A water testing report from a certified and approved food lab is required for licensing and registration of food businesses. Without a water analysis report the application for central licensing/registration is considered incomplete. Food businesses have to submit a water analysis report on a regular basis so there is no cross contamination when processing foods. Since there is a continuing requirement for water testing on a regular basis, therefore the demand for water testing increases with the growth in the food industry.
Water Testing for Health Reasons
Another reason for water testing is that the quality of tap water has deteriorated and there are health risks associated with contaminated water so there is an increased demand for drinking water testing. Water quality is measured according to BIS standards and water used for drinking and in food processing must be within those parameters to qualify as pure water. Water testing therefore becomes essential to ensure it is potable and usable for drink and other food preparation activities. The consumption of packaged water has also increased and therefore packaged water manufacturers get their water tested to ensure that it is free of chemical and microbial contamination. NABL certified food labs test drinking water according to IS:10500.
Deterioration in Water Quality
An increase in industrial activity, rising pollution, overuse of pesticides means water needs to be analysed in an approved food lab as a measure of its quality. Industrial waste has increased and surface water is prone to all kinds of contaminants. Deteriorating water quality coupled with awareness about the health hazards of drinking impure water has increased the demand for water testing. Any report about contaminated water can lead to business loss so restaurants, hotels, food processing units and cafeterias and office and school canteens all have their water tested to ensure that they are using pure water in their premises for food preparation and processing. Food testing labs test water according to regulatory requirements for chemical, physical and microbiological parameters.
Water Testing Report
The water testing report has the sampling date and the name of the person who has carried out the report. Food manufacturing and processing units need to keep a copy of the water testing report for a check by Food Inspectors. Water testing has to be carried out with regular frequency for this reason there is a demand for water testing.
Water testing must be carried out in reliable testing laboratories as they have state of the art instrumentation. Water testing is carried out through reliable and accurate tests like GCMSMS, ICP MS, HPLCs, AAS, etc. Water for processing in the food industry is tested according to IS: 4251standards.The minimum level of water analysis report includes indicators of faecal pollution like coliforms, turbidity, chlorine residues and pH especially if the water is disinfected by chlorine. A detailed water testing report also contains physiochemical aspects like report on colour, odour and taste as well as for fluoride, nitrate in groundwater, lead chromium, arsenic and pesticides.