Simple? Water Quality Question.....

[adm]

So I have just managed to find a water analysis from Thames Water as below.....however, i don't really know what it means! For my water, all I do right now is take the tap water and chuck a teaspoon or so of Sodium Metabisulphite into around 40 litres in the HLT prior to heating it up.

Should I be doing more ? I'm mainly brewing IPAs and ESBs at the mo....

Hardness Report:
Water supply zone
CHIDDINGFOLD

Total hardness (various measurements) Fluoride mgl CaCO3 (ppm) Degrees Clarke Degrees German(DH) Degrees French Detergent rating Fluoride(ppm)
145 10.2 8.1 14.5 MEDIUM 0.143

Key to abbreviations used in hardness figures :
p.p.m. = parts per million (also equivalent to milligrams per litre)
mg/l = milligrams per litre (also known as parts per million)
CaCO3 = calcium carbonate, the compound which is the main cause of hardness

Fluoridation: Fluoride is not currently added to any of our water supplies.

The data above was obtained from samples collected in 2007.

I've also got the full Water Quality Report, which is below.

So - can anyone give me a knowledgeable comment as to what this all means ?

Thanks,


Alasdair

[steve_flack]

Unfortunately that report appears to miss the one thing you really need - the alkalinity. Looking at the other stuff on there I wouldn't be surprised if you need to take a look at reducing your alkalinity.

[adm]

Hmm.....how do I find that out? Presumably a call to thames water.....

Just using a paper test strip, the tap water pH seems to be about 6.8.

[steve_flack]

You could try ringing. The pH doesn't tell you much.

[adm]

I've called them and they've raised a job number for one of the Quality engineers to get back to me on.......sometime withing the next 2 days apparently....

[maxashton]

Unfortunately, this report indicates to me that all your beer could well be contaminated with a rare and little understood disease called maxitis.

You should send it all to me for research and safe disposal.

[adm]

We definitely have Maxitis! My middle son is called Max(imus) and he's already turned into a beer sampling machine.....

[Bopper]

Its not too hard if the right info is given...looks like Thames-Water???? I know my PH is 7.4(given as 7.5) Calcium: 117.2 ppm Est. no figure given(i think total hardness 293 ppm divide 2.5) which Thames-water gives, Magnesium: 5.3 ppm(est. its about right), Sulfate: 62.4 ppm(given), Sodium: 18.3 ppm(given),Chloride: 32.3 ppm(given), Bicarbonate:?????? (not given).

I do need some help with missing fields, im in central swindon, if someone lives close i should be able to get a mean figure.. as it wouldn't matter that much as the water varies like the wind!

I have made some commerical quality lagers...for water treament, i filter with a carbon block tap, the fill my HLT up to 45 litres and add 1 1/2 teaspoons of lactic acid, i have tried other water treament for lager, but it was crap! eg callium chloride......Im make hell of alot of lager, cuz everyone drinks it, no one likes ales.


The misses swill!!!

Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00
Measured Original Gravity: 1.040 SG
Measured Final Gravity: 1.006 SG
Actual Alcohol by Vol: 4.42 %
Mash at 66c for 60 mins..
Boil for 60 mins........
Ferment out as inst. S-23
Lager at 1c for at least 3 months

7 lbs 8.0 oz Lager malt (3.0 SRM) Grain 78.95 %
8.0 oz Acid Malt (3.0 SRM) Grain 5.26 %
8.0 oz Cara-pils (2.0 SRM) Grain 5.26 %
8.0 oz Rice, Flaked (1.0 SRM) Grain 5.26 %
8.0 oz Wheat malt (2.0 SRM) Grain 5.26 %
2.00 oz Mt. Hood [4.00 %] (60 min) Hops 23.6 IBU
1.00 oz Mt. Hood [4.00 %] (5 min) Hops 2.4 IBU
1 Pkgs SafLager West European Lager (DCL Yeast #S-23) Yeast-Lager


Richard

[BarnsleyBrewer]

I had to keep pestering Yorkshire water about total alkalinity, eventually I got it.
DaaB worked out how much CRS I needed to add per litre, best thing I've ever done with home brewing is adding CRS & Campden to the HLT.

John

[Bopper]

WATER QUALITY REPORT - 2007 DATA
Water Supply Zone S32 : SWINDON CENTRAL Zone No. : 0307
Time Period: Concentration or value
(all samples)
No. of Samples
Parameter Units PCV Min Mean Max Total Contravening
% of
samples
contravening
PCV
THAMES WATER UTILITIES
Data extracted on :12/03/2008
Population: 75,650
01/01/2007 to 31/12/2007
Coliform bacteria no/100ml 0 0 0 4 192 2 1
E. coli no/100ml 0 0 0 0 192 0 0
Enterococci no/100ml 0 0 0 0 8 0 0
Clostridium perfringens no/100ml 0 0 0 0 270 0 0
Colony count 22C no/ml - 0 5 98 53 0 0
Colony count 37C no/ml - 0 2 63 53 0 0
Residual Disinfectant mg/l - 0.05 0.25 0.42 193 0 0
Colour (Pt/Co scale) mg/lPt/Co 20 < 0.6 < 0.7 1.6 52 0 0
Hydrogen Ion pH 5.5 to 9.5 7.2 7.5 7.9 52 0 0
Turbidity FTU 4 < 0.09 < 0.1 0.23 52 0 0
Conductivity at 20C uS/cm 2500 534 569 605 52 0 0
Ammonium as NH4 mg/l 0.5 < 0.05 < 0.05 < 0.05 52 0 0
Chloride as Cl mg/l 250 30 32.3 38 8 0 0
Sodium as Na mg/l 200 16.3 18.3 26.5 8 0 0
Sulphate as SO4 mg/l 250 54.4 62.4 66.7 8 0 0
Nitrate as NO3 mg/l 50 12.8 19.7 25.5 8 0 0
Nitrite as NO2 mg/l 0.5 < 0.01 < 0.01 < 0.01 8 0 0
Nitrate/Nitrite calculation mg/l 1 < 0.3 < 0.4 0.51 8 0 0
Total Organic Carbon as C mg/l - 0.8 1.6 2.4 20 0 0
Total Hardness as CaCO3 mg/l - 285 293 301 2 0 0
Odour (quantitative) dilution no. 3 0 0 0 26 0 0
Taste (quantitative) dilution no. 3 0 0 0 26 0 0
Iron as Fe ug/l 200 < 12 < 14.8 91 52 0 0
Manganese as Mn ug/l 50 < 3 < 3 7 52 0 0
Aluminium as Al ug/l 200 < 15 < 16.6 35 52 0 0
Antimony as Sb ug/l 5 < 0.5 < 0.5 < 0.5 8 0 0
Arsenic as As ug/l 10 < 0.8 < 0.8 < 0.8 8 0 0
Cadmium as Cd ug/l 5 < 0.5 < 0.5 < 0.5 8 0 0
Chromium as Cr ug/l 50 < 5 < 5 < 5 8 0 0
Copper as Cu mg/l 2 0.002 0.008 0.016 9 0 0
Lead as Pb ug/l 25 < 0.5 < 0.5 < 0.5 9 0 0
Mercury as Hg ug/l 1 < 0.05 < 0.05 < 0.05 20 0 0
Nickel as Ni ug/l 20 < 2 < 2 < 2 9 0 0
Fluoride as F mg/l 1.5 0.113 0.19 0.249 8 0 0
Selenium as Se ug/l 10 < 0.5 < 0.6 1 8 0 0
Boron as B mg/l 1 < 0.07 < 0.076 0.121 8 0 0
Bromate as BrO3 ug/l 10 < 0.2 < 0.48 2.5 20 0 0
Cyanide as CN ug/l 50 < 2 < 2.4 8 20 0 0
Atrazine ug/l 0.1 < 0.006 < 0.006 0.011 20 0 0
Simazine ug/l 0.1 < 0.005 < 0.006 0.01 20 0 0
Chlortoluron ug/l 0.1 < 0.008 < 0.008 < 0.008 20 0 0
Diuron ug/l 0.1 < 0.006 < 0.006 < 0.006 20 0 0
Isoproturon ug/l 0.1 < 0.004 < 0.004 0.013 20 0 0
Linuron ug/l 0.1 < 0.017 < 0.017 < 0.017 20 0 0
Propazine ug/l 0.1 < 0.007 < 0.007 < 0.007 20 0 0
NOTE: PCV = Prescribed Concentration or Value Page 1
WATER QUALITY REPORT - 2007 DATA
Water Supply Zone S32 : SWINDON CENTRAL Zone No. : 0307
Time Period: Concentration or value
(all samples)
No. of Samples
Parameter Units PCV Min Mean Max Total Contravening
% of
samples
contravening
PCV
THAMES WATER UTILITIES
Data extracted on :12/03/2008
Population: 75,650
01/01/2007 to 31/12/2007
Propyzamide ug/l 0.1 < 0.015 < 0.015 < 0.015 20 0 0
Terbutryn ug/l 0.1 < 0.013 < 0.013 < 0.013 20 0 0
Prometryn ug/l 0.1 < 0.013 < 0.013 < 0.013 20 0 0
Monuron ug/l 0.1 < 0.004 < 0.004 < 0.004 20 0 0
Ametryne ug/l 0.1 < 0.011 < 0.011 < 0.011 20 0 0
Tebuthiuron ug/l 0.1 < 0.004 < 0.004 < 0.004 20 0 0
Carbetamide ug/l 0.1 < 0.006 < 0.006 < 0.006 20 0 0
Bromoxynil ug/l 0.1 < 0.002 < 0.002 < 0.002 20 0 0
Ioxynil ug/l 0.1 < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 20 0 0
Dicamba ug/l 0.1 < 0.004 < 0.004 < 0.004 20 0 0
MCPA ug/l 0.1 < 0.002 < 0.002 0.004 20 0 0
MCPB ug/l 0.1 < 0.002 < 0.002 < 0.002 20 0 0
Mecoprop ug/l 0.1 < 0.003 < 0.003 0.004 20 0 0
2,4-D ug/l 0.1 < 0.002 < 0.002 0.003 20 0 0
Pentachlorophenol ug/l 0.1 < 0.002 < 0.002 < 0.002 20 0 0
Dichlorprop ug/l 0.1 < 0.003 < 0.003 < 0.003 20 0 0
Bentazone ug/l 0.1 < 0.003 < 0.003 < 0.003 20 0 0
Triclopyr ug/l 0.1 < 0.002 < 0.002 < 0.002 20 0 0
Fluroxypyr ug/l 0.1 < 0.004 < 0.004 0.007 20 0 0
Picloram ug/l 0.1 < 0.01 < 0.01 < 0.01 20 0 0
2,4,5-T ug/l 0.1 < 0.002 < 0.002 < 0.002 20 0 0
Fenoprop ug/l 0.1 < 0.002 < 0.002 < 0.002 20 0 0
2,3,6-TBA ug/l 0.1 < 0.004 < 0.004 < 0.004 20 0 0
2,4-DB ug/l 0.1 < 0.004 < 0.004 < 0.004 20 0 0
Total Pesticides ug/l 0.5 0 0.007 0.035 20 0 0
Benzo 1.12 perylene ug/l - < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 8 0 0
Benzo 3.4 fluoranthene ug/l - < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 8 0 0
Benzo 11.12 fluoranthene ug/l - < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 8 0 0
Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene ug/l - < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 8 0 0
PAHs (sum of 4 substances) ug/l 0.1 0 0 0 8 0 0
Benzo (a) pyrene ug/l 0.01 < 0.001 < 0.001 < 0.001 8 0 0
Trichloromethane ug/l - 1.9 3.6 5.6 8 0 0
Tribromomethane ug/l - 2.1 3 3.6 8 0 0
Dichlorobromomethane ug/l - 4 6.1 9 8 0 0
Dibromochloromethane ug/l - 6.6 9.3 12.2 8 0 0
Trihalomethanes ug/l 100 15.9 21.9 29.9 8 0 0
Tetrachloroethene ug/l - < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.2 8 0 0
Trichloroethene ug/l - < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.2 8 0 0
Tetra- & Trichloroethene cal ug/l 10 0 0 0 8 0 0
Tetrachloromethane ug/l 3 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.2 8 0 0
1,2 dichloroethane ug/l 3 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 8 0 0
Benzene ug/l 1 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 8 0 0
Gross Alpha activity Bq/l 0.1 < 0.03 < 0.03 0.04 13 0 0
Gross Beta activity Bq/l 1 0.09 0.1 0.12 12 0 0
NOTE: PCV = Prescribed Concentration or Value Page 2
WATER SUPPLY ZONE:S32 : SWINDON CENTRAL Zone No: 0307
FOR PERIOD 01/01/2007 to 31/12/2007 Population: 75,650
WATER QUALITY REPORT - 2007 DATA
THAMES WATER UTILITIES
Commentary on Water Quality :
Very good quality water but two infringements to report.
COLIFORM bacteria were detected on two occasions. These detections were investigated in
accordance with Government guidelines, and at both locations were attributed to the condition of
the domestic distribution system. The customers and EHO were informed.
NOTE
For some parameters, monitoring occurs at the supplying Water Treatment Works, rather than in
the Water Supply Zone.
NOTE: PCV = Prescribed Concentration or Value Page 3


Can anyone help me please to fill in missing fields.......... Magnesium(Mg) Callium(ca) Bicarbonate(hco3) as thames water gives the rest....It will be a great help to fill in my Beersmith-water proflie as going to brew some ordinary bitters, which i rarley do...cuz we are all lager drinkers.

Thanks for reading this post.

Richard

[WallyBrew]

Unfortunately you'll have to put up with guesswork

The Magnesium content in the Thames area, like everything else varies, but 5mg/L would be a reasonable assumption.

Assume 5mg/L of potassium

From these assumptions and using the mean of the useful figures you can calculate the alkalinity as 220mg/L as calcium carbonate or 268 as HCO3 and the calcium as 112mg/L

[umpa]

No guess work,
pop down to your local aquatics shop and buy the testing kits you need.

ump..

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Unfortunately you'll have to put up with guesswork

The Magnesium content in the Thames area, like everything else varies, but 5mg/L would be a reasonable assumption.

Assume 5mg/L of potassium

From these assumptions and using the mean of the useful figures you can calculate the alkalinity as 220mg/L as calcium carbonate or 268 as HCO3 and the calcium as 112mg/L

My alkalinity is 220 in the Yorkshire (Wombwell) area, I put 8ml of CRS into 15ltrs of water and 1/2 Campden tablet, does the trick for me!!

John