Adelaide Tap Water

[prostheticHead]

I have been lurking around for a few days now reading up and getting some info for my new hobby while my first brew bubbles away.
Lots of great info here and my next brew should be a lot better then the one I have on now.
one thing I have not been able to find a clear answer for is, is Adelaide Tap water OK to use in my beers?

The thing I have seen repeated a lot is if you drink it then its fine for your brew, I have drank Adelaide tap water my whole life but I know its not the best water in Australia.
will it make a huge difference to the taste? what do other Adelaide home brewers use?

 

[Goofinder]

I use water out of a Puratap for my brews (kit, extract and now AG). No problems here. Really should get around to replacing the filter though.

 

[Adamt]

Welcome to the forums...

For the moment I would worry more about sanitation and temperature control.

 

[Justin T]

Adelaide Tap water will be fine, especially for K&K beers.

Like Adamt said best to focus on sanitation and temp control at this stage

 

[prostheticHead]

Excellent thats what I was hoping the next thing I'm going to work on is temp control and keeping the brew cool and was hoping I could concentrate on that without worrying about water too.

 

[jonocarroll]

AFAIK, Adelaide tap water is some of the BEST in terms of making beer - lots of calcium and magnesium yummies for the yeast. Using a PuraTap will remove some of these, and is therefore less desirable. I've heard a 50/50 mix is the way to go.

The SABC Thebarton Brewery has an aquifer so they can get all the Adelaide water they want without the added chlorine. For $1 you can fill up an 11L water bottle and use the same water they do.

 

[muckey]

The aquefer is the reason the brewery was built there in the first place - its the best water in Adelaide

I have heard though, that it isnt capable of providing enough flow for their production levels these days and the supplement it from the main

As for mains water, I always used filtered water for K&K but dont bother for mashing, the ph is good for most beer styles and I wouldn't be overly concerned with water chemistry at this point. By the time the water is boiled, some of the crap will be boiled off. The only real concern is the chlorine. I know others worry about it but to be honest - I'm lazy and cant be bothered and I haven't had any complaints yet

 

[domonsura]

After seeing some of the crap that had built up in my hot water service tank over time one day(30-40cm of silt/sludge, completely burying the element.....) I run every little bit of water I use for brewing/drinking through a taste and odour filter first................I'd rather not have half the river murray in my beer and clearly SA water can't be arsed removing it for me. <_<

 

[raven19]

Adelaide Tap water will be fine, especially for K&K beers.

Like Adamt said best to focus on sanitation and temp control at this stage

+2.

Adelaide water is fine IMO.

 

[np1962]

+2.

Adelaide water is fine IMO.

Working on building sites all over Adelaide I think it depends on where you are and what main you are connected to as to the quality of water you get.
I personally wouldn't drink tap water south of Cross Road/Anzac Hwy. IMO they add extra chlorine at that end of town to cover for what it picks up in the mains.
To my tastes water North of Parafield is a lot better and once North of Munno Para is excellent.

NigeP

 

[muckey]

After seeing some of the crap that had built up in my hot water service tank over time one day(30-40cm of silt/sludge, completely burying the element.....) I run every little bit of water I use for brewing/drinking through a taste and odour filter first................I'd rather not have half the river murray in my beer and clearly SA water can't be arsed removing it for me. <_<

suppose you hold your pinky out when you are drinking your beer too.