Reverse osmosis

[DistillingChris]

Hi, has anybody used a supplier for reverse osmosis water in the UK? Ideally would like to buy it 5-10L at a time however struggling to find what I want, I can find distilled water or purified water but most add back in minerals etc, we just want reverse osmosis without anything added back into right ?


That’s what I’ve found with most spirits they say it’s such and such water for an amazing place and then put it through a reverse osmosis filter which basically means the water could be from anywhere as there are taking any characteristic out ?

I thought I’d found a supplier from an aquarium shop although they didn’t want to commit to it being for human consumption despite trying to tell them it isn’t to replace water for people to drink to get the required minerals and it’s just to lower the abv

So now might have to get my own installed but thought I’d see if anybody else has had any luck

Cheers

[DorsetScott]

I'm not sure you'll find any supplier of RO water who will definitively say it's fit for human consumption, that seemed to be a theme I saw when looking into it for homebrew.
Don't know where you're based, but this company has a lot of locations and specifically mentions using it for homebrew on their website.

Spotless Water

What are you after it for? Is it to lower the abv for drinking or for putting back through the still?
What benefits are you expecting using RO water in distilling?

[DistillingChris]

Cheers, il take a look, I wouldn’t be using it to distill with unless I got my own filter which I might just for the sake of it as I’ve a tap with it on

I only want it for tempering down to correct ABV, to make sure I have a polished clear product , will also be lightly chill filtering , I’ve just read most spirit producers use RO water

[DorsetScott]

Ok, didn't think it would make much difference if it was pre-boil which is why I asked.

I used to use my airstill to make distilled water for letting my spirit down at the end.
Nowadays I just use a cheap bottle of spring water from the supermarket, haven't noticed a difference in the end product myself.

[DistillingChris]

I see, I’m more interested in getting a clear polished product, the taste will be fine , I suppose running spring water or purified water through a filter and filter pads should polish and remove and susceptible hazing. Will give it a go with a bottle and see if I’m happy as I don’t really want to start getting into buying RO systems ? Was just seeing if anybody else did or had any dealings with it, cheers

[DorsetScott]

Can't say I've ever had any hazing with my product, not that I've noticed.

I have a feeling there is a member or 2 on here with and RO system, hopefully they will be along to offer some insight

[Mash]

Chris,

What do you mean by hazing? Cloudy (river water) or precipitation (snow globe) ?

When does it do this? When did it start?

I ask because I may have had a similar thing, and have spent the last few weeks working on it.

Got some test brews on at the moment, starting another today. But the answer is not RO water, so would hate to see you waste time and money. When I am planning to write this up real soon.

[DistillingChris]

More precipitation, I have a jar with 100ml distillate and 100ml tap water and there are what look like small white circles attaching themselves together.

RO is industry standard and can help with hazing etc but cuts also play a part. I am yet to filter it, I won’t be using tap water, I will be either using bottled or RO and then lightly chill filtering which again should remove particles and fatty acids/esters from what I’ve read

[Moss]

Reverse Osmosis? I thought they were a punk band!

[Mash]

More precipitation, I have a jar with 100ml distillate and 100ml tap water and there are what look like small white circles attaching themselves together.

RO is industry standard and can help with hazing etc but cuts also play a part. I am yet to filter it, I won’t be using tap water, I will be either using bottled or RO and then lightly chill filtering which again should remove particles and fatty acids/esters from what I’ve read

Are you in a hard water area? Is your water drinkable?

I have spent a while coming up to speed on this, if you set on not using tap water that's also fine.
I think what you need is a few drops of acid, it would also help your brews.

[Elecrafter]

I have VERY hard water, and rarely have seen any hazing.
I also have a RO machine, so I can make what I want when I want. OK its a bit slow, ie several hours for 25L, and is very wasteful of water.
So if you are on a water meter, it may not be a good idea.
What with Beer brewing, Stilling and making RO, they will have a hard time convincing me to have a water meter.
Having said that, anyone know if putting rainwater through a RO machine is a sensible idea, or even just using it (WELL FILTERED) for brewing?

Ele.

[Mash]

It would be cheaper and easier to get some AMS

[Elecrafter]

It would be cheaper and easier to get some AMS

Forgive my lack of knowledge What is AMS??

Ele.

[Moss]

It would be cheaper and easier to get some AMS

Forgive my lack of knowledge What is AMS??

Ele.

I found this:

An aqueous solution of mineral acids

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/ams-crs-250ml/

[Mash]

Sorry. Its an acid you add to the water before you start. It reduces the hardness. Imo it's the hardness that is causing the precipitate in cutting water.

Speaking to peeps what know their stuff, it particularly bad in a drought.

I have also bought some DWB which adds necessary minerals for good fermentation etc. Calcium is the major player here. So we were not too far off the mark with oyster shell.

If any one fancies a go. I have a spreadsheet I can tidy up & share which does the math.