Water round table

July’s meeting was held at the usual table at Brewmaster. The highlight of the meeting was the water roundtable discussion. The central topic was the recent EBMUD publication on chloramines, reprinted here.

EBMUD Special Water Report J1997/750M

"In February 1998, the East Bay Municipal Utility District will begin using chloramine instead of chlorine as its water distribution system disinfectant.

The conversion to chloramine will make our high-quality water even better by significantly reducing and even eliminating the chlorinous taste some customers experience.

Chloramine is a combination of ammonia [nitrogen source] and chlorine, and is used by about 20% of the water agencies in the United States to disinfect drinking water supplies. A number of Bay Area water agencies, including the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Contra Costa Water District, Alameda County Water District and Marin Municipal Water District, currently use chloramine disinfection.

Why the Change -- We are converting to chloramine to improve the taste of our water, which changed for some customers several years ago, when we increased the amount of chlorine in order to meet a drinking-water regulation called the Total Coliform Rule (TCR). It went into effect in September 1992 and regulates the control of bacteria in drinking-water distribution systems. The TCR is intended to insure a cleaner, safer water supply throughout the country."

"Beginning no later than February 1, 1998, anyone who keeps or maintains live fish and used EBMUD water in their tanks, aquariums or ponds will need to use water-treatment products that neutralize the chloramine in the water before the water is added to the tank. These neutralizing products are inexpensive and readily available through pet and aquarium stores, as well as from companies that service commercial fish tanks.

Unlike chlorine, chloramine will not dissipate if you let the water stand for a time as a way of ridding the water of disinfectant before adding the water to your aquarium or fish tank. All chloraminated water needs to be treated, or you may harm or even kill your fish.

Chloramine improves water for people, but is harmful if added to your fish tank, pond, aquarium or goldfish bowl."

The concern for brewing is that chloramine creates chlorophenols, which are undesirable. Chloramine cannot be boiled out, which lead to a discussion on charcoal filters as a potential way to remove them.

Zymurgy has an article on water purification filters. Mike Wood brought his Pür filter, which rated highly, for a demonstration.

Water chemistry calculator software, written by Kenny Schwartz, was demonstrated. A free copy can be found at http://realbeer .com/brewery/Software.html.

Speaking of web sites, The Draught Board is considering a move to GeoCities because it is free, faster, larger, and available. Unless there is a better host, the move will happen some time before Fall.

Bruce and Fitz gave their account of the great Scottish grain test. The Chariot grain milled OK even with its small size. Priced like Great Western malt, there were no immediate reasons to avoid using the malt from Scotland. Extraction rates were calculated at 31.1 pts/lb/gal.

Bob Jones had some surplus ale yeast from Faultline which I tried out. It is the most rapidly and completely fermenting yeast I’ve ever seen. I pitched 2/3 cup of the slurry in 5 gal of strong ale and had massive activity within 2 hours. It went from 1.072 to 1.014 in under 5 days.