Accurate assessment of water quality for improved process control

摘要

Water is indisputably a critical element of many high-technology manufacturing processes. From rinsing devices and manufacturing lines to final product composition, pure water is a major component in the production of phar-maceuticals, beverages and microelectronics. As a result, bacterial contamination in purified water can compromise the quality of virtually any final product. The significant impact of water purity is further supported by the strict water standards established by numerous regulatory agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Food and Drug Administration, the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards and the American Society for Testing and Materials. Each regulation provides water quality standards and testing methodologies. Although all water systems are validated and routinely tested, significant amounts of time and money are still lost each year investigating contamination issues. Ultimately, the production downtime and the resulting financial impact can be minimized, if not eliminated, with effective monitoring practices and decontamination procedures. Accurate, regular assessment of the microbial quality of process water is essential for timely implementation of corrective actions.