testing water alkalinity

[paulg]

I have just bought a hanna digital alkalinity tester
Hanna Instruments HI-775 Checker HC Handheld Colorimeter for Alkalinity, Fresh Water (0 to 300 ppm) by HANNA

my question is
I have a water report from murphys ,if when i test my water with the tester I get a significantly different reading, what effect does this have on the calcium/sulphate etc if any?
of course I can input the altered alkalinity into the water calculator but what about the elements

[Aleman]

I have just bought a hanna digital alkalinity tester
Hanna Instruments HI-775 Checker HC Handheld Colorimeter for Alkalinity, Fresh Water (0 to 300 ppm) by HANNA

my question is
I have a water report from murphys ,if when i test my water with the tester I get a significantly different reading, what effect does this have on the calcium/sulphate etc if any?
of course I can input the altered alkalinity into the water calculator but what about the elements

It depends on when you water was tested by Murphys. There were having reagent issues earlier this year and at the end of last year, which could mean that the alkalinity value in the report was wrong.

I generally assume (having measured alkalinity and calcium every time I brew) that the ions change in proportion to the alkalinity . . . i.e if the alkalinity doubles then the ions double as well

I am hoping to have my water tested every month soon, and then I will have a much better handle on what happens . . . . Of course it will take a while before i can report on my findings, and I'll probably do so in Brewers Contact first

[AnthonyUK]

It is also likely that your water will have changed due to the amount of rain we've had recently.

[Heron1952]

It is also likely that your water will have changed due to the amount of rain we've had recently.

In Corfu?

[AnthonyUK]

Or maybe not

[paulg]

my water was tested locally in Corfu and by murphys in november 2012 the same sample ,both results were very close alkalinity 220ppm and 221 ppm so I am confided about that.
I have read it is good to test the water every time you brew and that is why i have bought the hanna meter as used by orlando etc.
and we have had a LOT of rain here just recently but not as much as in uk.I live about 2000 feet above sea level so would need serious amounts ofrain to suffer like the people in somerset etc.

[Heron1952]

Or maybe not

or maybe they have, as Paul says for Corfu it was a lot!!!

[AnthonyUK]

The point is that the water supply can change in various circumstances so measuring the important aspects frequently is a good idea.

[Heron1952]

Yes exactly just wish reliable water reports were available. Alkalinity is easy with a Salifert kit but the rest for me depend on water reports from Thames Water with a lot missing!