• Avoid overexposure. Do not allow the produce to remain in contact with the
solution longer than necessary. Check circulation patterns in chlorination tanks to
eliminate dead spots.
• Change the water frequently. Chlorination efficiency is poor in dirty water. If
necessary, wash very dirty produce with clean water before it comes into contact
with the chlorinated water.
• Dispose of wastewater properly. Before installing chlorination equipment, plan
how you will dispose of the wastewater. Land application of wastewater is
normally allowed, but check to see if a permit is needed. Illegal disposal of
chlorinated water could result in a substantial fine.
• Practice good sanitation. Hose off the packing equipment and floors daily;
remove any dirt and trash that has settled in the chlorination tank. Sanitize the
equipment with a spray solution composed of four pints of 5.25 percent sodium
hypochlorite solution in 10 gallons of water. As an alternative, steam clean the
equipment with an approved detergent. Do not allow culls or decayed produce to
remain in or around the packing house.
• Protect workers. For their safety and comfort, workers must be protected from the
chlorine fumes associated with excessively high levels of chlorine. If the amount of
chlorine gas in the work area is great enough to cause worker discomfort, the
amount of chlorine being used is well above that required for proper post-harvest
sanitation. If air-monitoring equipment is not available, chlorine concentrations can
be checked by asking a person who has not been desensitized by the door to enter
the work area. If he or she can smell the chlorine, the level is probably adequate.
The concentration is too high if workers are continually irritated by the odour.
• Remember that chlorination will not solve all your problems. Even the best
chlorination program may not be sufficient to prevent all post-harvest decay.
Prompt handling, proper sanitation, and rapid cooling should all be part of your
post-harvest disease management program. Produce infected in the field or
otherwise damaged cannot be saved by chlorination.