Trying to understand water report and share info (Manor, TX)

[kanta]

Hiya. I got my water company to email me a water quality report, but there is so much info on this thing, I look at it and it doesn't really make much sense. I would appreciate it if someone could help me understand this thing, and maybe one of the other 2 residents of my town if they are here could make use of it too (ok, so there's like 2000 people here, not 2 lol) Also, if the format is messed up, I can email the original doc file to anyone who wants it, as the original doc file is arranged in tables

Year or Range Contaminant Average Level Minimum Level Maximum Level MCL MCLG Source of Contaminant
2010
Antimony
(ppm)
(CCWSC) <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 6 6 Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; solder; test addition.
2010
Arsenic
(ppm)
(CCWSC) <0.0018 <0.0018 <0.0018 10 0 Erosion of natural deposits; Runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and production wastes.
2011
Barium (ppm)
(MGS) 0.036 0.036 0.036 2 2 Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries: erosion of natural deposits.
2010
Barium (ppm)
(CCWSC) 0.001 0.001 0.001 2 2 Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries: erosion of natural deposits.
2010 Beryllium (ppm)
(CCWSC) <0.000052 <0.000052 <0.000052 2 2 Discharge from metal refineries and coal-burning factories
2010 Cadmium
(ppm)
(CCWSC) 0.00036 0.00036 0.00036 5 5 Corrosion of galvanized pipes; Erosion of natural deposits.
2010 Chromium
(ppm)
(CCWSC) 0.00023 0.00023 0.00023 0.1 0.1 Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits
2011
Fluoride
(ppm)
(MGS) 0.37 037 0.37 4 4 Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.
2010
Fluoride
(ppm)
(CCWSC) 0.15 0.15 0.15 4 4 Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.
2011 Nitrate
(ppm)
(MGS) 0.03 0.03 0.03 10 10 Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits.
2011 Nitrate
(ppm)
(CCWSC) 0.03 0.03 0.03 10 10 Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits.
2011 Nitrite
(ppm)
(CCWSC) <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 10 10 Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits.
2011 Selenium
(ppb)
(MGS) 12.7 12.7 12.7 50 50 Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines.
2010 Selenium
(ppb)
(CCWSC) <2.7 <2.7 <2.7 50 50 Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines.
2010 Gross alpha
(pCi/L)
(MGS) 3.6 3.60 3.6 15 0 Erosion of natural deposits.
2010 Gross beta emitters
(MGS) 4.8 3.6 3.6 50 0 Erosion of natural deposits.


Organic Contaminants TESTING WAIVED, NOT REPORTED, OR NONE DETECTED

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
Year Disinfectant Average Level Minimum Level Maximum Level MCL MCLG Source of Disinfectant
2011 Chlorine
(ppm) 1.9 0.3 3.8 4 4 Disinfectant used to control microbes.

Disinfection Byproducts
Year Contaminant R. Annual Average Level Minimum Level Maximum Level MCL Unit of
Measure Source of Contaminant
2011 Total Haloacetic Acids
(CCWSC) 3.6 3.6 3.6 60 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
2011 Total Trihalomethanes
(CCWSC) 38.8 38.8 38.8 80 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.

Unregulated Initial Distribution System Evaluation for Disinfection Byproducts WAIVED OR NOT YET SAMPLED

Unregulated Contaminants
Bromoform, chloroform, bromodichloromethane, and dibromochloromethane are disinfection byproducts. There is no maximum contaminant level for these chemicals at the entry point to distribution.
Year Contaminant Average Level Minimum Level Maximum Level Unit of
Measure Source of Contaminant
2011 Bromoform
(CCWSC) 10.1 10.1 10.1 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
2011 Chloroform
(CCWSC) 4.6 4.6 4.6 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
2011 Bromodichloromethane
(CCWSC) 9.3 9.3 9.3 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.
2011 Dibromochloromethane
(CCWSC) 14.8 14.8 14.8 ppb Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.

Turbidity NOT REQUIRED

Total Coliform REPORTED MONTHLY TESTS FOUND NO TOTAL COLIFORM BACTERIA.
Fecal Coliform REPORTED MONTHLY TESTS FOUND NO FECAL COLIFORM BACTERIA.

Lead and Copper
Year Contaminant The 90th
Percentile Number of Sites Exceeding Action Level Action Level Unit of
Measure Source of Contaminant
2011
Lead
(MGS) 1.0 0 15 ppb Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits.
2011
Copper
(MGS) 0.066 0 1.3 ppm Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives.
Required Additional Health Information for Lead
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. This water supply is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Secondary and Other Constituents Not Regulated
(No associated adverse health effects)
Year or Range Contaminant Average Level Minimum Level Maximum Level Limit Source of Contaminant
2010 Aluminum (ppb)
(CCWSC) 3.6 3.6 3.6 50 Abundant naturally occurring element.
2009 Bicarbonate (ppm)
(MGS) 416 398 433 NA
Corrosion of carbonate rocks such as limestone.
2010 Bicarbonate (ppm)
(CCWSC) 200 200 200 NA
Corrosion of carbonate rocks such as limestone.
2009 Calcium (ppm)
(MGS) 132 132 132 NA Abundant naturally occurring element.
2010 Calcium (ppm)
(CCWSC) 11 11 11 NA Abundant naturally occurring element.
2009 Chloride (ppm)
(MGS) 76.5 55 98 300 Abundant naturally occurring element; used in water purification; byproduct of oil field activity.
2010 Chloride (ppm)
(CCWSC) 19 19 19 300 Abundant naturally occurring element; used in water purification; byproduct of oil field activity.
2009 Copper (ppm)
(MGS) 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 NA Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives
2010 Copper (ppm)
(CCWSC) 0.0027 0.0027 0.0027 NA Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives
2009 Iron (ppm)
(MGS) <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 0.3 Erosion of natural deposits; iron or steel delivery equipment or facilities.
2010 Iron (ppm)
(CCWSC) 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.3 Erosion of natural deposits; iron or steel delivery equipment or facilities.
2009 Magnesium (ppm)
(MGS) 13.9 13.9 13.9 NA Abundant naturally occurring element.
2010 Magnesium (ppm)
(CCWSC) 3.6 3.6 3.6 NA Abundant naturally occurring element.
2009 Manganese (ppm)
(MGS) <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 50 Abundant naturally occurring element.
2010 Manganese (ppm)
(CCWSC) 0.029 0.029 0.029 50 Abundant naturally occurring element.
2011 Nickel (ppm)
(MGS) 0.004 0.004 0.004 NA Erosion of natural deposits.
2009 pH (units)
(MGS) 7.15 7.0 7.3 >7 Measure of corrosivity of water.
2010 pH (units)
(CCWSC) 7.97 7.97 7.97 >7 Measure of corrosivity of water.
2009 Sodium (ppm)
(MGS) 121 121 121 NA Erosion of natural deposits; byproduct of oil field activity.
2010 Sodium (ppm)
(CCWSC) 74 74 74 NA Erosion of natural deposits; byproduct of oil field activity.
2009 Sulfate (ppm)
(MGS) 181.5 135 228 300 Naturally occurring; common industrial byproduct; byproduct of oil field activity.
2010 Sulfate (ppm)
(CCWSC) <0.41 <0.41 <0.41 300 Naturally occurring; common industrial byproduct; byproduct of oil field activity.
2009 Total Alkalinity as CaCO3 (ppm)
(MGS) 340 326 355 NA Naturally occurring soluble mineral salts.
2010 Total Alkalinity as CaCO3 (ppm)
(CCWSC) 200 200 200 NA Naturally occurring soluble mineral salts.
2009 Total Dissolved Solids (ppm)
(MGS) 763 689 837 1000 Total dissolved mineral constituents in water.
2010 Total Dissolved Solids (ppm)
(CCWSC) 250 250 250 1000 Total dissolved mineral constituents in water.
2009 Total Hardness as CaCO3 (ppm)
(MGS) 387 387 387 NA Naturally occurring calcium.
2010 Total Hardness as CaCO3 (ppm)
(CCWSC) 41 41 41 NA Naturally occurring calcium.
2009 Zinc (ppm)
(MGS) <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 5 Moderately abundant naturally occurring element; used in the metal industry.
2010 Zinc (ppm)
(CCWSC) .004 .004 .004 5 Moderately abundant naturally occurring element; used in the metal industry.

 

[ajdelange]

Average, maximum and minimum should be pretty clear. The MCL is the maximum contaminant level allowed for the particular parameter by EPA regulations and the MCLG is a goal, which may be lower than the MCL, for that contaminant. Obviously you want average, maximum and minimum to be below the MCL and preferrably the MCLG for all nasty things like heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead...). You should check all those numbers to make sure that the water is safe to drink. You are thinking as a consumer now - not as a brewer.

For brewing the things that are important are calcium, magnesium, sulfate, bicarbonate (or more particularly 50*bicarbonate/61 called 'alkalinity'), chloride, sodium, potassium, nitrate, iron, manganese and pH. Here the limits are 'Secondary' ones determined by aesthetic considerations. Water with more than 0.3 mg/L iron doesn't taste very good nor does water with more than 300 mg/L sulfate. Everyone agrees that beer made with water containing more than 0.1 mg/L (less than the MCL of 0.3) iron isn't very good and many feel the same about beer made with water with more than 300 mg/L sulfate but in this case many do not and feel that beers made with less than this amount are wimpy. So it gets to be pretty complicated.

The water in question is hard, alkaline, laden with iron in the case of the one plant (assume CCWC and MGS are the abbreviation for two plants) and high is sodium. The usual approach with water like this is to throw it away and use RO water but if you are stubborn enough there are some things you can do with it.

 

[kanta]

Thanks for the help. I will start using RO water. Does the high iron and hardness strongly affect extract as well as all grain? I guess I will find that out in afew weeks then. And I will start picking up 5gal bottles of RO water from Walmart

 

[ajdelange]

Water composition is not so critical for extract beers because the mashing has already been done but flavor related ions like sulfate and chloride can have an effect on final beer flavor. Anything with a distinctive and powerful flavor like iron will definitely be perceived in the finished beer be it all grain or extract.

 

[kanta]

Yeah, I know my water doesn't taste too great, I always thought it was just a bunch of chlorine/chloramine, which I figured the Campden tabs would clear up. I hope my current batch comes out ok. I will start picking up bottles of water for all future batches, since if that taste in my water is iron, and not just chlorine, I would do best to just have an alternative source of water.

 

[mabrungard]

Don't forget that excessive alkalinity in the water used for extract brewing can create a higher than desirable wort pH and that can have negative flavor effects of its own. Extract brewing should still utilize relatively low alkalinity water.

 

[kanta]

Update: I bought some testing strips from the Home Depot and tested my water...I found that there isn't much iron in my water at all (was at the bottom of the scale) and hardness was really high. I still have yet to bottle the batch I brewed with this water, so I haven't got any notes on how the taste came out.