Bacteriological Collecting and Testing. Water Testing Requirements and Procedures 6-53. Bacteriological Collecting and Testing. The test measure aboard ship for determining the suitability of water for human consumption is bacteriological purity. The main purpose of the disinfection procedure is to destroy pathogenic organisms present in the water.
Adequate disinfection is demonstrated by bacteriological testing.
Samples may be obtained from each tank by using the brominator recirculation test taps on ships so equipped. The number of samples should be based on the size of the ship's distribution system. In no instance should less than four samples be examined weekly. On DD, DDG, FFG, LST, MSO, and other ships with complements below 500, four samples are required. Special or more frequent samples will be collected and tested whenever chlorine demand increases, contamination is suspected, after cleaning and disinfecting tanks, and upon completion of repairs to the system.