When diving into the world of water chemistry, one thing that we've come across is a couple of different units of measurement for water alkalinity. It's important that you are measuring water alkalinity with the correct unit of measurement to ensure adjustments you make to your water profile are calculated correctly.
Introduction
Water chemistry plays a vital role in homebrewing, influencing the taste, clarity, and stability of your brew. One key aspect is water alkalinity, which affects the pH levels during the brewing process.
What is Water Alkalinity?
Alkalinity refers to the acid neutralizing capabilities of the water and is commonly measured in CaCO3 or HCO3.
Measuring Water Alkalinity
Water alkalinity is measured as CaCO3 or HCO3.
- CaCO3: The chemical formula for calcium carbonate, a commonly occurring inorganic compound found in rocks like limestone and chalk, as well as in eggshells and pearls.
- HCO3: Bicarbonate, an alternative unit of measurement for water alkalinity.
Water Alkalinity in Water Reports
Our local water report from Sydney Water gives an alkalinity reading in mg CaCO3/L. However, the brewing app we use (Brewfather) measures water alkalinity in HCO3. Thankfully, converting between the two is straightforward.
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| An example water report from Sydney Water showing water alkalinity |
Converting from CaCO3 to HCO3
- Identify the CaCO3 value from your water report.
- Multiply the CaCO3 value by 1.22.
- The result is the HCO3 value.
- For example, with a value of 47.9 mg CaCO3/L:
Converting from HCO3 to CaCO3
To convert from HCO3 to CaCO3, divide the HCO3 value by 1.22.
Practical Tips
- Always double-check your measurements.
- Find out what the composition of your source water is - from your local water supplier, or by getting your water tested.
- Adjust your water profile gradually to avoid drastic changes.
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