Has anybody had any problems because of the additives in municipal water supplies? I have been a sourdough baker for a long time. Never used to have any difficulty. Then the last few times, I have had a hard time keeping my starter (some call it a sponge) alive. And I got to thinking. If they have added chlorine to the water, and I believe they have, does it kill the part we as sourdough baker are trying to keep alive. How about floride, which is a known toxin?

Assuming for a moment that my guess is right, what to do? Can the chemicle be boiled away, or does the water boil off leaving a stronger concentration of chemicals than before? Do I begin to buy bottled water for this? But I don't know which are just tap water from another source, and which are as they come out of the groundsource. Comments, Ideas, suggestions?

I should note two things in my case.

First I refuse to use any commercial yeast of any kind. I'm a bit of a purest I guess.

Second, I have to start over with a new starter (sometimes referred to as a sponge) each year because we need to toss it each year because of the biblical feast of Pesach/Passover.

I can't say that water is an issue. But I know that a simple charcoal filter (i.e. a brita ) will take just about all of the chlorine, and a number of other things from your water. So that's an option if you're worried about the water.

But I imagine, that just like bacteria has become accostomed to the anti-biotics we throw at them, they'll adjust to everything else, and the yeast that lives alongside should does the same. Does that affect taste and such, probably. But I used tap water from a large river, and my yeast always stayed active, despite all the industry that's on it.

I agree with Robert, Britta will likelt solve the chem question.

Second on the Pesach issue: can't you "sell" your starter to one of your non-Jewish friends and then "buy" it back? You could dry out a thin layer of your starter on plastic wrap then after it is thoroughly dry, wrap it up in plastic and freeze it ( a method of freeze-drying) and rent it out to the sane friend above