Question regarding water

[Shovlryder]

I have a stream that runs through my yard. Ice cold clear water flows at a moderate pace. I know some like to use rain water in their recipes. Can this stream water be used in my mash? Are there steps I should take before I use it? It seems like a waste to not use this supply.

[Dnderhead]

why not?

[oliver90owner]

Are there steps I should take before I use it?

Warm it up? If it is potable, there should be no problem and it is going to be heated at least almost to killing temperature for most microbes.

[Shovlryder]

I've never drank from it but it does seem potable. It's fresh water that empties out into a large lake. It does run through 5 properties before it gets to mine. I'm pretty sure those people aren't putting anything in there.

Any testing recommended before I use this water?

[BentJar]

I would be cautious using water that came from a stream or creek for making mash. Sure its been done for hundreds of years, pollution was not a problem then.
Older stillers went high up so there was nothing in the water but bear shit.

So now with a larger population we have fertilizer run off, weed killer, and God knows what is in the creeks of America.

Yes, you can have the water tested but you still dont know what is in it when you get around to using it. Did an animal fall into it and die?

For most of us, water to make licker is a problem. Going to Wal-Mart is my solution beacause our tap water is clorined to death . We cant evem make a decent cup of coffee.

I use spring water at a cost of 5.00 per 5 gallons for ferminting my mash.
I usually mash 2 six gal. at a time so thats 12 gallons of water.
I hate having to go fill up a buggie with water jugs and draggin them in the shed then filling up the back of my jeep with empty containers
but Hell, what else you gonna do if you like to make licker.

I strive to make the best product I can and clean water is a must. If you can get, then go for it.

Bents 2 cents on water.

[RonH3154]

I would definately use it for cooling water. You could pump it to your condenser and then put it right back in the stream.

[Shovlryder]

I would be cautious using water that came from a stream or creek for making mash. Sure its been done for hundreds of years, pollution was not a problem then.
Older stillers went high up so there was nothing in the water but bear shit.

So now with a larger population we have fertilizer run off, weed killer, and God knows what is in the creeks of America.

Yes, you can have the water tested but you still dont know what is in it when you get around to using it. Did an animal fall into it and die?

For most of us, water to make licker is a problem. Going to Wal-Mart is my solution beacause our tap water is clorined to death . We cant evem make a decent cup of coffee.

I use spring water at a cost of 5.00 per 5 gallons for ferminting my mash.
I usually mash 2 six gal. at a time so thats 12 gallons of water.
I hate having to go fill up a buggie with water jugs and draggin them in the shed then filling up the back of my jeep with empty containers
but Hell, what else you gonna do if you like to make licker.

I strive to make the best product I can and clean water is a must. If you can get, then go for it.

Bents 2 cents on water.

Good points there. I think I will use it for cooling purposes only.