Spotless water

TheDamnedCoda

Just noticed one of these self service points near me. Claims to be 3.5p a litre is this a pretty cheap way of getting distilled water once you remineralise it I guess this must be way cheaper than zero water jugs etc (or maybe I’m misunderstanding and it’s a slightly different thing).

When I looked at getting distilled water then remineralising it seemed a pain to buy the water.

https://www.spotlesswater.co.uk/#

DavecUK

TheDamnedCoda Just noticed one of these self service points near me. Claims to be 3.5p a litre

Looks like a great way to get pure water for your espresso machine. At 3.5p per litre it’s unbeatable value if it’s nearby. My nearest one is a 16 mile round trip…so a little far. definitely will preserve the machine if used with a bit os sodium bicarb.

MediumRoastSteam

https://www.spotlesswater.co.uk/contact/faq/

Quoting:
Our water pure isn’t tested for human consumption so we do not recommend you drink it!

If it is remineralised as such in the process of home brewing, then once you have carried out the correct testing, our water may be consumable once additional elements are mixed in.

TheDamnedCoda Claims to be 3.5p a litre is this a pretty cheap way of getting distilled water

PS: I don’t think it’s distilled. Most likely it goes through a filtration process, similar to RO.

whinmoor85

TheDamnedCoda I use Spotless Water and it’s just like using a petrol station just turn up and pay using bank card, don’t bother with the key fob.

I’ve used it with Third Wave Water sachets and honestly I couldn’t taste a difference to my tap water.

BrewLiam

I don’t fancy being the Guinea Pig but I do have one of these places 5 mins away. If someone gives it a go I’d love to know how it goes. Seems like a great price.

With the use cases mentioned on the site I’m guessing you need to get a lot per go.

Dusk

I wonder how it’s dispensed, I can imagine most customers probably wouldn’t need to worry about keeping the tap/hose clean enough for human consumption

DavecUK

I think if it’s been through an espresso machines boilers, it will be safe enough to drink.

Cuprajake

id worry about the filters of the unit being cleaned enough and that the dispenser isnt contaminated

DavecUK

Cuprajake id worry about the filters of the unit being cleaned enough and that the dispenser isnt contaminated

What that petrol pump thing outside in all weathers, used by 1000s of people….nah, it’s be good, you just know it. 😁

Seriously though, I think with the amount of water that must go through it and the regular filter changes/maintenance, I’m sure it will be fine. I would be inclined to flush a bit out of the hose first and tip a bit over the spout before filling a container though.

Dusk

whinmoor85

Is there a minimum quantity you can buy? I’m not sure I could store more than maybe 10 litres which would probably last me a month.

whinmoor85

Dusk I don’t think there’s a minimum, although I’ve never done less than 5L.

It’s like a petrol pump, just turn up and swipe your card, lift the nozzle and fill your container.

Redla

I have had a bad experience sadly, I filled up a big container with the water at the basingstoke station got it home and when boiled it smelt very off, fishy smell. I messaged them and they couldn’t confirm if it was contaminated or not. I was probably unlucky but I haven’t been back.

JHCCoffee

I’ve been down the path (before I bought my Zero Water jug) of buying RO water from a local shop. And previously from a chain of RO dispensing machines. Turned out that they didn’t change their water filters frequently enough and what I was really buying was 25 TDS water. And I blissfully ignorantly added TWW packets to that. Until I had the combination tested at a lab. It tasted fine/even good. But the chemistry was an espresso machine killer.

Now I use Zero water for espresso and BWT filtered water for everything else including drinking water. I add a sodium bicarb concentration to the Zero water, as per the water recipe used by many on this Forum.

I don’t go through a lot of Zero water filters, as I am the only espresso consumer in the household. We use more BWT filters, but not enough to warrant installing a filtration system.

I’d use a TDS meter and an aquarium water testing kit on any water you buy. Caveat emptor.

Nightrider_1uk

My Neighbour has an RO system in his back yard, He’s a window cleaner and uses it to clean windows. He said he would not drink his as the filters are probably not healthy as he only changes them when the readings go up on his meter. Having said this, He does not use it no where near as much as the commercial systems above and his filters are exposed to sunlight.

Dusk

They do advertise it as zero TDS so I assume their filters stay fairly clean or they are missing their USP as a business.

Does zero TDS water go off? Or could I buy 20l and leave it in my garage for a few months as I slowly use it?

whinmoor85

Dusk The screen at the pump will state the TDS which should be zero, I’ve never double checked it though.

MediumRoastSteam

Dusk I don’t think 0 TDS mean Zero bacteria or other micro organisms. Therefore it could, theoretically, go off.

Not a biologist though, just going by what I read.

Eg: https://zerowater.co.uk/pages/faq

Topic: MICROBIOLOGICAL / BACTERIA - REVERSE OSMOSIS VS. ZEROWATER®

Dusk

MediumRoastSteam

I appreciate the TDS doesn’t necessarily align with the amount of bacteria in the water, I wasn’t sure how the makeup of water might either encourage or discourage bacteria to thrive. Perhaps I should just get a bottle and find out!

I currently use Lockhills bottled water and it would be nice to reduce my plastic waste. I’ve looked into a Zero jug but my tap water is very hard so it’s not really viable.

dfk41

Dusk What is their target market and what does it cost? Is it really meant for consumption?

simonc

Dusk how hard is very hard. I have London Thames water and the zero lasts a long time.

Dusk

dfk41

See earlier in the thread, they do mention coffee on their website but mention it needs minerals adding. As Dave said, it’s getting heated enough in a boiler to not worry too much about other things.

I’m just looking for a slightly greener solution to bottled water that doesn’t cost too much or take up too much space.