Algal bloom

[Ciaran12s]

My tap water currently tastes earthy/musty. I checked the suppliers and they have said it's due to an algal bloom it's perfectly safe etc etc.

My initial thought was that's not going to be good for brewing. Then I thought ye never know! So has anybody experienced this and if so did you do a brew with it? Did it taste rank?

 

[Dutto]

The only cold water tap I have in the house (the rest are Hot/Cold mixer taps) grows a black algae that partially blocks the aerator holes in the tap about every four weeks!

I had the Anglian Water Engineers out to check what it was and was told that it is an innocuous algae that will do me no harm; but the man didn't know whether or not it would affect a beer brew.

On the basis that I would sooner trust an angry cobra than Anglian Water I bought and installed a pressure reducer ...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071WJVPX6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

... and one of these filters ...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005CAZDBY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

... upstream of the cold water supply that I use for brewing.

I replace the filter cartridge every year in late summer when I start my winter brewing campaign ...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00B2O1KYI/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

... and after three years I have had no indication that the algae has made it into the beer side of the house.

As a result, the water that I use for brewing is as good as I can get out of a tap in this area! :thumb: