Water Filter Setup

[corypedia]

So after brewing a few batches, i'm looking to start honing in on my water profiles. I've been using tap water and am trying to figure out what I need to get started. I've read about RO water and distilled water and some diy filters.

I'm looking equipment advice on where to start or what to do to improve the water i am brewing with.

My goal is to also grab a pH meter to make sure i'm at a solid starting point for each mash and can adjust accordingly.

 

[BrewerBrad82]

The single best filter that will give you the greatest benefits (without diving into water chemistry) is an activated carbon filter. This will remove any chlorine/chloramine and other organic compounds. Once you are carbon filtering your water I would move onto understanding what your water consists of mineral-wise. Are you on a municipal water source or a well? If you are municipal, have you gotten a detailed water analysis report from your city? Armed with that information, you can choose which direction to go with your water treatment efforts. In the mean time, read this awesome literature by Martin Brungard to get started in the wild, wonderful and wet world of water chemistry:

https://sites.google.com/site/brunwater/water-knowledge

 

[corypedia]

Thanks for the insight and link. I'm on a municipal water supply but given everything i've read, i should take the water analysis reports with a grain of salt.

is this typically the case?

 

[BrewerBrad82]

Municipal water reports are usually a report of the average water profile over the course of a year. Depending where you are located, your municipality may switch sources depending on the season, which would really throw you for a loop. If you want an exact analysis, check out Ward Labs:

http://wardlab.com/FeeSchedule/WardLabs_FeeSchedule_Web.pdf#page=10

You can order a test package for the W-5A test to tell you exactly what is in your water.