Sanitation of Reusable Bottles
Rain Fresh® Bottled Water Company is very conscientious regarding our responsibility toward the environment. We have contracted with
Waste Management Company to recycle all suitable discarded items used in our manufacturing process. Additionally, we will pick up any
suitable Rain Fresh® refuse from your location if we are delivering water. Clean Rain Fresh® cardboard cases and PET plastic bottles
and caps are included in this pick up service. Our 5 and 3 gallon bottles have the ability to be sanitized and reused
thereby limiting the demand for landfill use. The following information describes how we sanitize reusable bottles.
We employ a Steelhead Ultra 250 bottled water packaging machine which uses three methods of sanitation in combination; heat, chemical
cleanser, and ozone sanitizer. The sanitizing operations are adequate to effect sanitization of the intended product water-contact
surfaces and any other critical areas.
The cleaning solution is Star Brite® manufactured by Star Solutions, Inc. (P.O. Box 39, Deer Park, Texas 77536, Telephone 281-542-1000),
a leading manufacturer of cleaning solutions for the bottled water industry on a national basis. Velma D. Roppolo, the president of
the company, recommends an application procedure for a spray washer in a concentration of 1% to 2% by volume with water at 120° to 140°
Fahrenheit. Federal regulations reference 21 CFR, Part 110, Subpart B, Section 110.35, (a) and (b) which states that "cleaning and
sanitizing of utensils and equipment shall be conducted in a manner that protects against contamination of food" and "compliance with
this requirement may be verified by any effective means including purchase of these substances under a supplier's guarantee or
certification . . . ". Star Brite®'s technical sheet indicates NSF registration.
Steelhead Manufacturing (P.O. Box 240487, San Antonio, Texas 78224, Telephone 210-628-1066, Alan R. Pyle, President), which is an industry
leader, has a compliant engineering design suitable for its intended purpose in relation to 21 CFR, Part 129, Subpart E, Section 129.80, (d).
They have specified in their operations manual for the Ultra 250 that the wash solution heater thermostat be adjusted to 140° Fahrenheit.
There are four (4) bottle wash stations which are timed for a duration of eleven and one half (11.5) seconds at each station in which a
heated and pressurized sanitizing agent (Star Brite®) is sprayed into and on the outside of bottles. A single intermediate post rinse station
completes initial sterilization of bottles with an interior spray. Additionally, there is a three (3) second interval between each station as
bottles advance to the next station. Bottles continue to be exposed to the sanitizing agents during four (4) advance intervals as the conveyor
moves bottles to the next station. As a result the complete washing and sanitizing cycle through four (4) stations and one (1) post rinse
station lasts 72.5 seconds.
After washing and sanitizing bottles continue to an additional ozone sterilization process. There are four (4) ozone sterilization stations
and one final rinse station. The same conveyor belt described in the washing procedure above advances bottles at the same speed through the
ozone sanitation stations. There are four (4) bottle ozone sterilization stations which are timed for a duration of eleven and one half (11.5)
seconds at each station in which pressurized ozone water is sprayed into and on the outside of bottles. The system is designed to maintain a 0.3
parts per million residual of ozone in the sterilization rinse water. A single final rinse station completes sterilization of bottles with an
interior spray. Additionally, there is a three (3) second interval between each station as bottles advance to the next station. Bottles continue
to be exposed to the ozone sterilization rinse water during four (4) advance intervals as the conveyor moves bottles to the next station. As a
result the complete ozone sterilization process and final rinse cycles through four (4) stations and one (1) final rinse station lasts 72.5 seconds.
The complete time interval for four (4) wash stations, one (1) post rinse station, four (4) ozone sterilization stations, and one (1) final rinse
station is 145 seconds.
Ozone levels for sterilization water in the Steelhead Ultra 250 packaging machine are specified at a target range of .1 to .4 parts per million
according to the manufacturer. The system has design capabilities to maintain a 0.3 parts per million residual of ozone in the sterilization rinse
water. Our Production Log has been created to conform with Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 129, Subpart E, Production and Process
Controls, Sections 129.80(a) and 129.80(b). Contemporaneous tests are performed in which the ozone target range results are recorded on a form
and maintained in our permanent record. This permanent record is readily available to government inspectors from the Food and Drug Administration
as well as the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Weekly bacteriological water quality testing is conducted under the guidelines of 21 Code of Federal Regulations 129.80(g)(1) and the Bottled and
Vended Water Operator Certification Manual, Ninth Edition, June 2006, Section 3.2 "Finished Bottled Water Sampling" provided by the Texas Department
of State Health Services. We submit a weekly sample for testing to be performed on the "purified drinking water" produced. Weekly testing is
performed by the Tarrant County Public Health North Texas Regional Laboratory located at 1101 S. Main St., Room 1700 in Fort Worth, Texas 76104.
The laboratory supervisor is Ms. Nancy Turnage.
Rain Fresh® Bottled Water Company understands the responsibility we assume when manufacturing purified water for public consumption. Our intention
is to fully comply with the regulatory laws and provide a water product in which the consuming public may enjoy with complete confidence.
