Conformidade legal da qualidade da água utilizada em laticínios na macroregião de Porto Velho

Abstract

The quality of water used in dairy plants is a critical determinant for food safety and regulatory compliance throughout the milk production chain. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of water used in representative dairy plants in the State of Rondônia, assessing its compliance with the physicochemical and microbiological standards established by current Brazilian legislation. The research was conducted in seven dairy processing units officially registered with the State Inspection Service (SIE) and/or the Federal Inspection Service (SIF), all located in milk-producing regions of Porto Velho, Rondônia. Water samples were collected post-treatment from storage reservoirs intended for dairy processing use. Sampling was carried out biannually in the years 2024 and 2025. The following parameters were analyzed: physicochemical (Physical: apparent color, turbidity; Chemical: pH, chlorides, total hardness, nitrates, nitrites, aluminum, iron, zinc, ammonia, manganese, sulfates, and total dissolved solids – TDS) and microbiological (total coliforms). All analyses were performed by an accredited laboratory, following official APHA (2017) methodologies. Between 2024 and 2025, overall improvement was observed in critical potability-related physicochemical parameters in the assessed dairy plants. Notable reductions in noncompliance rates were recorded for pH (from 37.5% to 14.3%; −23.2 percentage points), turbidity (from 12.5% to 0%; −12.5 p.p.), and chlorides (from 12.5% to 0%; −12.5 p.p.), suggesting progress in water treatment and operational control. Parameters such as apparent color, hardness, nitrates, iron, manganese, zinc, sulfates, and TDS remained fully compliant across both sampling periods, indicating stability in water quality for these variables. However, a discrete worsening in nitrite concentrations was identified (0% to 14.3%; +14.3 p.p.), warranting attention due to the associated sanitary risks and the need for verification of potential contamination sources (e.g., intrusion in internal piping, ion bed regeneration, backflow events, or biofilm formation). On the microbiological front, the presence of total coliforms was conservatively used as an indirect and cautious indicator of a potentially broader problem, in this case, the possible contamination of water by pathogens, in strict accordance with Portaria GM/MS No. 888/2021. In alignment with RIISPOA, all process water in dairy facilities must meet potability standards; therefore, corrective actions should prioritize sites with nitrite concentrations exceeding the maximum permissible limit and any microbiological non-conformities, in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP principles, and Codex Alimentarius guidelines for water used in food processing.