Water Quality Policy
Water Usage
Policy: Water used for drinking, that contacts harvested produce, or that contacts
containers used to hold harvested produce meets the potable water quality standards
prescribed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. If water used for hand washing
does not meet EPA potability standards, it has been made safe by addition of chlorine
or other acceptable agents.
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Potable water meets OSHA regulations (29 CFR, Part 1910). All water sources used
for washing hands or application to produce is potable. Municipal water sources are
tested and the tests are available from the municipality; wells must have a test every
12 months; surface water needs to have three tests / year (the first during planting,
the second during peak use and the third test at harvest.
Potable water is used for chemical or irrigation applications that come in direct
contact with the edible portion of the crop. Potable water for drinking and hand
washing must be tested annually using drinking water standards. Results may be
listed as Absent/Present or enumerated.
Testing requirements:
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Municipal water: Test results are acquired from the local water authority annually.
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Well water: Water is tested two (2) times during the growing season. If fecal coliforms
are present, the well is treated with a sanitizer to reduce levels. Wells are monitored to
make sure casings are secure and well-maintained and that livestock and manure
storage areas are excluded from the well recharge and pumping area.
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Surface water: Water is tested three (3) times during the growing season – first at
planting, second at peak use, third at or near harvest.
o To receive credit for question 1-3 (USDA GAP), ‘A water quality assessment
has been performed to determine the quality of water used for irrigation purposes
on the crop(s) being applied’;
o A grower must have documentation of a minimum of one water test, per irrigation
source, per field, for surface and/or well water, for all audits performed prior to
July 16.
o A minimum of two water tests for each surface water irrigation source for audits
conducted from July 16 through September 15.
o A minimum of three water tests for each surface water irrigation source for audits
conducted after September 15.
o Each well used for irrigation must have an annual test.
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o To receive credit for question 1-4,(UADA GAP) ‘A water quality assessment
has been performed to determine the quality of water used for chemical
application or fertigation method’;
o A grower must have documentation of testing on water used to mix chemicals
and/or fertilizer.
o If the water used to mix the chemicals and/or fertilizer is sourced off-site (aerial
applicator, spray service, etc.) a copy of that companies water test must be on
file.
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Water for irrigation should be tested for total coliforms and E-coli.
Irrigation water test results must be enumerated. If water is sprayed on crops, it
must be potable (0 fecal coliforms) but if drip or flood type irrigation is used,
water must have 2.2 or less fecal coliforms per 100 ml of water (EPA limit for
non-drinking (non-potable) water.
Measures must be taken to prevent contamination of irrigation water from outside
sources at all times.
Water Usage
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The farm operator is knowledgeable of the irrigation water source and application
method(s) and a policy is on file.
Water quality is documented to be adequate for irrigation, chemical
application and fertigation method. (Use appropriate form (s) (.Water
Testing Log; Irrigation water Log; Irrigation Spray Water Treatment Log;
Surface Water Testing Log.)
Policy on water quality in Parts 3 and 4 (USDA GAP) .
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When water is used to cool or wash produce, it is potable and tested regularly
depending on its sources (municipal, well or surface water).
If ice is needed, it is manufactured, transported and stored under sanitary
conditions. Water used to make ice must also be potable.
If/when ice is purchased for cooling or comes in contact with produce, the
manufacturing, storage and transportation facilities used in making and delivering
ice must be clean and sanitized
This farming operation has a written policy that processing water, should it be
reused, is sufficiently treated to reduce microbial contamination
This farming operation has a written policy that any ice used for cooling produce
is manufactured, transported and stored under sanitary conditions.
This farming operation has a written policy that processing water, should it be
reused, is sufficiently treated to reduce microbial contamination.
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Water of known quality and properly tested is used for applying pesticides. Well
water, if used, is tested annually; if municipal water is used, test results are
obtained yearly; if surface water is used, it is tested at first planting, peak used,
and near harvest. A pesticide logbook is properly maintained. Well water, if
used, is tested annually; if municipal water is used, test results are obtained
yearly; if surface water is used, it is tested at first planting, peak used, and near
harvest. If irrigation water is used on the farming operation, it is of known quality
and is properly tested. If necessary, irrigation water sources are protected from
stock and other pollution sources. The sources of irrigation water and the type
of irrigation used on this farming operation are duly recorded. These water
tests are our way of showing the water source is adequate for the use and to
indicate our steps to maintain a quality water source.
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Controls are in place to decrease contamination of agricultural water and soil
from other farm or animal operations. All reasonable effort is made to keep
domestic and wild animals away from water used for irrigation and the produce
production area. Presence or non- presence is monitored and documented.
(Animal Presence Log)
All reasonable effort is made to keep livestock (mine and others) and wild
animals farther than 200 feet from a water source used for irrigation Manure, if
stored adjacent to crop production areas, is maintained to prevent leakage and
run off thereby preventing contamination of crop production areas. The farming
operation is such that wild or domestic animal entry into crop production areas
is infrequent. Active measures to deter entry such as placement of animal
repellant scents or similar acts will be used to reduce the opportunity for wild or
domestic animal entry but the repellants would not be in the production field.
Regular monitoring of production areas for presence of wild or domestic
animals will be performed.
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