Sec. 3.15. Water supply—Item 7p

(a) Water for milk plant purposes is from an adequate supply, properly located, protected and operated. It shall be easily accessible and of a safe, sanitary quality.

(b) The water supply is approved as safe by the State water control authority and in the case of individual water systems, it shall contain an MPN (most probable number of coliform organisms) of less than 2.2/100 milliliters by the multiple tube fermentation technique or less than 1/100 milliliter by the membrane filter technique.

(c) There is no cross-connection between the safe water supply and any unsafe or questionable water supply, or any source of pollution through which the safe water supply might become contaminated. A connection between the water supply piping and a make-up tank (such as for cooling or condensing), unless protected by an air gap or effective backflow preventor, constitutes a violation of this requirement.

(d) Condensing water for milk evaporators, and water used to produce vacuum and/or to condense vapors in vacuum heat processing equipment, is from a source complying with subdivision (b) of this section, provided that, when approved by the commissioner, water from sources not complying with subdivision (b) may be used when the evaporator or vacuum heat equipment is constructed and operated to preclude contamination of such equipment or its contents by condensing water or by water used to produce vacuum. Means of preventing such contamination are:

(1) use of a surface-type condenser in which the condensing water is physically separated from the vapors and condensate; or

(2) use of reliable safeguards to prevent the overflow of condensing water from the condenser into the evaporator. Such safeguards include a barometric leg extending at least 35 feet vertically from the invert of the outgoing condensing waterline to the free level at which the leg discharges, or a safety shutoff valve, located on the water feed line to the condenser, automatically actuated by a control which will shut off the inflowing water when the water level rises above a predetermined point in the condenser. This valve may be actuated by water, air or electricity, and shall be designed so that failure of the primary motivating power will automatically stop the flow of water into the condenser.

(e) Condensing water for all milk evaporators, complying with subdivision (b) of this section, and water reclaimed from milk or milk products, may be reused when all necessary means of protection are afforded and it has been inspected and approved by the commissioner's representative.

(f) New individual water supplies and water supply systems, which have been repaired or otherwise become contaminated, are disinfected before being placed in use. The supply shall be made free of the disinfectant by pumping to waste before any sample for bacteriological testing shall be collected.

(g) Samples for bacteriological testing of individual water supplies are taken upon the initial aproval of the physical structure, each six months thereafter, and when any repair or alteration of the water supply system has been made. Bacteriological examinations shall be conducted in a laboratory acceptable to the commissioner.

(h) Current records of water tests shall be kept on file by the permittee.