water profile

Ingredients
1

I live on a private well and the outdoor spicket i use for brewing is not run thru the water softner. I do run it thru a carbon filter that I hook up to the hose. Im getting my water analyzed by ward and I believe i should be sending in the un-softened water for analysis because thats what I ill be brewing with and I have read that un-softened water is what I should brew with correct?
The only thing i dislike about my water is the high iron/sulfor content. We plan to get a whole house iron filter but that will not go to the outside spicket.
Am i better off just buying bottled water? Sorry for the rambling post im having a hard time just picking a direction to go here.

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If you’re not happy with the quality of your untreated water to drink, you’ll unlikely be happy to brew with either.  That said, I would certainly have it tested to know what you have. I would do it at least once more during the year when the water table may be lower, things change. 
If you have access to Reverse Osmosis treated water you can go that route 100% and build your water profiles by adding salts batch to batch, or use the RO to dilute your well water to acceptable levels and adjust from there.

3

Whether or not you brew with softened water depends on the hardness of the raw water. I’m guessing that your water is from a non-carbonate aquifer and is not that high in Ca or Mg. If that is actually the case, there is a good chance that the softener takes out the iron and leaves you with an acceptable water without excessive sodium. So, don’t discount using softened water.

Since you are on a well, there is little value in using a carbon filter. There is no chlorine and there shouldn’t be taste and odor components that this filter can remove.

Don’t punt your water yet. It is possible that it is usable. But you do have to have the water report. RO is a fallback option.

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Post the softened water numbers, even though the report is old. That will give a rough idea of the water in your area, and how high the Na.

6

I have no how to post a picture- cant find it on the help forum,

7

Here ya go :      https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=20.0

8

Thanks!