Another Ward report thread -

[CadiBrewer]

I read the primer and did my research before sending out for the Ward report. Here's what I got back. If I'm understanding my research, my tap water may not even be worth diluting and I should use RO water instead due to the hardness. Is my assumption correct?

pH 7.8
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Est, ppm 392
Electrical Conductivity, mmho/cm 0.65
Cations / Anions, me/L 7.3 / 7.0
ppm
Sodium, Na 45
Potassium, K 3
Calcium, Ca 66
Magnesium, Mg 23
Total Hardness, CaCO3 261
Nitrate, NO 3 -N 2.5 (SAFE)
Sulfate, SO4 -S 30
Chloride, Cl 49
Carbonate, CO 3 < 1
Bicarbonate, HCO3 216
Total Alkalinity, CaCO3 177

 

[mabrungard]

It looks like an English water. It should make a fine Bitter or Pale Ale, but could leave you with a harsher taste in lighter or maltier styles. The alkalinity would have to be neutralized in most every beer. Pre-boiling the water would knock some of the alkalinity out, but acidification would still be necessary for many beers.

The Na and Mg are a little high, but not excessively. The sulfate would be troubling to brewing malty styles. This water isn't ideal, but with modest dilution could be quite useable for many beers.

 

[ajdelange]

You could dilute with RO water but as the required dilution would be 3:1 or more it might be simpler to just use straight RO - simpler calculations.

 

[CadiBrewer]

Thanks for your help. Both of you are invaluable to us novices as we try to improve our skills.