Water Quality Awareness 101 21 | P a g e Some items also utilise a preserving substance to enhance the shelf life that may not be compatible with contact to drinking water. Never assume that an item is acceptable unless it is suitably packaged and labelled as fit for food grade or drinking water use. The recycling and reusing of valves and equipment is a common practice that could potentially present a risk of cross contamination that must be carefully managed. This does not mean that a valve previously used in the sewerage network could not be reused as a valve within a drinking water system. It just means that there must be a high level of diligence to ensure that the quality and safety of the drinking water is not compromised. 13.1.1 Issues  Chemicals stored in close proximity to equipment and materials that will be used on drinking water systems  Contamination of equipment and materials from welding, cutting, grinding or other workshop activities  Storing items that may have been used or have come into contact with other items used in sewerage systems  Storage areas that allow the intrusion of pests, such as rodents and birds (faecal material from these pests creates a pathogen risk)  Keeping tools previously used for sewerage system works close to, or in contact with, tools designed or designated for use on drinking water systems 13.1.2 Solutions  Cleaning items that may be reused as soon as they are taken out of service and labelling them as fit for use as drinking water assets  Tagging items to show whether they came from a dirty or a clean process  Physically separating drinking water and wastewater tools and materials on vehicles and in workshops  Ensuring that protective packaging is maintained wherever possible and re- package as necessary, into clean and sealed plastic bags  Storing items in clean areas of work vehicles (isolated from chemicals) and preventing impact damage (tearing of packaging) from movement whilst in transit