Week 15 – WATER TESTING - We've Got SALSA Sussed

Week 15 – WATER TESTING

Hi Everyone!

Short and sweet this week. Water Testing is important, nevertheless, simple to carry out. Today we are going to talk about:

·         Mains water testing results

·         Non-mains water testing

Let’s get started!

What’s coming next…

Week 16 - Stock Control

 

Water Testing – what do you need to show your SALSA auditor?

Supplier & Raw Material Approval Procedure

Test Results

 

Supplier & Raw Material Approval Procedure

Water is classed as a Raw Material, therefore you need to include it as the final part of your Supplier & Raw Material Procedure.

Water testing is especially important if you use it as an ingredient. However, you will use it to wash equipment and utensils. Therefore, we need to have controls in place, so that we know it is safe.

Add the following things to your procedure:

1.       What type of water is supplied to your facility – Mains Water or Private Supply, such as bore hole

2.       What you are using your water for – ingredient, washing equipment, utensils, hands and the facility

3.       Which controls you have in place to ensure the water is safe.

Mains Water

If your facility is supplied with Mains Water, then you need to check that the water being provided by your local water board, has been tested and is safe.

All water boards carry out testing, and they provide the results for you to access on their website.

For example, in some areas, such as Yorkshire Water, there is a section on their website for checking the water quality in your area. There is a form to complete for the address for which you want the results. They send them directly to you by email.

In the North West, United Utilities are the water suppliers. You can just pop your postcode into a search function on their website, and you can get instant water quality test results in summary form, or in detailed format.

Whichever way your water board provide the results, save them electronically onto your files, available to show your auditor.

Make sure you refresh the results each year, in case the water board has completed new, more up to date testing.

 

Private Supply Water, such as Bore Hole

If you are on a private water source, then you must get your water tested at set frequencies over the year to make sure that it remains safe for use.

Contract a laboratory to carry out the testing for you. They will send you water bottles to collect samples, which you will send to them to carry out the testing.

The laboratory will be able to advise on the testing to carry out. However, check out the potable water results from the water board, as mentioned above to look at what they test for.

You need to test for E.coli, heavy metals, sodium etc. All of the EU / UK limits are also detailed above, so that should help you interpret the results!

If you were to receive a result which does not conform to the limits, then you must have an action plan in place to resolve it immediately.

This action plan could include an alternative water source as an immediate action, such as using bottled water from an approved reputable supplier, for producing your products, until you have resolved the problem. It could also mean completing finished product testing. This would ensure your finished products are not contaminated since the last time the water results were clear. You may even have to complete a recall if you found your products were contaminated.

If you did have an incident like this, you would need to record all of your actions carried out until the problem was resolved. You may need to get advice and guidance from your EHO or technical support, to work through the problem.

Have a good week!

If you need assistance, please feel free to contact me! On that note, that is the end of this section. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions.

 

Be careful and stay safe!

Ruth

Ruthshawconsultingltd@gmail.com

07732 966 836