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So I have been using my tap water for brewing but have not really been happy with the results (drinkable but not great) So want to switch to something more controlled. The grocery store has Culligan water that you refill yourself, has it listed as filtered and RO water. Does anyone else use this and do you have to use any brewing salts with it?

I believe Liverdance has used this, not sure how it worked.

If you're using RO water you would want to add salts. Do they provide any type of water analysis? You could try emailing them for a report - I did that for the Big 8 bottled water analysis.

No water analysis posted anywhere, I looked at the literature at the store as well as on their site but wasn't able to find any. Assuming because it uses tap water and is processed by the machine at the store, the analysis would be different for every location. I am going to email them to see if they might be able to give me some information on it.

denislemieux wrote:No water analysis posted anywhere, I looked at the literature at the store as well as on their site but wasn't able to find any. Assuming because it uses tap water and is processed by the machine at the store, the analysis would be different for every location. I am going to email them to see if they might be able to give me some information on it.

You are correct on this! I use RO water and add come calcium chloride to get my calcium up between 50 and 100 ppm depending on what I'm brewing.

denislemieux wrote:No water analysis posted anywhere, I looked at the literature at the store as well as on their site but wasn't able to find any. Assuming because it uses tap water and is processed by the machine at the store, the analysis would be different for every location. I am going to email them to see if they might be able to give me some information on it.

Even though it would be different at each store, I'm guessing they have some sort of acceptable range. They may also include a final stage that reintroduces minerals back into the water.

I was wondering about the re-introducing minerals. Their literature didn't indicate anything like that. But the water is very drinkable so there are some minerals in it for sure. Email has been sent to see if they might be able to offer some information to me. I am more worried about mash PH than anything, I want to keep the water soft as most of my brews are lighter in style. Might just have to do some trial and error on it.

Costco has 15L bottles of ozonized spring water for about $4... The print the mineral content on the label

I don't live anywhere near a costco sadly

Brian, did you buy the Culligan bottles from the grocery store? They are something crazy, like $15 each.

They are about 15 bucks up front but $2.60 for refills....its what I use.

Yeah, I'm just wondering if I can use my "Better Bottle" carboys and only fill them to the 18.9L that the machine dispenses. The better bottles use the same caps as regular 18.9L bottles.

Jimmy I would try it...if they say something you will know for next time as they wont ask you to dump it out lol....but I know ppl do use what ever bottle they have and fill up at Superstore and sobeys regardless.

denislemieux wrote:I was wondering about the re-introducing minerals. Their literature didn't indicate anything like that. But the water is very drinkable so there are some minerals in it for sure. Email has been sent to see if they might be able to offer some information to me. I am more worried about mash PH than anything, I want to keep the water soft as most of my brews are lighter in style. Might just have to do some trial and error on it.

Did you ever hear back from them?

I actually just got off the phone with the woman who services the machines at Sobeys and she just finished servicing the Spryfield Sobeys machine today.

She said that Spryfield water typically starts out at a TDS of 47 (don't know if it was 47, 4700, 47,000 - she just said 47), but after their RO it ends up at a TDS of 0. She also mentioned that they do not reintroduce minerals in the water. She said they service the machine every 3 months and have the water tested at that time.

Also, she said you can use any bottle you want - it doesn't have to be the $15 Culligan bottles.

The 47 would be uS (microSeimens) I believe, very soft.

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If TDS are 0, does that mean that Ca, Mg, Na, SO4, Cl, HCO3 all be 0 as well? Just trying to figure out the proper levels I should be entering in beersmith to calculate my water adjustments.

Wouldn't a TDS of zero be the same as distilled water and none of those things would be present. Is a TDS of zero possible from RO water? Not sure I believe that but it might be true. You could taste some distilled water and some Culligan water and see if they taste the same maybe. Compare PH also.

4.2.1 here (again): https://sites.google.com/site/brunwater/water-knowledge" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

GuingesRock wrote:Wouldn't a TDS of zero be the same as distilled water and none of those things would be present. Is a TDS of zero possible from RO water? Not sure I believe that but it might be true. You could taste some distilled water and some Culligan water and see if they taste the same maybe. Compare PH also.

4.2.1 here (again): https://sites.google.com/site/brunwater/water-knowledge" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm skeptical that it's actually completely stripped, but I'm thinking it may be close enough that it's not really that important.

Jimmy wrote: I'm skeptical that it's actually completely stripped, but I'm thinking it may be close enough that it's not really that important.

I think that's probably right and the salts will be low enough that they can be ignored. Have you thought about using some of your tap water mixed with RO, and then adding salts, to get the profile you are looking for? I heard a comment on a podcast once that was the thing to do, so you get other minerals, zinc etc.

I like the spring water from Costco idea more, based on the premise "if it is good drinking water it will make good beer". Could anyone post the mineral content from the label.

Two Wheeler wrote:Costco has 15L bottles of ozonized spring water for about $4... The print the mineral content on the label

Pretty hard to completely strip water with ro, but they might have the gear. I could get under 5 with m home system.

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mr x wrote:Pretty hard to completely strip water with ro, but they might have the gear. I could get under 5 with m home system.

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So do you think the mineral quantities would be insignificant enough that I should build my water up from 0 for all minerals?

Yeah

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Jimmy wrote: So do you think the mineral quantities would be insignificant enough that I should build my water up from 0 for all minerals?

Yep. That is what I understand.

Sandy