When should water quality testing be conducted?

Water quality testing should be conducted regularly and after any maintenance activities to ensure the safety and integrity of the drinking water supply. Regular testing is critical because it helps identify potential contaminants or changes in water quality before they can affect public health. Routine testing can also track trends in water quality over time, which is essential for compliance with regulatory standards and for proactively addressing any issues that may arise.

Additionally, conducting testing after maintenance activities is vital because any work done on the distribution system, such as repairs or upgrades, has the potential to introduce contaminants or alter water quality. By testing after such events, operators can confirm that the water remains safe for consumption and that the system is functioning as intended.

Testing only after customer complaints could result in delayed responses to potential contamination risks, while annual testing may not provide enough data to monitor water quality effectively throughout the year. Similarly, only testing when there is visible contamination might overlook other potential problems that are not immediately evident. Regular and situation-responsive testing is therefore the best practice to ensure a safe water supply at all times.