ATCP 65.24(7)(f)(f) Rooms, other than rooms adjacent to sleeping or living quarters, are considered separate, for purposes of this subsection, if they are fully separated by permanent floor-to-ceiling partitions and if doorways between the rooms are equipped with solid, tight-fitting, self-closing doors. Rooms adjacent to sleeping or living quarters must comply with sub. (11) above.

ATCP 65.24(8)(a)(a) Water used in dairy plant operations, or as an ingredient in dairy products, shall be obtained from a source that complies with applicable provisions of ch. NR 811 or 812. All water obtained for use in a dairy plant shall comply with the microbiological standards in ch. NR 809. Water shall be available in consistently adequate quantity for all dairy plant operations, including processing, cleaning, handwashing, and drinking. The division may grant a conditional waiver for elevated levels of non-microbial contaminants as defined in ch. NR 809 in processing water or ingredient water.

ATCP 65.24(8)(b)(b) If a dairy plant uses water from a privately owned water system, the dairy plant operator or, in the case of a grade A dairy plant, the division shall, at least once every 6 months, and after a repair or alteration to the water system, collect and analyze a sample of the water for compliance with the microbiological standards under s. NR 809.30. If a dairy plant produces grade A and grade B products, a division representative shall collect and analyze the water samples. If the water supply is from more than one well, each well shall be sampled and tested. Each sample shall be taken upstream from any pressure tank or other water treatment equipment. Microbiological analyses shall be conducted in a laboratory certified under ch. ATCP 77.

ATCP 65.24(8)(c)(c) At the division’s request, a dairy plant operator who receives water from a municipal source shall provide the division with documentation showing that the water complies with the microbiological standards under s. NR 809.30.

ATCP 65.24(8)(d)(d) Recirculated water may be used in a cooler or heat exchanger that may come in contact with any dairy product if it is all of the following:

ATCP 65.24(8)(d)3.3. Tested by the dairy plant operator at least semiannually or, in the case of a grade A dairy plant, by the department at least semiannually.

ATCP 65.24(8)(e)(e) If a recirculating water system becomes contaminated, that system may not be used until it is properly treated and retested to ensure that the contamination has been eliminated. The freezing point depressants used in recirculating water systems shall be food or pharmaceutical grade, non-toxic propylene glycol, and shall not contain coliform bacteria as determined by sampling and analysis which the dairy plant operator has done at least semi-annually.

ATCP 65.24(8)(f)(f) A dairy plant operator may use only potable water, or reclaimed water in compliance with sub. (9) (c), to produce culinary steam. In boilers used to produce culinary steam, boiler water additives shall comply with 21 CFR. 173.310.

ATCP 65.24(8)(g)(g) All of the following requirements apply to water that is transported to a dairy plant in a container or tank, for use in dairy plant operations:

ATCP 65.24(8)(g)4.4. A food-contact appropriate, cleaned and sanitized pump, hose, and fittings shall be used to transfer water from the container or tank to a storage tank at the dairy plant, so that the water is not contaminated during transfer.

ATCP 65.24(8)(h)(h) If a grade A dairy plant uses water to flush pasteurized milk or milk products from milk processing systems, that water shall be of a microbiological quality equivalent to that of pasteurized milk.

ATCP 65.24(9)(a)(a) A dairy plant operator may use water reclaimed from heat exchanger processes or from the condensation of milk or dairy products if all the following apply:

ATCP 65.24(9)(b)(b) Except as provided in par. (c), reclaimed water may not be used for any purpose requiring potable water unless all the following apply:

ATCP 65.24(9)(b)4.4. The organic content of the water is less than 12 mg. per liter as measured by the chemical oxygen demand or permanganate-consumed test, or the water has a standard turbidity of less than 5 units. The dairy plant operator shall use an automatic fail-safe monitoring device to identify, and automatically divert to a waste water system, any water reclaimed from the condensation of dairy products if that water fails to meet this standard.

ATCP 65.24(9)(b)5.5. The reclaimed water is of satisfactory organoleptic quality. The dairy plant operator shall sample and organoleptically test reclaimed water at weekly intervals.

ATCP 65.24(9)(b)6.6. Any chemicals used to suppress bacterial growth, tastes, or odors in the reclaimed water are registered for that use with the U.S. environmental protection agency. The dairy plant operator who uses any chemical to suppress bacterial growth, tastes, or odors shall comply with the chemical label instructions. An added chemical may not contain any substance that may contaminate dairy products or limit the use of reclaimed water. An automatic proportioning device shall add the chemicals to the water before the water enters the storage tank. The dairy plant operator shall test reclaimed water at least daily to verify that each added chemical is present at an approved level.