Co. Mayo Water Supply

[jceg316]

Hi everyone. I've just moved to Co. Mayo for a "sabbatical" where I plan on spending the next 9 months homebrewing. I'm from London originally and have my brew kit on its way to me. I was trying to look up the water supply of my area but can't find anything useful in terms of brewing. I was wondering if anyone in the area (or outside!) had this information available? I've spent a while looking online but nothing.

Thanks in advance.

[cruiscinlan]

How long is a piece of string? All depends if you're rural/urban, you could be on anything from surface water to a private well on your property. Your county council should have water reports for your area online.

[jceg316]

There's nothing useful online, I had a look but can't find anything. But if anyone brews in the area and has experience with the water - as in whether certain styles will need conditioning etc. - that would be helpful too. My water back home was very hard which made my hoppy beers taste like concrete :S. Would rather not go through that trial and error again!

[Richie71]

Where are you based jceg316? I'm in Ballina and if it's any use to you, I get a ph reading of 7.6 to 7.8 using an aquarium test kit on my fish tank.  I haven't looked into adjusting the water for brewing yet.

[jceg316]

Where are you based jceg316? I'm in Ballina and if it's any use to you, I get a ph reading of 7.6 to 7.8 using an aquarium test kit on my fish tank.  I haven't looked into adjusting the water for brewing yet.

Thanks Richie71, that is helpful! I've written to water.ie asking for more information on the water profile and if I get a good response I'll post it here. I'm near Mulranny, so not the closest to Ballina but am wondering if it is the same water source. Do you find some styles of beers you make come out better/worse than others?

[Leann ull]

Members did a group buy analysis last year as the figures from Irish water are woolly at best
May be another one shortly

[Richie71]

No, Mulranny would be a different source according to this.
http://www.epa.ie/pubs/advice/drinkingwater/drinkingwatersupplies/mayosupplies.html#.Vt1P-3qnxDs

Maybe try the epa if you don't get any joy from Irish water. By the looks of their site, they collect data from all around the country.

TBH, I haven't noticed if the water favours one style over another but then again I haven't been looking out for it.

[jceg316]

If you've not noticed any differences that's good enough really. In London the water is so hard I couldn't make a decent IPA, they came out undrinkable.

If there is another group buy in my region I'll be very interested.

[Richie71]

Just thought of something there. There's a pet shop in Horkans Castlebar that offered to test my aquarium water for free. Maybe you could bring up a bottle of tap water next time you're in the area or there might be one more local to you. I'm not sure they'll provide you with all the info you need but it's a starting point anyway.
Cheers,
Richie

[jceg316]

Thanks again for the heads up, we might be heading over there soon. Last week we bought from them one of those greenhouses you make from a tarpaulin and metal sticks. The first night it was up it blew away and we found it in the bushes the next morning :S. They are giving us another one so will bring some water with when we go and pick it up.