A Queensland water company has become the first distributor and retailer in South-East Queensland to be awarded the international food safety certification, ISO 22000, for its high quality drinking water.
Independent global auditor DQS CFS has approved the ISO 22000 certification for Unitywater, which supplies water to more than 296,000 customers in Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Noosa.
The certification, valid until 2019, demonstrates that Unitywater has a food safety management system that enables it to safely distribute water for consumption.
Unitywater ISO 22000 is a prestigious addition to the existing regulations that Unitywater already follows, which include the Australian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines, the Drinking Water Quality Management Plan and the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.
Executive Manager Infrastructure Planning and Capital Delivery, Simon Taylor, said, “Unitywater has always taken its responsibility for delivering high quality drinking water very seriously.
“We consider drinking water to be food product, one that is delivered directly to customers’ homes and premises. In fact, it’s the one food product that no one has to leave home to consume.
“Safe food and water are basic and essential expectations from customers. Managing and ensuring the delivery of high quality drinking water requires the same assurance as demanded of food quality and safety.”
Mr Taylor said the new certification is further proof that Unitywater customers can have increased confidence in the safety and quality of the drinking water delivered.
“This international standard is not handed out lightly. It came as a result of external, third-party audits, extensive staff interviews, on-site inspections and a thorough examination of our risk assessments, work procedures and manuals,” Mr Taylor said.
“We have been working towards this since October 2011 and I am proud to say that Unitywater achieved full certification at its first attempt. This is a huge achievement.”
