew.

I can't see how an iodine solution could remove chlorine.

 

[parasonic]

----------------

I can't see how an iodine solution could remove chlorine.

And..?

 

[boo boo]

I have some of the best tap water in the world here in Detroit, but bottles sanitzed with a no rinse solution need not be rinsed with tap water.
You will not notice anytaste or ill effects. so why chance it.
That is why you use NO RINSE, and that is my opinion and practice.

Exactly. Why rince a sanitized anything and risk (no matter how small a risk) infection. I use Star-san and since I found it have had no worries about my sanitazation or about any off flavors due to it.

am one of the ones who rinse out his "no rinse" sanitized bottles with tap before filling. I have never had a problem with this and I am pretty old school about ingesting chemicals regardless of how many assurances I get about the safety.

Why use it if you are possiby going to infect your beer with whatever is growing in your taps and don't tell me you sanatize your taps. BTW how many chemicials are in your tap water. They are used to minimize bacteria in your water supply.
Cheers.