watery question

[andypettitt62]

I live in Slough and use Thames water.I have a reverse osmosis water filter fitted.If I use the filtered water, what additional treatment will I need? Also, my girlfriend lives in Swadlincote which is about 4 miles from Burton on Trent.Does anyone know if the water surply is the same, and is there any benefit using Burton water, out of a tap?Cheers Andy

[oblivious]

You may need to build back up the mineral content to a style you want; I have never done this so I don’t want to give you bad advice

What’s wrong with your tap water?

I though the Burton brewery water came from deep wells that was not connect to the main water supply, but i could be wrong

[PieOPah]

I'm in Reading so also use thames water. I use as is straight from the tap. The only thing that I do to the water is add half a crushed campden tablet.

One day I may look into water treatment but it isn't something I am worried about.

[johnmac]

I use RO water and I think it makes better beer than tap water (which comes from The River Dee, via The Llangollen Canal).

Try adding a teaspoon each of table salt, Burton water crystals and gypsum. More Burton salts if you're doing an IPA, less of everthing if you're doing a mild, much less for a stout. In fact you could use pure RO water for your stout.

I don't understand water chemistry, but the above works for me.

[tim]

I'm in Reading so also use thames water. I use as is straight from the tap. The only thing that I do to the water is add half a crushed campden tablet.

I'm near reading and just adjust pH. What does the campden tablet do??
T

[PieOPah]

What does the campden tablet do??
T

Campden tablets (potassium or sodium metabisulfite) are a sulphur based product that is used primarily in wine, cider and beer making to kill certain bacteria and to inhibit the growth of most wild yeast: this product is also used to eliminate both free chlorine, and the more stable form, chloramine, from water solutions (i.e., drinking water from municipal sources). Campden tablets allow the amateur brewer to easily measure small quantities of sodium metabisulfite, so it can be used to protect against wild yeast and bacteria without affecting flavour.

1/2 a tablet for the chlorine/chloramine (for 5 gallons)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campden_tablets