Water used for irrigation, cooling, processing, or for cleaning equipment and facilities should be free of microbial contaminants. Water quality and safety can be dependent on the water source.
Municipal water usually has the best quality because of previous testing and safety requirements. Ground or well water will have fewer pathogens than surface water (such as ponds, streams, or rivers) because there is less chance of contamination.
Regularly testing water sources provides documentation that the water is not a source of contamination. The frequency of water testing is dependent on the type of water source and the time of year. Water quality becomes more important as harvest approaches and water contact with the product occurs or increases.
