Foodservice Water Specifications

Quality water is essential for taste, brewing, carbonation, steaming, equipment protection and more. Water used to make coffee, espresso, fountain beverages, drinking water and ice must be potable under local requirements and USEPA drinking water standards. For best taste, we recommend that water quality meets the attributes outlined in the provided table for each specific foodservice application:

COFFEE & ESPRESSO - Attribute & Specification

• Turbidity: Must not exceed 0.5 Nephelometric Turbidity Units
• Taste & Odor: Free from off-tastes and odors
• Total Chlorine: <0.05 ppm
• Iron: Not more than 0.10 ppm
• Total Alkalinity: Not more than 100 ppm
• Total Hardness: 17 - 85 ppm
• Total Dissolved Solids: 70 - 200 ppm pH 6.80 - 7.40
• Chlorides: Coffee: <50 & Espresso: <30 ppm
• Sodium: At or near 10 mg/l

SHOP ALL COFFEE & ESPRESSO FILTRATION SYSTEMS

FOUNTAIN & DRINKING WATER - Attribute & Specification

• Turbidity: Must not exceed 0.5 Nephelometric Turbidity Units
• Taste & Odor: Free from off-tastes and odors
• Total Chlorine: <0.05 ppm
• Iron: Not more than 0.10 ppm
• Total Alkalinity: Not more than 150 ppm
• Total Hardness: Not more than 100 mg/l
• Total Dissolved Solids: Not more than 500 mg/l
• Sulfates: Not more than 250 mg/l
• Chlorides: Not more than 250 mg/l pH 6.50 - 8.50

SHOP ALL FOUNTAIN & VENDING FILTRATION SYSTEMS

SHOP ALL DRINKING WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS

ICE - Attribute & Specification

• Turbidity: Must not exceed 0.5 Nephelometric Turbidity Units
• Taste & Odor: Free from off-tastes and odors
• Total Chlorine: <0.05 ppm
• Iron: Not more than 0.10 ppm
• Total Alkalinity: <150 ppm
• Total Hardness: <85 ppm
• Total Dissolved Solids: 70 - 200 ppm pH 6.80 - 7.40
• Chlorides: ≤80 ppm

SHOP ALL ICE FILTRATION SYSTEMS

Water used on inlets to steamers or warewashers should meet quality requirements as specified by the equipment’s manufacturer or as listed in the following table:

STEAM - Attribute & Specification

• Turbidity: Must not exceed 0.5 Nephelometric Turbidity Units
• Taste & Odor: Free from off-tastes and odors
• Total Chlorine: <0.05 ppm
• Iron: Not more than 0.10 ppm
• Total Alkalinity: Not more than 100 ppm
• Total Hardness: 17 - 85 ppm
• Total Dissolved Solids: 25 - 75 ppm pH 6.80 - 7.40
• Chlorides: ≤30 ppm

SHOP ALL STEAM & COMBI OVEN FILTRATION SYSTEMS

Resource: 

Pentair. (2024). Foodservice Water Specifications.