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Monitoring Water TestingJuly 2008 Water is an integral part of any food processing facility because it is used in all aspects of food production including cooking, cooling and cleaning, and as a food ingredient. It is vital that water is potable and safe for food production. Check with your water supplier (city or municipality) to ensure they are completing water tests on a regular basis. Request copies of the laboratory water analysis from your water supplier. Some water suppliers will post water testing results on the town or city website. In addition to regular water testing completed by your supplier, you must complete in-house water testing. In-house water testing should be completed at least every six months or as specified in your Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) program. In-house water testing is important because the pipe carrying water to your facility may become contaminated, resulting in unsafe water. It is also necessary to rotate your water testing sites. For example, if you have three sinks at your facility, take the sample from sink A the first time, sink B the second time and so on. It is important to notify the lab before you take your water sample. Most labs have special water testing bottles. These bottles can be obtained from the lab, generally free of charge. When taking water samples, it is crucial to follow the correct procedures. These procedures can be found at: http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/water-testing or by consulting your laboratory. Instructions for water testing are often sent out with the sample bottles. If water is used in steam generation or to make ice, it should also be tested. This is essential, as contamination can occur in the water lines leading up to equipment. Ice or steam used at your facility should also be tested every six months or as specified in your HACCP program. When collecting ice samples, it is important to collect two containers. When the ice melts, its volume decreases, and the lab requires a full container of water to complete the required tests. Water, ice and steam should be tested for the presence of total coliforms and E.coli. It is also recommended that the nitrate level is tested. If you are testing a private water system, it may be necessary to test other parameters (e.g. metals, chlorine, total dissolved solids). If you are completing private water testing, speak with your local health inspector or water testing laboratory to determine which tests are necessary. For details on water testing standards refer to Health Canada's potable water standards which can be found at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/water-eau/drink-potab/index_e.html. Water testing laboratories in Saskatchewan include:
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