Treating York water??

(That's water to the rest of us!) Beer is about 95% water, so if you want to discuss water treatment, filtering etc this is the place to do it!
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bigdave

Treating York water??

Post by bigdave » Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:59 am

When brewing kits I just used 1/2 a campden tablet which was ok for a quick easy kit but I want to be sure I'm doing all I can to get a great pint with all grain. Problem is, I really cant get my head round the local water reports or what I actually need to be treating. Are there any brewers in the Vale of York and what do you treat with?

If anyone's interested
here's my local water report

steve_flack

Re: Treating York water??

Post by steve_flack » Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:19 am

Sadly the report misses out the single most important figure you need - alkalinity. You could order a salifert kit off ebay. It will probably be quicker than trying to get the figure out of your water company.

In the absence of the figures you could try boiling the water to precipitate most of the chalk and then adding back calcium by chucking a teaspoon of gypsum into the mash. It's long winded, and inaccurate but should get you in the ballpark.

Or you could try brewing with it as is and see if you have any problems with it.

boingy

Re: Treating York water??

Post by boingy » Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:24 am

steve_flack wrote:Or you could try brewing with it as is and see if you have any problems with it.
Me being ever the lazyass, that's what I would recommend too.

WallyBrew
Hollow Legs
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Location: Surrey

Re: Treating York water??

Post by WallyBrew » Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:39 am

From the mean figures in the report the mean total alkalinity calculates as 115mg/l as calcium carbonate
As usual the water authority has not determined potassium and there is a good chance you will haver some. On the assumption that it is 3mg/l (this figure allows for all the chloride to be as KCl and NaCl) then the alkalinity will be 119mg/l.

Buy a salifert kit and check it

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