This Industry best practice manual for water quality management and sterilisation on-farm identifies the criteria for best practice management of water quality on meat chicken (broiler) farms and encourages continuous improvement in farm performance. It also sets out the water quality criteria outcomes which meat chicken farmers need to achieve for best practice.

Factors to consider when thinking about best practice water quality management include:

1. Physical characteristics, mineral content, microbial contamination, and source.
2. Cleanliness of distribution system, drinker lines, and drinkers ­­before flock placement and during production.
3. Drinker management during batch (drinker type, height control, pressure, drinker damage, and blockages).
4. Flushing water lines between flocks and during production.
5. Control of biofilms and mineral build-up.
6. Water system equipment maintenance.