water question

[OHIOSTEVE]

I think my next step in brewing is getting my water chemistry under control. I have ZERO issue with buying bottled so if that is the best way that is fine. So far all of my beers are good BUT every one has a taste to it that is not unpleasant but it is consistent in all of them.I live in the country with a well and no filtration or softening at all. My tap water is drinkable but it is HARD. I tell people it is so hard it hurts to shower and that is not far off. If I run water in a white bucket there are little black specks all over the bottom of the bucket from the iron. If I boil water the pot has a skim of brown and white "gunk" on it afterwards. So other than spending a bunch of cash on a water system what do you guys suggest?

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

With water that bad I would just use bottled water and then build it from there. You could filter it but if that much sediment is in the water the cost and time maintaining the filtering system would probably outweigh the cost of just buying 1 or 5 gallon jugs of water.

 

[djt17]

I think my next step in brewing is getting my water chemistry under control. I have ZERO issue with buying bottled so if that is the best way that is fine. So far all of my beers are good BUT every one has a taste to it that is not unpleasant but it is consistent in all of them.I live in the country with a well and no filtration or softening at all. My tap water is drinkable but it is HARD. I tell people it is so hard it hurts to shower and that is not far off. If I run water in a white bucket there are little black specks all over the bottom of the bucket from the iron. If I boil water the pot has a skim of brown and white "gunk" on it afterwards. So other than spending a bunch of cash on a water system what do you guys suggest?

This sounds exactly like my well water. I dilute my water with about 30 - 40% RO. The AG beers I am doing are actually good. I use the E-Z spreadsheet to reduce my RA even further, usually adding a gram of gypsum & 1 - 2 ml lactic acid. The extract beers I made using all well water were undrinkable. My Ward Labs report shows my well water as having CaCO3 of 191.

 

[pwndabear]

yea i'd go with buying it. if you go someplace special or something, bring 6 or 7 empty gallon containers and fill up (thats what i did when i went on a camping trip in the mountains. currently, that water is irish red in my secondary)

 

[OHIOSTEVE]

Ok I will probably buy the next few batches and see if there is a difference.. NOW My buddy just gave me a brand new RO system ( I have NO IDEA how to hook it up), but if I can get that going on my tap water would THAT be a good alternative?

 

[tvtoms]

I would have rain barrels out there collecting some water I think. I wouldnt overlook it at least. Especially for the garden, it's great stuff.

I have decent tap water, but also an RO filter. I do 3 gallon boils with tap water, and top up with RO. Which seems to work out ok. My filter is a simple one, I screw the in to my basement utility sink. Good water comes out the blue tube, waste water out the yellow.

 

[wyzazz]

Ok I will probably buy the next few batches and see if there is a difference.. NOW My buddy just gave me a brand new RO system ( I have NO IDEA how to hook it up), but if I can get that going on my tap water would THAT be a good alternative?

You'll want to add salts to RO water or cut it with your well water, how much depends on what your well water is like now. Oh, and you'll want to make water in advance for brewing, an RO system usually has a pretty limited capacity.

 

[Captain_Bigelow]

I used to always buy a bunch of bottled spring water from the store for each batch. Not only did it cost about $7 a batch, but it was a pain to carry into the house.

I picked up More Beer's filtration kit for about $40. I hook it up to my outdoor hose faucet and good to go. The water tastes good and not skunky like without the filter.
http://morebeer.com/view_product/16762//Water_Filter_Kit_-_10_inch

 

[wyzazz]

I used to always buy a bunch of bottled spring water from the store for each batch. Not only did it cost about $7 a batch, but it was a pain to carry into the house.

I picked up More Beer's filtration kit for about $40. I hook it up to my outdoor hose faucet and good to go. The water tastes good and not skunky like without the filter.
http://morebeer.com/view_product/16762//Water_Filter_Kit_-_10_inch

I use the same thing but I made it myself with a filter housing from Lowes and a Carbon Filter. My well water runs through the softener first, then through this filter and I use it as is. I also use this for my drinking water.