Water filters?

[Spurdie]

What are all you guys using for water filtration? Sand, carbon? I can get a generic water analysis. Do I need to pay to get one specific to our pub?

Steve Purdie
Brewer,
The Terminal Brewhouse

[kugeman]

I use a 10 inch carbon block filter. It's usefull for filtering out any chlorine/chloramine from the town water supply. Flow through is ok, I have to change it about every six brews (on a 7 bbl system), which works ok for my brewery.

I rely on the water analysis from the town water department. I have seen breweries that had small test kits so they could test the water on brewday. This was due to the fact that their water supply came from several diff't places, and they each had diff't mineral profiles.

[Todd]

Spurdie,

This is somewhat of a loaded question as water can be filtered for many different reasons. I would suspect you are on a clean, potable, city water supply.

You certainly need to make sure the general water analysis you are speaking of, is in fact your supply water to the pub. I advise getting a private party to analyze your water, even with a general (city) water analysis.

Carbon filtration is probably the most common in small brewpubs.

Active carbon based on coal or coconut can be used to adsorb impurities from water, either through physical adsorption into its honeycomb structure, which is a reversible process, or by chemical reaction that is irreversible. Find something with high internal pore volumes. Activated carbon has a finite capacity to adsorb chemicals, and will require replacement or regeneration depending on the level of contamination and the capacity (throughput) of the filter. These are commonly used for pub breweries.

If your halogen (chlorine) content is extremely high, a combination of carbon filtration and precipitation by boiling would be adviseable. Halogenated compounds in combination with organic material, from the water or beer, can react to produce trihalomethanes and chlorophenolic compounds. These are not desireable in the finished product!!

I also advise you monitor your hardness and alkalinity on a daily basis or during your brewdays. This will allow you to adjust your pH and inorganic ions, within your brewing water, to emulate certain styles of beer.

[Beersmith]

If you decide to go with a carbon based filter, you should consider a commercial backflushing tank. They end up being more economical than cartridge filters over time and offer way better flow rates.

[Fred Scheer]

If you decide to go with a carbon based filter, you should consider a commercial backflushing tank. They end up being more economical than cartridge filters over time and offer way better flow rates.

HI Steve:

I believe in carbon filtration because of the large surface your water
will run through; RE: Chlorine etc in the water.

I don't know how far you are in your set up; if you want to add
a filter later - what you can do is have the water for your brew
the day b4 boiled. Shut down and cool to your mash-in temperature over night. Make the correct water mineral addition to beer style brewed.
Cheers,

Fred

[Woolsocks]

To get an economical water analysis, visit wardlabs.com

[Spurdie]

Domain wardlabs.com seems to be for sale.

[WitsEnd]

try wardlab.com

Highly recommended in the homebrewing community.