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Potable Water Testing...what to test for and frequency?

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MsPloveyou

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 03:06 PM

Going Forward we will be testing our water since it's an ingredient in our process. Can someone tell me what they test for and frequency of the testing. Thanks 



Scampi

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 03:28 PM

Your local public health office should be able to assist. If your water is from a municipal source, you should only need to test for coliform and ecoli and since it's an ingredient, you should be testing the main line coming in and 1 other location throughout the plant once/month

 

If it's well water, you should do the same, but you should also have a full chemical analysis performed to be sure the water is free from all pollutants.(heavy metals, pesticides etc)


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MsMars

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 05:35 PM

What's your product/process? Do you treat the water in any way? IME have at least tested for heterotrophs, E.coli/coliforms, nitrates, etc. and various chemicals based upon treatments and usage. 



MsPloveyou

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 07:40 PM

Candy. We do not treat the water only heat it up to 315 degrees in the cooking process.



Scampi

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 08:22 PM

is it well water or municipal sourced?


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MsPloveyou

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 08:24 PM

It's city water which Is tested on the regular basic by the city and we receive an annual report.



Scampi

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 09:12 PM

So I would follow my original suggestion of monthly testing. One at the main line every month and then rotate from all taps for the other. That way if something comes back wonky you know if it's inside your plant or not.

 

Contact your local health unit, some test water for zero$$


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Ivy101

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Posted 02 January 2019 - 10:21 PM

Hi

 

Frequency of testing doesn't need to be monthly. This will be based on risk and if there's any specific client requirement, if not, annual testing is fine particularly if your local water provider manages the water testing and shares the test results.



Scampi

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 01:39 PM

Hi

 

Frequency of testing doesn't need to be monthly. This will be based on risk and if there's any specific client requirement, if not, annual testing is fine particularly if your local water provider manages the water testing and shares the test results.

 

This testing only proves water ENTERING the plant is ok..........it will never tell you if there is an issue within the plant walls


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kkaiser

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 07:30 PM

Generally, If we're talking plants, I think the pH & Conductivity/TDS is what people test for most. This is because the pH and conductivity of your plant medium will help you know how much nutrients are available and what the plant is actually able to absorb. It will help to prevent nutrient lock. 



Scampi

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 08:02 PM

Generally, If we're talking plants, I think the pH & Conductivity/TDS is what people test for most. This is because the pH and conductivity of your plant medium will help you know how much nutrients are available and what the plant is actually able to absorb. It will help to prevent nutrient lock. 

 

When I said plant, I meant the actual manufacturing facility, not plants (like rosemary)


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kkaiser

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 08:03 PM

When I said plant, I meant the actual manufacturing facility, not plants (like rosemary)

 

Haha! I spent a lot of time in the Hydro industry. You can see where my mind is at.  :oops2:



Scampi

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 08:05 PM

LOL, our minds always wander back to what we are the most familiar with!!!!

 

Since you're background is in hydro.....why do you think English cucumbers from greenhouses keep getting recalled?


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kkaiser

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 08:09 PM

LOL, our minds always wander back to what we are the most familiar with!!!!

 

Since you're background is in hydro.....why do you think English cucumbers from greenhouses keep getting recalled?

That's a real interesting dilemma... I'd assume the cucumbers aren't being grown hydroponically and there is possible contaminants in the soil! I'm not familiar enough with the problem, though I did read an article not too long ago on it... Whether it's the fertilizer or some other outside source introducing the bacteria... it's definitely a bummer because I love cucumbers! 



kkaiser

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Posted 03 January 2019 - 08:10 PM

But then again... greenhouses I've been to arent exactly the most sealed enclosures... Animals could potentially have access to hydro basins in a greenhouse for sure. 



Nikki R

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Posted 07 January 2019 - 09:50 AM

We test every point that water come out, all hoses and taps etc so you can tell if they are any problems in the pipe work etc. We send a couple of samples a month at random with the intention of each point being tested once a year min,. (we usually get 2-3 tests per year for each point) if that makes sense. We also get reports on a 3 month basis and an annual report for quality from our supplier. 

 

We test for Presumptive coliforms, E.coli, TVC @ 37 degress celcius for 44 hours and TVC @ 22 degrees celcius for 68 hours. all mixer taps are tested reguarly for legionella species as well. The best thing to do is contact your lab and ask them to help set up a samling plan and what they think you need to be testing for. Our lab are fantastic with this and are always our first port of call is we have a micro testing query. 

 

I used this article to change our water sampling plan as before my manager was only testing the taps where water was used as an ingredient once a year which is not nearly enough.

 

https://techni-k.co....ter-schematics 


Edited by Nikki R, 07 January 2019 - 09:52 AM.


Scampi

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Posted 07 January 2019 - 01:53 PM

 

We test for Presumptive coliforms, E.coli, TVC @ 37 degress celcius for 44 hours and TVC @ 22 degrees celcius for 68 hours. all mixer taps are tested reguarly for legionella species as well.

 

 

 

Has your area had an issue with legionella in the past???  This is a very specific test for drinking water (unless it comes from a cistern where it's held prior to use) I cannot imagine this test is inexpensive either


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Nikki R

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Posted 08 January 2019 - 09:37 AM

No we havent Scampi, Our health and safety manager started doing the legionella testing last year. He claims it is a legal requirement, but I have no idea where he got this information from.


Edited by Nikki R, 08 January 2019 - 09:37 AM.


pHruit

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Posted 08 January 2019 - 11:08 AM

No we havent Scampi, Our health and safety manager started doing the legionella testing last year. He claims it is a legal requirement, but I have no idea where he got this information from.

We're in the same position - we organise the testing and send with the usual QA samples largely because we have the relationship with the lab, but this one comes out of the budget for, and reports under, H&S requirements.

The UK HSE has quite a lot of detail on Legionnaires so I don't think this is uncommon, even though our own micro risk assessment for food safety purposes shows that the risk is extremely low. I think a lot of H&S people may slightly misunderstand HSE's expectations on this and/or err very far on the side of caution - their is definitely an obligation to do a risk assessment but that should form the basis of deciding whether testing (and/or implementing specific controls) is required and for some sites it really is, but there seems to often be a default "we have to test" approach irrespective of actual risk.



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Nikki R

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Posted 08 January 2019 - 12:08 PM

He definately hasnt done a risk assessment, but I think he just doesn't understand them. The ones he does do are very basic and don't give you any actual out come or information. He is the sort of person who will do something because an authoritive figure has mentioned in passing that Bob at so and so has done it. I am trying to get us issue 8 ready so haven't had a chance to look into it myself yet but I think I will do after what people have said here. 





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