Determining Your Microbiological Water Quality Profile (MWQP) for

Untreated Ground Water Used in the Production of Fresh Produce

Western Center for Food Safety, Version 5.0, October 02, 2017
http://wcfs.ucdavis.edu/

The Produce Safety Rule (PSR) requires growers to initially establish a Microbial Water Quality Profile (MWQP) for each
untreated ground agricultural water source (e.g., well water) used during growing activities of covered produce (other than
sprouts) using a direct water application method and conduct annual surveys for that water source in subsequent years. The
water quality profile is based on the levels of generic E. coli in your agricultural water. The method of testing for generic E. coli
must be conducted following U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 1603 or another method that is scientifically
valid and shown to be at least equivalent to EPA Method 1603 in accuracy, precision, and sensitivity. A list of test methods for
agriculture water that are recognized by the FDA as meeting these criteria can be found here:
https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm575251.htm.
The initial MWQP must be established with a minimum of 4 water samples that are representative of use and collected as close
to harvest as possible over a growing season or over a period of 1 year. Geometric mean (GM) and Statistical Threshold Value
(STV) are calculated from these 4 samples (minimum). The GM and STV are your MWQP and should be compared to the
microbial quality criteria provided in the Produce Safety Rule.
After the initial MWQP has been established, GM and STV values must be updated annually based on a minimum of 1 new
sample. “Rolling” GM and STV values are calculated by combining the old and new sample data. For example, for an MWQP
established with 4 samples, one new sample would be combined with the most recent 3 samples from the previous MWQP to
update the MWQP and confirm that the water is still being used appropriately.
This tool was developed to make it easy to calculate the GM and STV and to determine if your water meets the criteria for
appropriate application to produce before harvest. The tool is also designed to assist you with making water management
decisions if your water does not meet the criteria in the proposed rule.
The Worksheet "Example MWQP" provides an example of calculations showing a ground water source that does not meet the
Produce Safety Rule water quality criteria. This worksheet is locked and cannot be altered.
The Worksheet "Protected MWQP" is a document that you can use to enter your test results. The formulas are protected; you
cannot delete them. However, you can change the text and add additional information pertaining to your operation. As you
enter data in columns A, B, C, D and E, the generic E. coli log CFU or MPN/100 ml will appear in Table 1 Column F and the GM
and STV will appear in Table 2. If your MWQP values exceed the Produce Safety Rule agricultural water quality criteria one
option is to wait an appropriate harvest interval from the time of last water application and harvest. If this is an option for your
water source Table 2 will automatically provide the appropriate harvest interval needed.
The Worksheet "MWQP" is unprotected. This worksheet allows you to see the formulas used for the calculations and can
provide a means to further modify the spreadsheet to suit your needs (for example if you wished to use more than 4 samples for
your MWQP).
Definitions:
Agricultural water is defined in part "as water that is intended to, or likely to, contact the harvestable portion of covered
produce or food-contact surfaces."
Geometric mean (GM): GM is essentially the average amount of generic E. coli in your water source.
Statistical threshold value (STV): STV is a measure of variability of generic E. coli levels in your water source. In simple terms, it
is the level where 90 percent of the samples (log values) are below the value.
CFU (colony forming units) and MPN (most probable number) is the estimate of bacterial concentration in your water per 100 ml
and either number can be used for calculations. The method of testing will determine whether the results are expressed as CFU
or MPN.
More information on the Produce Safety Rule and agricultural water can be found here:
https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm334114.htm
Determining Your Microbiological Water Quality Profile (MWQP) for
Untreated Ground Water Used in the Production of Fresh Produce
Western Center for Food Safety, Version 5.0, October 02, 2017
http://wcfs.ucdavis.edu/
Produce Safety Rule Microbial Quality Criteria
Generic E. coli log CFU/100 ml Generic E. coli CFU/100 ml
Geometric Mean (GM) 2.10 126
Statistical Threshold Value (STV) 2.61 410

Instructions for determining your MWQP:

Initial MWQP
Collect at least 4 water samples that are representative of use and collected as close as possible to harvest, over a growing season or over 1 year.
Analyze water samples to quantify generic E. coli/100 ml (usually by a testing service). Samples should be analyzed using U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Method 1603 or another
method that is scientifically valid and shown to be at least equivalent to EPA Method 1603 in accuracy, precision, and sensitivity. A list of test methods for agriculture water that are
recognized by the FDA as meeting these criteria can be found here: https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm575251.htm.
Enter water survey stage (i.e., initial or annual) in Table 1 column A.
Enter water sample collection date (month/day/year) in column B (samples should be entered in the order they were collected).
Enter water sample collection location description or ID in column C (this ID may be a descriptor or short hand code that corresponds to a map or diagram showing where the samples
were collected).
Enter the sample number in column D in chronological order corresponding to sample date.
Enter generic E. coli results as CFU or MPN/100 ml in column E corresponding to sample date, location and number. Note: The log values (E. coli log CFU or MPN/100 ml) will
automatically appear in column F. Log values are needed to calculate the GM and STV.
Note: If your sample result is below the limit of detection (LOD is <1 generic E. coli CFU/100ml), enter 1 in Column E corresponding to your sample number and you can
enter a note in Column G that sample result is below LOD (<1CFU/100ml).
Column G is optional but allows space for making notes or observations pertaining to the sample or sample collection (note that you can expand this column or "wrap text" if you wish
to add more detailed notes).
Geometric Mean (GM) and Statistical Threshold Value (STV) of your MWQP will be calculated automatically and will appear in Table 2. Note: Using fewer than 4 samples for GM and STV
calculations does not satisfy the requirements of the rule.
Table 2 automatically compares your MWQP results to the Produce Safety Rule microbial quality criteria, calculates and highlights cells in yellow if PSR criteria is not met. Calculations are
performed as follows:
A. Deviation from criteria
B. Does your water meet PSR criteria?
C. Are corrective measures necessary?
D. How many days are necessary if using microbial die-off between last irrigation and harvest?
Apply the greater number of days based on GM or based on STV.
NOTE: If your MWQP exceeds the GM or STV criteria, there are measures other than time between last irrigation and harvest that you can use. Resources other than this tool
should be consulted.
Annual MWQP Update: Following establishment of your initial MWQP, update your MWQP annually.
Collect at least 1 water sample that is representative of use and collected as close as possible to harvest and quantify generic E. coli.
Follow steps 2 to 8 above to enter the resulting data in Table 1 starting immediately below the last sample entered for your initial MWQP and enter water survey stage (i.e., annual) in
column A.
Table 2 automatically updates or calculates GM and STV values using the data from the most recent 4 samples including the 1 annual survey sample (e.g., the last 3 samples from the
initial MWQP and the 1 new sample from the annual survey).
Your annual MWQP results are updated as listed in step 10 above and make any modifications accordingly.

New MWQP: If you have determined or have reason to believe that your MWQP no longer represents the microbial quality of your water, you must develop a new MWQP reflective of
the time period in which you believe your MQWP changed. To develop new MWQP, you must calculate new GM and STV values using your current annual survey data (samples must
have been taken after the conditions that resulted in a change in water quality) combined with new data to make up a minimum of 4 samples. Water use must be modified based on new
the MWQP values.

Copies of MWQP sheet:

Select sheet titled MWQP.
Right click on the sheet MWQP and select option move or copy.
Select the box "create a copy" and Click "OK"
New Sheet is created and it can be renamed with the title of your choice.
Determining Your Microbiological Water Quality Profile (MWQP) for Untreated
Ground Water Used in the Production of Fresh Produce
Western Center for Food Safety, Version 5.0, October 02, 2017

http://wcfs.ucdavis.edu/

Table 1. Microbial water quality profile (MWQP) for a single untreated ground water source. CAUTION: Using fewer than 4 samples
for GM and STV calculations does not satisfy the requirements of the rule.

A B C D E F G
Survey stage Sample Sample Sample Generic E. coli Generic E. coli Notes
(Initial or Annual) date location or ID number CFU or MPN/100 ml log CFU or MPN/100ml

Initial 10/25/2015 1A 1 20 1.30

Initial 11/20/2015 2B 2 1 0.00 Sample result below LOD (<1 CFU/100 ml)
Initial 11/21/2015 3A 3 20 1.30
Initial 12/10/2015 4C 4 5 0.70
Annual 4/8/2016 2B 1 2 0.30
Annual 5/10/2017 3D 1 2000 3.30 Well malfunctioning and repair work
Determining Your Microbiological Water Quality Profile (MWQP) for Untreated
Ground Water Used in the Production of Fresh Produce
Western Center for Food Safety, Version 5.0, October 02, 2017

http://wcfs.ucdavis.edu/

Table 2. Your MWQP results based on 4 water samples. CAUTION: Using fewer than 4 samples for GM and STV calculations
does not satisfy the requirements of the rule.

GM GM STV STV
(Generic E. coli (Generic E. coli log (Generic E. coli CFU (Generic E. coli log
CFU or MPN/100 ml) CFU or MPN/100 ml) or MPN/100 ml) CFU or MPN/100 ml)

Produce Safety Rule Criteria 126 2.10 410 2.61

Your MWQP Results 25 1.40 1288 3.11
Deviation from Criteria -101 -0.70 878 0.50
Does your Water meet PSR criteria? Yes No

Are corrective measures necessary? No Yes

How many days are necessary if using microbial die-off between

last irrigation and harvest? 1
Apply the greater number of days based on GM or based on
STV. 0

Disclaimer: The authors have taken every care to ensure that the output from this workbook is accurate. In making this tool available for use in calculations neither the
authors nor Western Center for Food Safety UC Davis accept any liability for any consequences, direct or indirect resulting from a decision by the user to take, or not
take, based on an output from this workbook.
Determining Your Microbiological Water Quality Profile (MWQP) for Untreated
Ground Water Used in the Production of Fresh Produce
Western Center for Food Safety, Version 5.0, October 02, 2017

http://wcfs.ucdavis.edu/

Table 1. Microbial water quality profile (MWQP) for a single untreated ground water source. CAUTION: Using fewer than 4 samples
for GM and STV calculations does not satisfy the requirements of the rule.

A B C D E F G
Survey stage Sample Sample Sample Generic E. coli Generic E. coli Notes
(Initial or Annual) date location or ID number CFU or MPN/100 ml log CFU or MPN/100ml
Determining Your Microbiological Water Quality Profile (MWQP) for Untreated
Ground Water Used in the Production of Fresh Produce
Western Center for Food Safety, Version 5.0, October 02, 2017

http://wcfs.ucdavis.edu/

Table 2. Your MWQP results based on 4 water samples. CAUTION: Using fewer than 4 samples for GM and STV calculations
does not satisfy the requirements of the rule.

GM GM STV
(Generic E. coli CFU (Generic E. coli log (Generic E. coli CFU
or MPN/100 ml) CFU or MPN/100 ml) or MPN/100 ml)

Produce Safety Rule Criteria 126 2.10 410

Your MWQP Results
Deviation from Criteria
Does your Water meet PSR criteria?

Are corrective measures necessary?

How many days are necessary if using microbial die-off between

last irrigation and harvest?
Apply the greater number of days based on GM or based on STV.

Disclaimer: The authors have taken every care to ensure that the output from this workbook is accurate. In making this tool available for use in calculations neither the auth
nor Western Center for Food Safety UC Davis accept any liability for any consequences, direct or indirect resulting from a decision by the user to take, or not take, based on
output from this workbook.
than 4 samples for GM and STV calculations

STV
(Generic E. coli log
CFU or MPN/100 ml)

2.61

urate. In making this tool available for use in calculations neither the authors
direct resulting from a decision by the user to take, or not take, based on an
Determining Your Microbiological Water Quality Profile (MWQP) for Untreated
Ground Water Used in the Production of Fresh Produce
Western Center for Food Safety, Version 5.0, October 02, 2017

http://wcfs.ucdavis.edu/

Table 1. Microbial water quality profile (MWQP) for a single untreated ground water source. CAUTION: Using fewer than 4 samples
for GM and STV calculations does not satisfy the requirements of the rule.

A B C D E F G
Etapa de estudio Fecha de Ubicación de Número de Generic E. coli Generic E. coli Notes
(Initial or Annual) muestra muestra muestra CFU or MPN/100 ml log CFU or MPN/100ml

1.8 0.26
33 1.52
Determining Your Microbiological Water Quality Profile (MWQP) for Untreated
Ground Water Used in the Production of Fresh Produce CFU unidades formadoras de colonia
NMP numero mas
Western Center for Food Safety, Version 5.0, October 02, 2017 probable
http://wcfs.ucdavis.edu/ valor del umbral estadistico

Table 2. Your MWQP results based on 4 water samples. CAUTION: Using fewer than 4 samples for GM and STV calculations
does not satisfy the requirements of the rule.

GM GM STV
(Generic E. coli CFU (Generic E. coli log CFU (Generic E. coli
or MPN/100 ml) or MPN/100 ml) CFU or MPN/100 ml)

Criterios de reglas de seguridad del producto 126 2.10 410

Your MWQP Results 8 0.89 110
Deviation from Criteria -118 -1.21 -300
Does your Water meet PSR criteria? Yes Yes

Are corrective measures necessary? No No

How many days are necessary if using microbial die-off between

last irrigation and harvest?
Apply the greater number of days based on GM or based on STV.
0 0

Disclaimer: The authors have taken every care to ensure that the output from this workbook is accurate. In making this tool available for use in calculations neither the auth
Western Center for Food Safety UC Davis accept any liability for any consequences, direct or indirect resulting from a decision by the user to take, or not take, based on an ou
from this workbook.
 CFU unidades formadoras de colonias.

valor del umbral estadistico

an 4 samples for GM and STV calculations

STV
(Generic E. coli log CFU
or MPN/100 ml)

2.61
2.04
-0.57

ate. In making this tool available for use in calculations neither the authors nor
esulting from a decision by the user to take, or not take, based on an output