With so many news stories surfacing about pool water and/or drinking water not having adequate disinfectant levels many health officials have started pushing for increased testing and they don’t mean testing for chlorine residuals with test strips or liquid test kits which both require testers to match colors to get readings.

Rather than trust test personnel to use established methods of chlorine testing such as the Taylor FAS DPD Test Kit and/or the recently EPA Approved SenSafe Free Chlorine Water Check product, some folks want to remove as much subjectivity from the chlorine testing process as possible… and that means using meters to test chlorine residuals.

One example of a meter that some folks have turned to goes by the name of Extech (CL200) Exstik Direct Digital Reading Chlorine Meter and you can see a picture of that meter to the left.

The Extech CL200 Chlorine Testing Meter tests only for TOTAL chlorine, uses DPD as its reagent, requires roughly 2 minutes for testing, stores up to 15 readings internally, and detects total chlorine levels down to 0.01ppm (mg/L).

Extech, the manufacturer, claims the EPA has deemed the meter, with its associated DPD testing method, acceptable for wastewater compliance monitoring of Total Chlorine.

From what we can see on the IsoPureWater web site, this meter cannot used generic DPD tablets, DPD powder pillows, or DPD liquids designed for 10 mL sample sizes… and that means having fewer shopping options when the time comes to acquire replacement DPD reagents.

Not necessarily a show-stopper by any stretch of the imagination since a pack of 100 DPD reagent tablets for this meter costs under $30.

Definitely keep this meter in mind should you need a fast, compact meter for testing total chlorine levels in water.

People with homes on city water systems, also called municipal water systems, typically do not have to worry about the quality of their drinking water, though using a drinking water test kit from time to time to make sure does make sense — just in case. Therefore one of the most common complaints heard from these folks all deal with the taste and/or smell of the drinking water coming out of their faucets.

City water systems typically use free chlorine or chloramines to disinfect the water prior to distribution and as we all know, chlorine has a distinct smell and taste associated with it. Point-of-use water filters such as faucet filters can help get rid of, or at the very least reduce, unpleasant chlorine tastes and smells in drinking water.

Need to test for chlorine? Take a look at Chlorine-Test-Kit.Com. If you have interest in drinking water faucet filters, check out the selection below:

Brita Disposable Faucet Filtration System, 35212
Brita 6025835212

Your Cost: $34.99
Regular Price: $39.99

The Brita Disposable Faucet Filtration System 35212 has been discontinued by the manufacturer and will no longer be available. The Brita Disposable Faucet Filtration System easily installs onto your kitchen faucet and provides maintenance-free filtration! Once it’s done you simply throw it away. System lasts up to 1 year (with no filter change) and filters up to 300 gallons. Features filter indicator light so you know when the status of your filter changes. NSF/ANSI Standard 53 tested approved for the reduction of: -Lead -Mercury -Cysts (Cryptosporidium and Giardia) -AsbestosNSF/ANSI Standard 42 tested approved for the reduction of: -Chlorine taste odor -Particulates (Class 1)

Brita Disposable Bathroom Faucet Filtration System
Brita 6025835213

Your Cost: $22.99
Regular Price: $24.99

“The Brita Disposable Bathroom Faucet Filtration System turns your bathroom tap water into healthy, great tasting water. The Drinking Fountain Feature eliminates the need for cups–and kids love it! The compact design of the Brita Disposable Bathroom Faucet System will not obstruct your sink and it’s disposable! System lasts up to 12 months or 50 gallons of water when 2 cups (16 oz) of filtered water are used per day. Once it’s done, simply throw it away. NSF/ANSI Standard 53 tested approved for the reduction of: -Lead -Mercury -Cysts (Cryptosporidium and Giardia) -Asbestos -Benzene -Methoxychlor -Toxaphene -Atrazine -CarbofuranNSF/ANSI Standard 42 tested approved for the reduction of: -Chlorine taste odor -Particulates (Class 1) ”

Brita AquaView Faucet Filtration System
Brita AquaView

Your Cost: $37.40
Regular Price: $52.59

“Model # 42645The Brita AquaView Faucet Filtration System allows you to actually see your filter changing color over time–so you know it’s working! The Brita AquaView also features a unique “out of the way” design that saves you sink space and filter indicator light that tells you exactly when you need to change your filter. The Brita AquaView filters are NSF / ANSI Standard 42 certified for reduction of Chlorine, Taste Odor as well as Particulates (Class 1). The Brita AquaView filter is NSF / ANSI Standard 53 tested and certified for the reduction of lead, cysts, asbestos, and turbidity. The AquaView also allows 3 different spray options for your convenience: Brita Filtered, Spray, and Stream. Package includes one filter and one system. No Tools required for installation and the Brita AquaView system installs on all standard size faucets.Quick and Easy Filter Replacement. ”

Brita AquaView Faucet Filter System (Bonus Filter)
Brita AquaView Bonus

Your Cost: $39.40
Regular Price: $65.00

“The Brita AquaView On Tap Faucet Filtration System allows you to actually see your filter changing color over time–so you know it’s working! The Brita AquaView also features a unique “out of the way” design that saves you sink space and filter indicator light that tells you exactly when you need to change your filter. The Brita AquaView filters Chlorine Taste Odor as well as Particulates (Class 1). NSF/ANSI tested and certified the AquaView reduces lead, cysts, asbestos, and turbidity. The AquaView also allows 3 different spray options for your convenience: Britia Filtered, Spray, and Stream. Package includes two filters and one system. ”

Brita AquaView Replacement Filter Cartridge
Brita AquaView Replacement

Your Cost: $19.95
Regular Price: $29.95

“The Brita AquaView Replacement Filter cartridge is the replacement filter for the Brita AquaView On Tap Filter model 42645, AVFF-100. Instructions included. Filter lasts for approximately 100 gallons or 4 months depending on water quality. Tested and certified by the NSF/ANSI this filter reduces: lead, cysts, particulate (class 1), and taste odor. Part number 42647. ”

OmniFilter F1 Series A Water Faucet Filter
OmniFilter F1

Your Cost: $15.99
Regular Price: $16.99

“The OmniFilter F1 Water Faucet Filter reduces rust, sediment, and chlorine taste odor from your water. This faucet water filter installs easily onto your faucet and provides great tasting water with just the turn of a knob. The OmniFilters F1 Series A includes the filter unit, filter cartridge FRC1, and adaptor kit. The FRC1 cartridge should be replaced ever 3 months or 200 gallons. The Omni Filter F1 specifications are as follows:Flow Rate – .75 gpm Micron rating – 50 Filter change indicator dial Capacity 200 gallons Reduces Chlorine / Rust / Sediment / Dirt The replacement cartridges for the OmniFilter F1 are the FRC1 and the FRC1-D. ”

F-2C WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System
Waterpik F-2C

Your Cost: $16.99
Regular Price: $18.99

“The F-2C WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System is an affordable convienent way to remove chlorine, bad taste and odor from your drinking water. Installs in less than 4 minutes! NSF Tested and Certified. The F-2C Systems features : Quick Installation — Less than 4 minutesEconomical Cost — Great Tasting Water at a Fraction of the Cost of Bottled WaterConvenient Selector — Let’s you switch between filtered and unfiltered water easilyStep by Step InstructionsNSF/ANSI Standard 42 Tested and Approved for Chlorine Taste and Odor ReductionThe Waterpik F2C Faucet Filter System takes replacement cartridge R2C2 or R2C4. Cartridge should be replaced every 3 months for optimum performance. ”

F-5 WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System
WaterPik F5

Your Cost: $19.99
Regular Price: $24.99

“Model F-5 (White) and Model F-5C (Chrome)The F-5 WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System reduces Chlorine, Lead, Bad Taste, Odor, and Cysts. The F-5 Faucet Filter System comes with the R-5 filter cartridge and installs in less than 4 minutes.Reduces lead, cysts, chlorine, bad taste and odor Three-month, 200 gallon capacity. Choose between filtered and unfiltered water to extend filter life. System tested and certified by NSF International against ANSI/NSF Standard 42 for the reduction of Chlorine (Class II), Taste and Odor. System tested and certified by NSF International against ANSI/NSF Standard 53 for the reduction of Cysts and Lead Includes a replaceable filter cartridge, R-5. Easy installation in less than 4 minutes. No tools required White finish and white cover. This F-5 WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System meets NSF / ANSI standard 42 for the reduction of 97% of Chlorine Taste and Odor This F-5 WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System meets NSF / ANSI standard53 for the reduction of 99% of Cysts 99% + of Lead ”

F-6 WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System
WaterPik F6

Your Cost: $13.99
Regular Price: $19.99

“Model F-6 (White with Clear Cover)The F-6 WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System is an affordable and convenient way to purify your water from your faucet. The F-6 Faucet Filter System comes with the R-2C filter cartridge.Reduces chlorine, bad taste and odor. Three-month, 200 gallon capacity. Choose between filtered and unfiltered water to extend filter life. System tested and certified by NSF International against ANSI/NSF Standard 42 for the reduction of Chlorine (Class II), Taste and Odor. Includes a replaceable filter cartridge, R-2C. White finish and clear cover. This F-6 WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System meets NSF / ANSI standard 42 for the reduction of 92% of Chlorine Taste and Odor ”

F-7 WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System
WaterPik F7

Your Cost: $23.95
Regular Price: $34.95

“THE WATERPIK F7 HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE WATERPIK F8, WHICH REMOVES MORE CONTAMINANTS AND HAS RECENTLY BEEN REDUCED IN PRICE. Model F-7 (White)The F-7 WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System is an affordable and convenient way to purify your water from your faucet. It installs in a few minutes and has an electronic filter indicator to notify you when it is time to change the filter.One of the most advanced electronic faucet filters available System tested and certified by NSF International against ANSI/NSF Standard 42 for the reduction of Chlorine (Class I), Taste and Odor, Particulate (Class I). System tested and certified by NSF International against ANSI/NSF Standard 53 for the reduction of Cysts, Lead, Lindane and Asbestos. Three-month, 200 gallon capacity. Choose between filtered and unfiltered water to extend filter life. Green, yellow and red monitor light indicates when to change filter. Includes a replaceable, easy to install, high performance carbon block filter, the R-7. White finish and white cover. This F-7 WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System meets NSF / ANSI standard 42 for the reduction of 97.2% of Chlorine Taste and Odor 99.55% of Particulates Class IThis F-7 WaterPik End of Faucet Water Filter System meets NSF / ANSI standard53 for the reduction of 99.98% of Cysts 99% + of Lead 97.5% of Lindane 99.98% of Asbestos ”

Looking for more types of water filters? Take a look at the Water Filters Detailed List over on WaterTestBlog.Com

China makes the news once more, and this time it looks like some public officials may wind up in a lot of trouble with the Chinese Ministry of Health if they don’t straighten up and fly right when it comes to telling the truth about the number of H1N1 cases and H1N1 related fatalities in their province.

BEIJING — China’s health ministry ordered accurate reporting of the spread of H1N1 influenza and threatened to punish officials who conceal cases of the virus after a prominent medical expert raised doubts about the true number of deaths reported to date.

In a statement posted late Thursday on the Ministry of Health’s Web site, spokesman Deng Haihua reiterated the need for local health departments to ensure timely reporting of H1N1 cases, and welcomed the media and the public to supervise and discuss the ministry’s work in fighting H1N1. Mr. Deng said that concealment, underreporting, or delays in transmitting information about the spread of the illness would be subject to punishment.

Earlier Thursday, state-run media in the southern province of Guangdong reported that Dr. Zhong Nanshan had voiced suspicions about the low number of reported fatalities from H1N1. Dr. Zhong, director of the Institute of Respiratory Diseases in Guangzhou, is best known for speaking out in 2003 against official reports that initially covered up the extent of the SARS epidemic.

“I basically don’t believe the current reported number of nationwide H1N1 deaths,” he was quoted as saying by the Guangzhou Daily. Dr. Zhong said he believed that some regions had concealed reports of H1N1 deaths to create the impression that they had been successful in their local prevention efforts, according to the report.

Since mainland China reported its first H1N1 death in early October, there have been only 53 deaths reported out of nearly 70,000 confirmed cases. According to the World Health Organization, the world-wide mortality rate for H1N1 has been four deaths per 1,000 cases of illness, a ratio that was repeated by China’s Ministry of Health when it warned of the threat posed by H1N1 a few weeks ago. ( source )

While they have not, to our knowledge, found any cases of H1N1 traveling from person to person via drinking water, that does not mean anyone should let their guard down when it comes to water quality testing or purification. Diligent use of available water testing and water disinfecting methods may not play an active role in stopping the spread of the H1N1 virus, that we know of right now, but it can help prevent a whole host of other illnesses.

One place where proper use of sanitizing and disinfecting REALLY matters… childcare facilities and daycare centers. Children know nothing about how germs and bacteria spread and often leave mucous, saliva or other bodily secretions on commonly touched surfaces such as toys, doorknobs, furniture, etc. They mean no harm and don’t do things like that intentionally, but it happens.

For that reason health officials suggest, and have mandated in some states, that operators of childcare and daycare centers have their staff check the chlorine levels in their sanitizing and disinfecting solutions daily. Think of it this way: What good would it do to wipe down a contaminated surface with a cleaning solution incapable of properly disinfecting or sanitizing?

While not always fatal, a condition known as Legionnaire’s Disease has taken lives in the past and can, at the very least, make people very ill.

The waterborne Legionella pathogen that causes typically treatable but potentially fatal Legionnaire’s disease is found in domestic drinking water systems, cooling towers, evaporative condensers and decorative fountains. Other contained systems like vehicle washing equipment are also at risk. A May 2008 public Legionnaires’ outbreak was linked to a self-serve carwash in Australia and two Albany, NY bus washing system employees who contracted the illness in August 2007, according to industry trade reports. ( source )

Health officials and scientists often find Legionella pathogens in closed water systems with elevated water temperatures. The higher temperatures make maintaining an adequate disinfectant level in the water very difficult and for that reason certain pathogens can flourish in these environments.

In cases where the water gets converted to a mist by sprinkler systems, produce misters or other devices, the Legionella pathogen can become airborne and have an excellent opportunity to infect a large number of people very rapidly.

Signs of exposure include, but may not be limited to, high fever temperatures and flu-like symptoms. People with suppressed or weakend immune systems tend to become infected faster and often times more seriously than people with healthy immune systems.

What methods exist for preventing the growth and distribution of the Legionella pathogen?

Thermal Heat/Flush – Water temperature raised to as high as 160ºF for up to 30 minutes to sterilize systems. Chemical-free, commonly-used method requires no additional equipment. Labor intensive and can prove ineffective for long-term Legionella infestation management. Can damage older pipes and creates potential for scalding.

Shock (Hyper) Chlorination – Chlorine injected into water distribution system. Initial shock chlorination levels approach 50 ppm, and taper off to create 2ppm to 5ppm chlorine cycle. Chlorine decomposes rapidly at elevated water temperatures; Legionella re-colonization can occur in as little as one to two weeks during continuous chlorination following the shock. Highly corrosive to plumbing (can be offset in part with silicate corrosion control). Places facility employees handle stored chemicals or implement disinfection at risk for exposure to chlorine byproduct Trihalomethane (THMs, linked to several types of cancer).

Chlorine Dioxide – Chlorine Dioxide (CIO2) is EPA-approved for potable water disinfectant use under CFR Par 141-National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. Commonly used in Europe, CIO2 is a gas generated by either chemical or electrolytic means and distributed throughout the water distribution system. The powerful oxidant kills Legionella and other bacteria. CIO2 readily decomposes in drinking water and residuals decrease as water system temperatures rise, making this treatment approach difficult in hot water systems. CIO2 is corrosive to plumbing infrastructure and creates byproducts including chlorate and chlorite; field testing for EPA maximum limits is required.

Copper-Silver Ionization – Latest advance in disinfection methods dissolves and distributes small amounts of copper and silver ions throughout water systems to eradicate bacteria. Continuous eradication metallic ion unit is required. Highly effective in eliminating Legionella, particularly in recirculation hot water systems, according to research and monitoring of hospital-implemented systems by Janet F. Stout, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh special pathogens laboratory director and an international expert on waterborne pathogens. ( source )

Each Legionella prevention method requires testing on one level or another. Thermometers, high range free chlorine test strips, chlorine dioxide test strips, and/or dissolved copper in water test strips can all play a key part in maintaining a safe, Legionella-free closed water system.

We’d like to thank “Trinity” for asking the following question about trihalomethane levels in drinking water:

“In school we recently learned that chlorine added to drinking water by water treatment facilities reacts with organic contaminants in the water and forms harmful compounds called trihalomethanes. Does the EPA have a guidleine which limits the amount of trihalomethanes are considered safe?” — Trinity in Washington

First of all, we want to clarify something in Trinity’s question: Not all forms of chlorine added by water treatment facilities will cause trihalomethanes to form. Adding ‘free chlorine’ to water containing organinc contaminants will result in the formation of thrihalomethanes while adding ‘combined chlorine’, also referred to as chloramines, to water containing organic contaminants will not.

Unsure of the difference between free chlorine and total chlorine? The following Water Testing Blog postings will help:

• Free Chlorine, Combined Chlorine, Total Chlorine
• Free, Combined and Total Chlorine Re-Visited
• Testing Chlorine Levels — Drinking Water vs. Pool Water

Getting back to Trinity’s question, though, prior to 2004 the EPA set the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for trihalomethanes in drinking water at 100 parts per billion (ppb). In 2004 the EPA lowered the MCl for trihalomethanes in drinking water to 80 ppb. ( source )

In so far as we have read, no cases of Swine Flu have resulted from contaminated drinking water… so why the need for an article about Swine Flu on the Water Testing Blog?

Simple: Viruses like influenza can spread when one person sneezes and coughs their nasal discharge and/or saliva (gross!) lands on a surface that other people touch. The germs will then travel to whatever surfaces those people touch… including their own food, eyes, mouth, etc.

Proper use of sanitizing and disinfecting solutions on a regular basis helps to reduce the number of germs hanging out on surfaces and thus reduces the likelihood of people unknowingly picking up germs and accidentally infecting themselves or others with an illness.

Is chlorine bleach an effective sanitizer/disinfectant?

In most cases, yes. Chlorine bleach works quite well as a germ-killing agent on surfaces and as a matter of fact, many states require childcare facilities to use dilute bleach solutions to clean changing table surfaces and other areas where human waste, a known haven for harmful germs and bacteria, may (inadvertantly) come into contact with surfaces.

As an example, North Carolina requires childcare workers to wipe down a changing area with a disinfecting bleach solution containing between 500 and 800 parts per million free chlorine after they change each child’s diaper. How do they verify that they have the proper concentration of free chlorine in their disinfecting bleach solution? They test with a product such as the Free Chlorine Water Check Ultra High II test strip.

Perhaps ahead of its time, North Carolina REQUIRES childcare facilities to test the free chlorine levels eachtime thet make new batches of disinfecting solutions (for wiping down bathrooms, changing areas) AND sanitizing solutions (for wiping down tables, chairs, doorknobs, toys, etc.). Making sure each solution contains the proper free chlorine levels before use goes a long way to help prevent the spread of germs, bacteria and illnesses.

Sanitizing: 50 – 200ppm Free Chlorine | Disinfecting: 500 – 800ppm Free Chlorine

So what have we learned? Testing the free chlorine levels in cleaning solutions helps to ensure that cleaning efforts accomplish the goal of properly sanitizing and disinfecting surfaces where children and adults can easily pick up germs capable of infecting someone with the common cold, the ‘traditional’ flu, or worse yet, a case of Swine Flu.

Keeping the facilities clean during the flu season is also a consideration, both Shafer and Baeuchle said.

“We regularly sanitize all the toys. After a child has a toy in their mouth, it has to be sanitized,” Shafer said. “We sanitize the tables and chairs on a regular basis in the classrooms.”

Baeuchle said she is asking the school custodians to pay special attention to high frequency areas like water fountains and doorknobs. ( source

Interested in testing the concentration of chlorine bleach sanitizing and disinfecting solutions? You can pick up a Childcare/Daycare Kit which includes (3) bottles of North Carolina Licensed Child Care Association approved test strips, quarter cup and tablespoon measuring devices (for proper on-site metering of the bleach), and a copy of the procedures North Carolina wants child care workers to follow when mixing their sanitizing and disinfection solutions.

Not many people actually enjoy the taste or smell of chlorinated drinking water, but did you know that recent studies have unofficially linked birth defects to chlorinated drinking water? It seems as though a pregnant woman’s exposure to chlorine byproducts called trihalomethanes (THMs) in drinking water, bath water, etc. may play a part in causing serious health problems for her unborn child:

“Expectant mothers can expose themselves to the higher risk by drinking the water, swimming in chlorinated water, taking a bath or shower, or even by standing close to a boiling kettle, say researchers.

The finding, based on an analysis of nearly 400,000 infants, is the first that links by-products of water chlorination – chemicals known as trihalomethanes, or THMs – to three specific birth defects.

Exposure to high levels of THMs substantially increased the risk of holes in the heart, cleft palate and anencephalus, which results in the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp.” ( source )

Most water systems chlorinate the water they provide in an effort to eliminate parasites and bacteria in drinking water which could lead to waterborne ailments and illnesses.

Not sure if your water contains THMs? Maybe the next few statements will help:

• Public water supplies that use free chlorine as their primary disinfectant (instead of chloramines) may contain THMs. The compounds form when free chlorine molecules lock horns with a biological contaminant during the disinfection process.
• Public water supplies that use chloramines as their primary disinfectant (instead of free chlorine) typically do not contain THMs. However it should be noted that these water systems do periodically ‘burn’ their water lines with free chlorine in an effort to get rid of any biofilm that has formed and THMs do result from those ‘burn’ sessions.

Still unsure as to whether or not your drinking water may contain THMs? You have three options:

1. Call your local water authority and ask them if they use free chlorine as the primary disinfectant or chloramines. If so, then your water most likely contains chloramines.
2. Have your water tested by a certified water testing professional.
3. Use reliable drinking water test kits for both free chlorine AND total chlorine.

Tomatoes and salmonella poisoning made the news again and with them came some startling scientific revelations. An article written by Lauran Neergaard (AP Medical Writer) and released/published on June 23, 2008 revealed new information about how tomatoes may possibly trap, carry, and incubate salmonella.

“WASHINGTON – Pick a tomato in the blazing sun and plunge it straight into cold water. If that happened on the way to market, it might be contaminated. Too big of a temperature difference can make a tomato literally suck water inside the fruit through the scar where its stem used to be. If salmonella happens to be lurking on the skin, that’s one way it can penetrate and, if the tomato isn’t eaten right away, have time to multiply.

That doesn’t mean people shouldn’t wash their tomatoes — they should, just probably not in cold water.

But as the Food and Drug Administration investigates the nation’s outbreak of salmonella from tomatoes, the example shows the farm isn’t the only place contamination can occur — and checking things like water quality and temperature control in packing houses and other supply stops is one key to safety.”

This raises the question of what sorts of water quality parameters packing houses should monitor on a regular basis.

Sanitizer and Disinfectant Levels — If the water used to wash, rinse and cleanse the tomatoes contains enough sanitizer, then theoretically no salmonella or other forms of bacterialogical contaminants could survive in the water. No contaminants in the water means no contaminants that a tomato could ‘suck up’ if submerged in cold water.

“Water is an automatic first suspect. Was clean water used to irrigate, mix pesticides sprayed on crops, wash down harvest and processing equipment, and wash field workers’ hands?

Then in packing houses, tomatoes often go straight into a dump tank, flumes of chlorinated water for a first wash. To guard against salmonella washed into the water in turn being sucked into the tomatoes, producers often keep wash-water 10 degrees warmer than the incoming crop, says food-safety scientist Keith Schneider of the University of Florida, also part of FDA’s tomato initiative.

Beyond packing houses, the industry points to cases where suppliers were shipped unwashed, warm tomatoes and dunked them in ice-water baths to firm them for further processing.

Another question: How often does the water have to be changed? Dirt, leaves and other sediment reduce the chlorine’s effectiveness.”

Produce handlers and packing houses could reduce the chances of accidentally passing fresh produce through improperly disinfected wash water by implementing test procedures and protocols which make use of simple, inexpensive chlorine test strips such as SenSafe^TM Free Chlorine Water Check, a product approved by the USEPA and by several states for drinking water compliance monitoring.

The manufacturer of this product also has dip-n-read test strips capable of detecting chlorine concentrations as high as 2,000ppm and as low as 0.005ppm.

A while has passed since the last outbreak of a foodborne illness struck and made the news and events like this one have resulted in new policies and regulations for produce handlers, growers, packers, etc. getting created in California. See Leafy Green Marketing Agreement (LGMA) for additional details.

“In 2007 California farmers came together to raise the bar for food safety. As a result the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement (LGMA) was formed. Members of the LGMA are working collaboratively to protect public health by reducing potential sources of contamination in California-grown leafy greens.

To date nearly 120 handlers, representing over 99% of the volume of California leafy greens, have joined the LGMA. These companies have committed themselves to sell products grown in compliance with the food safety practices accepted by the LGMA board. LGMA membership requires verification of compliance with the accepted food safety practices through mandatory government audits. These food safety practices were developed by university and industry scientists, food safety experts and farmers, shippers and processors. California leafy greens are now grown under a unique system that has become a model for leafy green growers in other states.” ( source )

What does any of this have to do with water testing? Quite a bit, actually.

• All fresh produce gets rinsed several times during processing with water containing some form of disinfectant. At the end of each rinsing stage, the water must used must get tested to make sure it still has a certain amount of residual disinfectant. This helps to ‘guarantee’ the cleanliness of the product.
• The machinery and equipment (bins, conveyor belts, cutting tools, etc.) used during the processing of the fresh produce must get washed down thoroughly with water containing a certain concentration of sanitizer and then rinsed clean w/ sanitizer-free water until all traces of sanitizer have been removed.
• Gloves, boots, etc. worn by the staff working in produce packing houses must get sanitized with, and later rinsed clean of, sanitizers.

Commonly used sanitizers and disinfectants in the food preparation/processing industries include chlorine, chlorine dioxide, quaternary ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and ozone.

As of January 1, 2006, all daycare centers in the State of North Carolina must have the ability to test the chlorine content in both their sanitizing and disinfecting solutions. Previously the law stated that they had to test only the chlorine concentration in their sanitizing solutions.

Chlorine concentrations in disinfecting solutions have to fall between 500 ppm and 800 ppm free chlorine and the test strips previously used by child care and daycare facilities only had to read free chlorine concentrations in the range of 50 ppm free chlorine to 200 ppm free chlorine.

The daycare/childcare kit containing Free Chlorine Check Ultra High II test strips directly satisfies the requirements and you can now purchase the product online at FilterWater.Com.

Waterworks(TM) Free Chlorine Check Ultra High II from has an easy-to-read color chart with acceptable chlorine concentration levels and instructions for mixing BOTH chlorine solutions clearly marked on each bottle.

To make life even easier on daycare and child care center operators, they can pick up a Childcare/Daycare Kit which includes (3) bottles of their North Carolina Licensed Child Care Association approved test strips, quarter cup and tablespoon measuring devices (for proper on-site metering of the bleach), and a copy of the procedures North Carolina wants child care workers to follow when mixing their sanitizing and disinfection solutions.

You can purchase the Childcare Sanitizer/Disinfectant Test Kit online at FilterWater.Com.