Microbiological sampling occurs after water has been collected from the customer's tap. What must be done beforehand?

Before microbiological sampling occurs, it is essential to prepare the tap from which the water is collected. Flushing the tap with fresh water helps to remove any potential contaminants that may have built up in the plumbing or the faucet itself, ensuring that the sample taken reflects the quality of the water as it is delivered to the consumer. This process helps to obtain a more accurate representation of the microbiological quality of the water supply by minimizing any false positives that could result from stagnant water or debris present in the lines.

This preparation step is critical to ensure the integrity of the sample collected for testing. Collecting a sample without proper flushing could lead to misleading results that do not accurately depict the quality of the water provided by the utility, making it an important best practice in microbiological water sampling.