Water chemistry question

[GANGGREEN]

I'm a newbie and, quite honestly, can't really see taking this hobby past brewing extracts, at least in the short term. So, I don't really have a ton of interest in getting into the scientific side of brewing, testing my water, etc. etc. (not that there's anything wrong with that). My question is this, assuming I have a well and also have access to spring water, which would be better or is it fair to assume that both will be similar since they're taken from the same general area?

A few specifics, my well is around 120 feet deep. We had the water tested when we moved here and it was safe to drink but we put a filtering system inline to keep small gravel and sand out of our faucet. I don't recall the specifics of the water test but I'll ask my wife if we still have the results laying around here somewhere. The water tastes fine, though I wouldn't say it's the best tasting water I've ever drank.

I also have several very active springs on my property, including one that has a retaining wall and "spigot" that was built in many years ago. I've never had that water tested but I live in a fairly remote spot, well upstream/away from any beaver activity etc.. I know that it probably should be tested as a matter of course, but I've frequently drank from that spring and it's really quite delicious water. Perhaps it's just the thought of drinking that cool, crystal clear water bubbling out of the ground that makes it so good, I don't know.

Do you suppose that one source or the other would be preferable for my brew or will they be similar in character, assuming that they're both coming from the same local water table?

 

[BigB]

Personally, I wouldn't use the water from the spring unless you had it tested by a lab. The potential of pathogens or nasties is too great. Just because the beavers aren't likely crapping in your water supply, there are plenty of other sources. Here in Michigan, most county health/water departments will lab test water for minimal charge. But if the water tasted great and was safe, I would use that. Here is a little discussion of water from John Palmer: Water

 

[GANGGREEN]

Thanks for the reply BigB. I fully expected to be advised to test that water source and I suppose I will, like I should have when I moved here 8 years ago.

Just for the sake of argument, is there anything that would likely show up there that wouldn't be safe even after a boil?

 

[BigB]

I'm certainly no scientist or water quality expert, but I would ASSUME that there are a myriad of chemical compounds, such as hydrocarbons, that would not boil out. How they affect your health or the the taste of the beer, I have absolutely no idea.

 

[malkore]

nitrates and phosphates from fertilizer run-off won't boil off either.

nitrates IIRC usually are only an issue for babies and expectant mothers.

 

[GANGGREEN]

Thanks guys. I'm assuming that my springs drain a fairly substantial wooded hollow behind my house and I wouldn't imagine that phosphates, nitrates, pesticides, etc. would be an enormous issue. I guess the obvious answer is to test the water and find out for sure.

As for those hydrocarbons or other chemical bodies that might flavor the beer, I suppose that could be for the good or the bad and the only way to find out will be to make a batch of brew and see what happens.

 

[Stormrider51]

Having that spring water tested is easy, inexpensive, and something I wouldn't even think of not doing. You have taken drinks from the spring without having any problems? That's what, two or three mouthfuls at a time? That's fine but we are talking about brewing 5 or more gallons of beer here. I'm willing to bet that you will drink a lot more of the beer than you ever have of the spring water. I'd want to be sure what was in the stuff I as drinking.

John

 

[GANGGREEN]

Fair enough answer Stormrider. I've considered it a hundred times and have always put it off or found a reason that I was too busy. I'll have it tested one of these days and before I do anything with it.