Beer Forum

I contacted my local water treatment plant to get a water report and I was met with people who seemed like I was completely putting them out and they were very reluctant to give me any information but here is what they gave me.

Alkalinity 115
Bicarbonate 115
Calcium Sulfate 27
Chloride 0
PH 7.55

Every time I would ask them a specific question they would refer me back to these numbers. Can anyone please help me understand this? Thanks in advance.

-Todd

Check out brew strong, they did 4 or 5 shows just on water. IT may take you a couple of times to get it all down but its worth listening to. Looks like you have decent water to brew with, its not insanely hard water.

Westco

I wouldn't put any reliance on those numbers. Bicarbonate is (for pH < 8 ) 61*alkalinity/50 to good approximation. A value for calcium sulfate is meaningless unless there is nothing in the water but calcium sulfate. It would probably be best to send a sample of to Ward Labs. Cost you a couple of $ but these buffoons clearly don't know what they are talking about. If you call back you might try asking to speak to an inorganic chemist.