See tips for assessing your water distribution system to be in compliance with current and proposed FDA requirements.
A recent UF/IFAS Tip of the Week maintains that the FDA has recently proposed a change to the pre-harvest Agricultural Water (Subpart E) section of the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule (PSR) concerning water testing for generic E. coli and quality standards checks being replaced with pre-harvest water system assessments, according to the article. It goes on to share tips for assessing your water distribution system. See the details below.
Assessing Your Water Distribution System
The article maintains that both the current and proposed rules require growers to assess the following:
- The type and location of each agricultural water source (ground or surface water)
- The extent of the farm’s control over each water source
- The degree of protection of each water source
- Use of adjacent land
- The likelihood of contamination being introduced before the water reaches the farm
Other tips for assessing your water distribution system include:
- Those “using ground water on their operation should inspect their wells to ensure they are in good condition, capped and sealed properly.”
- “Check for any signs of leaks or damage to the well and ensure back flow preventers are installed and working properly, and that there are no risks of contamination by animals or standing water.”
- Those “using surface water for pre-harvest applications should assess its protection from possible risks including other users, wildlife and domesticated animals, and adjacent or nearby land uses.”
- Inspect and maintain “all water sources and distribution system components, including back flow prevention devices, pipes, hoses, nozzles, sprinkler heads, and distribution equipment” against risks of contamination.
- “All components should be kept free of trash and debris to prevent harborage of pests or microorganisms that could contaminate the water distribution system.”
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.