water from a irrigation meter .. with galvanized pipe used

[reelmower]

I have a question about using water from a residential irrigation meter for brewing. I wasn't brewing at the time this system was installed and wasn't even thinking of brewing. I do know that at the in-ground meter and back flow preventer that the first piece of the system installed by the city utility company is a standard schedule 40 PVC connection. I connected to that PVC piece and installed a series of SCH40 1.5" diameter pipe that exits in my yard at various locations through galvanized pipe and brass spigots. The PVC pipe is connected with the standard purple primer and glue for installing PVC pipe. The brass spigots and galvanized pipe are connected with joint compound and teflon tape.

Well, I started brewing again. I have been using water from inside my house (house water meter) for brewing.. not the irrigation system water (irrigation water meter). I do all grain 11 gallons in the fermenter .. so I use a good bit of water to get to that point.

Is there any reason why I shouldn't use my irrigation meter water for brewing? I get a full boil of at least one hour .. is my irrigation water good to go?

 

[bsperr]

I probably wouldn't use an irrigation/sprinkler supply for brewing water if I were you. The backflow preventer on the meter prevents any contaminants that might get into the irrigation supply (like fertilizer, pesticides, etc.) from contaminating the city water supply which feeds it. If you're getting water downstream of the irrigation/sprinkler system, it seems like you're water could potentially be subject to those contaminants. You might be able to protect yourself with a filter or RO system, but I'm not sure.

 

[reelmower]

The water is pure .. the irrigation meter is right at the street next to my house meter .. and it's the same water that comes into my house. I don't have any irrigation installed .. just 6 spigots at various locations around the yard. The only drawback I see .. is the use of galvanized pipe where I have spigots installed. I don't see any information on the bottles of primer/glue .. pipe dope ... about not being used for potable water. The spigot I would use on my patio .. is the third in a line .. of 6 .. where I'm brewing. So it has passed through .. two ... PVC connections ... to galvanized "T" .. that have brass spigots connected with pipe dope and teflon tape.

 

[m1k3]

I would not be concerned on your plumbing only the source of the water. You say it's 'pure'.

Here is the what my local Irrigation Water Use Guidelines Report says.

Mine is clearly non-potable. Even though I am going to boil it for an hour... I wonder what exactly is in it that may not be removed by boiling?

 

[ruger988]

I do irrigation for a living... the reason you have a serparate meter is because you're not being charged a "sewage" fee on that meter since, obviously, the water is going into the ground... That being said I'm not sure about YOUR area, but around here "irrigation water"is charged at a higer rate so any savings from not paying sewage is negated.

That being said... I wouldn't use anythign thats going to spigots/hoses unless you're taking your water from before the backflow preventer (between the meter and backflow) some nasty stuff can get siphoned back into your water through hoses left laying around, doubt you want to use water thats been sitting in a hose in your yard for weeks at a time, and that's a best case scenario.

 

[rlmiller10]

Assuming you don't leave the hoses on and get backflow from them I would not worry about using it. A lot of houses were built with galvanized steel pipe for plumbing in the pre-WWII era and probably later. No deaths that I know of.

 

[ruger988]

Assuming you don't leave the hoses on and get backflow from them I would not worry about using it. A lot of houses were built with galvanized steel pipe for plumbing in the pre-WWII era and probably later. No deaths that I know of.

Thats a good point, I'd still let the water run off for a minute (depending on how long of a run it is from the meter to the last spigot) before using the water each time you use it if I were you. There's some nasty stuff going on in yards and a lot more siphoning goes on than people realize when you turn a spigot/yard hydrant on.

 

[reelmower]

Wow ... M1k3 ... recycled water! I'm in South Carolina. My irrigation metered water rate is about half the price of my house water .. going through the sewer system. I mentioned that it was pure .. which is probably the wrong way to describe my water, but it is as clean as my house water .. unless it gets contaminated in my DIY plumbing system. I think my DIY plumbing system is fine .. and as good as if I paid a plumber to install everything. It doesn't leak. I get quarterly water reports .. and my house water does taste OK. When I'm filling up my hot liquor tank .. several times .. while making a batch of beer .. I'm looking at the spigot that is right there on the patio .. hooked to the irrigation meter .. but end up filling up my old 20 qt stock pot from the kitchen sink .. bringing it outside and dumping that house water into the big pot. I don't know if I will ever be brave enough to use the irrigation water or not ..

I guess I'm looking for enough votes of confidence .. to give it a try.

I remember watching that Brewing TV episode where they made beer on a frozen lake .. with water right out of the lake. If I remember correctly .. they thought it was a nice tasting beer they made that day.

 

[m1k3]

Thanks for the info!