This method describes how to determine the electrical conductivity of water using a conductivity meter.
Water intended for use as an ingredient in the production of beer (brewing liquor) or other foods
The electrical conductivity of a water sample is regarded as a sum parameter of all of the ions dissolved in the water sample. The electrical conductivity is determined by the ion concentration and the types of ions as well as the temperature and the viscosity of the solution. Due to dissociation of the water molecules themselves, water containing no dissolved extraneous ions possesses an extremely low electrical conductivity of ≤1 µS/cm-1. Drinking water often exhibits conductivity between 100 and 1000 µS/cm-1 (limit threshold according to the Trinkwasserverordnung – TrinkwV (the regulations governing drinking water in Germany): 2500 µS/cm-1 at 25 °C). By comparison, rainwater exhibits a value for electrical conductivity between 30 and 60 µS/cm-1, while that of sea water is commonly 42,000 µS/cm-1.