Explain my water report to me :)

[Snoop]

I have has a report done and am now messing with the bru n water spreadsheet. I have sorta managed to work it out but I realise I don't really understand any of it and am just banging numbers in :)

So can someone tell me if anyone of these numbers are super high, low, or anything jumps out about my water? Just trying to get my head around it all.

Sodium as Na, mg/L 10.1
Potassium as K, mg/L 0.7
Magnesium as Mg, mg/L 4.6
Calcium as Ca, mg/L 31.6
Chloride as Cl, mg/L 14.6
Nitrate as NO3, mg/L 5.4
Phosphate as PO4, mg/L 2.0
Sulphate as SO4, mg/L 40.7
Total alkalinity as CaCO3, mg/L 43
pH 6.41
Conductivity, uScm 215 -1
at 20C
Total residual chlorine as Cl2, mg/L 0.08

Any tips would be greatly received :)

Ta

 

[kelper]

It would be useful to describe how you obtained these results. Are they from your water supplier, or did you take your own sample and mail it to a lab? Which lab and what did it cost - out of curiosity.

 

[Snoop]

I got it from phoenix analytical and it was £26. I did previously get one at my last address from murphys.

[email protected]

 

[kelper]

For £26 I would have expected a full list of recommendations to adjust the chemistry for brewing. Did they give nothing apart from the numbers quoted?

 

[strange-steve]

Your water is actually pretty good for brewing, fairly low in most minerals which is a good thing cos it's easier to add minerals than to remove them.

For the basics have a look here or for something more in depth look here.

 

[Snoop]

For £26 I would have expected a full list of recommendations to adjust the chemistry for brewing. Did they give nothing apart from the numbers quoted?

Yes but that is all I wanted. It's preferable to my murphies one that just gave a few numbers and general guidelines for a few styles. I don't brew those styles very often tho. Figured I'd get a more detailed report and work it out myself.

 

[trueblue]

Yes but that is all I wanted. It's preferable to my murphies one that just gave a few numbers and general guidelines for a few styles. I don't brew those styles very often tho. Figured I'd get a more detailed report and work it out myself.

The Murphy one will give recommends for water treatment but only using their own products.The Phoenix one I have found to be more accurate and from that it allows you to decide where to go from here.

 

[Snoop]

Your water is actually pretty good for brewing, fairly low in most minerals which is a good thing cos it's easier to add minerals than to remove them.

For the basics have a look here or for something more in depth look here.

I read your posts and they are great. The actually make a fair bit of sense. Thanks.

 

[kelper]

I was able to download all the required water test results from Scottish water at zero cost. So it's worth trying before paying for an analysis. The hardness was a separate document. But I will need some gypsum and Epsom salts. So thanks to OP and SS.

 

[trueblue]

I was able to download all the required water test results from Scottish water at zero cost. So it's worth trying before paying for an analysis. The hardness was a separate document. But I will need some gypsum and Epsom salts. So thanks to OP and SS.

Water board reports are taken over a period of time and will cover a large area so may not be showing exactly what is coming out of your tap. I get a report more or less yearly and check the alkalinity myself before EVERY brew.

 

[kelper]

I looked at mine for 12 months and was surprised to see the pH had varied from 7.4 to 8.7. Suphates 33 to 37. But conductivity was more stable and this suggests the hardness was probably too. Conductivity ranged from 221 to 262. I see why you do your own tests! So paying for tests will only give you a spot check for the day you sampled. I'll keep my money