Understanding water chemistry in brewing provides brewers with another tool to elevate their beers to the next level. Through the careful use of minerals and acids brewers are able to create a water profile beneficial to the beer they are brewing whilst ensuring the appropriate mash pH is achieved, promoting optimal enzyme activity and the full conversion of starch.

Bru'n Water is a great place to learn more about water chemistry in brewing and how to go about making adjustments to your brewing water. 

The Brewers Friend Advanced Water Chemistry Calculator is another great resource when making adjustments to your brewing water.

Below is the mineral content of the different water sources on the Kapiti Coast.

February 2018

Paraparaumu Reticulation

	g/m3
Chloride	20.40
Sulphate	6.08
Calcium	7.72
Magnesium	1.60
Sodium	11.7
pH	7.8
Total hardness (as CaCO3/m3)	26
Total dissolved solids	77
Estimated Bicarbonate	31.5
Estimated Carbonate	0.1

 Supplies Paraparaumu, Raumati, Waikanae, Pekapeka.

 

Paekakariki Reticulation

	g/m3
Chloride	43.3
Sulphate	10.9
Calcium	13.6
Magnesium	4.31
Sodium	27.2
pH	7.2
Total hardness (as CaCO3/m3)	52
Total dissolved solids	158
Estimated Bicarbonate	63.3
Estimated Carbonate	0.0

 Supplies Paekakariki.

 

Hautere Reticulation

	g/m3
Chloride	8.57
Sulphate	3.43
Calcium	6.01
Magnesium	1.09
Sodium	19.6
pH	7.6
Total hardness (as CaCO3/m3)	20
Total dissolved solids	87
Estimated Bicarbonate	24.3
Estimated Carbonate	0.0

 Supplies Te Horo and Hautere.

 

Rangiuru plant out

	g/m3
Chloride	9.23
Sulphate	4.31
Calcium	6.79
Magnesium	1.68
Sodium	17.7
pH	7.7
Total hardness (as CaCO3/m3)	24
Total dissolved solids	75
Estimated Bicarbonate	29.1
Estimated Carbonate	0.1

Water from the Rangiuru and Tasman plants are mixed before supplying Otaki. The ratio of the mix varies.

 

Tasman plant out

	g/m3
Chloride	15.40
Sulphate	7.52
Calcium	12.10
Magnesium	3.32
Sodium	38.50
pH	7.7
Total hardness (as CaCO3/m3)	44
Total dissolved solids	179
Estimated Bicarbonate	53.4
Estimated Carbonate	0.1

Water from the Rangiuru and Tasman plants are mixed before supplying Otaki. The ratio of the mix varies.