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Homebrewing
If you're a WaterOne customer who enjoys homebrewing, you're in luck. With the help of the Johnson County Brewing Society, we've put together information about water quality that may be of interest to you and your passion for making beer.
How water affects beer
From stouts to pilsners, the malted grain in different types of beer will benefit from various water profiles. In addition to removing chloramines and chlorine from water, many brewers like to modify their water with salts and acids in order to achieve a certain mash pH or to enhance certain flavors. Hardness and alkalinity affect mash pH and are largely influenced by the amount of calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate in water. The primary "flavor ions" are sodium, chloride, and sulfate.
The chart below contains recent data about the amount of these ions in WaterOne's tap water, and may serve as a useful starting point if you plan on modifying your water profile for a particular brew. For tools to help you calculate and adjust your water for different beer types, refer to the resources listed below.
| Federal Level | WaterOne Averages | Range (Low to High) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chloride (Cl-) | 250 ppm | 30 ppm | 26 ppm – 37 ppm |
| Sulfate (SO42-) | 250 ppm | 149 ppm | 94 ppm – 202 ppm |
| Calcium (Ca) | n/a | 35 ppm | 25 ppm – 58 ppm |
| Potassium (K+) | 100 ppm | 5.5 ppm | 4.9 ppm – 6 ppm |
| Sodium (Na+) | 100 ppm | 64 ppm | 56 ppm – 71 ppm |
| Magnesium (Mg2+ ) | 150 ppm (as CaCO3) 36 ppm (as Mg) | 13 ppm | 3 ppm – 18 ppm |
| Alkalinity (bicarbonate) | 300 ppm (as CaCO3) | 36 ppm | 24 ppm - 47 ppm |
| Alkalinity (carbonate) | 300 ppm (as CaCO3) | 46 ppm | 40 ppm - 66 ppm |
| pH (see note) | 8.5 pH units | 9.6 pH units | 9.5 – 9.8 pH units |
Results for 1st Quarter 2023. Refer to WaterOne's 2021 Water Quality Report for additional information.
(note) Note about pH: Acceptable Limits for Water Quality Parameters, such as pH, are determined based on each utility's water quality conditions and corrosion control requirements under the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). These "Acceptable Limits" must be approved by the State of Kansas.
WaterOne's Consistent Quality
Our award-winning treatment process ensures that our tap water is pure and consistent. Our water constantly undergoes rigorous quality control checks, which helps ensure that seasonal variance is marginal. Fluctuations that do occur are usually caused by changes in our source water from the Kansas and Missouri rivers, such as large rain events which can reduce mineral content.
See WaterOne's Annual Water Quality Report.