ST108 Water Quality Standard: Compliance and Patient Safety in Healthcare

Picture this: your sterile processing department (SPD) is running smoothly until buildup appears on surgical trays or sterilizers start failing unexpectedly. The culprit? Water quality. Poor water quality doesn’t just damage equipment, it creates compliance risks, jeopardizes patient safety, and leaves hospitals exposed during surveys. That’s why the ST108 water quality standard is so critical for healthcare facilities today.

Why Water Quality Matters in Medical Device Reprocessing

Water touches every step of reprocessing. From flushing and cleaning to final rinsing and sterilization, the quality of that water directly impacts outcomes, survey readiness, and patient safety.

• HAI risk (patient safety): Contaminated or out-of-spec water can leave microorganisms and residues on instruments.
• Equipment damage: Hard water, corrosive pH, or dissolved solids shorten the life of washers, sterilizers, and scopes.
• Survey failures: CMS and The Joint Commission reference water quality. Out-of-range test results can lead to citations and remediation.

The ST108 water quality standard addresses these issues by defining what ST108 compliance looks like, and how facilities can achieve it.

What Is the ANSI/AAMI ST108 Standard?

The ANSI/AAMI ST108 water quality standard replaces AAMI TIR34 and provides clearer, enforceable guidance for water used in medical device reprocessing. It establishes parameters for three categories of water:

• Utility Water: Used for flushing, cleaning, and certain rinsing steps.
• Critical Water: High-purity water required for final rinses of surgical devices.
• Steam: Water used to generate clean steam for sterilization.

By following ST108 compliance requirements, facilities reduce risks, extend equipment lifespan, and protect patients.

Key Requirements for ST108 Compliance

ST108 outlines measurable parameters that hospitals and SPDs must monitor and document:

• pH: Water that is too acidic or alkaline can corrode instruments and disrupt cleaning agents.
• Hardness: Minerals like calcium and magnesium cause deposits and cleaning failures.
• Conductivity / TDS: Elevated dissolved solids can interfere with sterilization and leave residues.
• Microbial limits: Controls bacteria and biofilm formation that threaten patient safety.

Routine sampling, trending, and documentation are essential to maintain ST108 compliance and prove survey readiness.

How A-Tech Helps with ST108 Compliance

At A-Tech, we turn requirements into a practical, ongoing ST108 water quality standard program. Our environmental health and safety experts partner with hospitals, SPDs, and infection prevention teams to make compliance manageable.

• Water Sampling & Testing: Validating Utility, Critical, and Steam water against ST108 benchmarks.
• System Audits: Reviewing treatment systems, reprocessing workflows, and point-of-use connections.
• Gap Analysis: Identifying non-compliance issues with actionable remediation steps.
• Documentation & Reporting: Survey-ready deliverables aligned to TJC, CMS, and internal policy needs.
• Ongoing Monitoring: Routine testing, trending, and alerts to ensure continued ST108 compliance.

We don’t just provide data—we provide peace of mind by helping facilities stay survey-ready and aligned with the ST108 water quality standard.

Why Choose A-Tech for ST108 Compliance?

• Trusted expertise: Decades of environmental health and compliance experience.
• Healthcare focused: Serving hospitals, SPDs, and healthcare systems across California and the Pacific Northwest.
• Compliance-first approach: Aligning with CMS, TJC, and ANSI/AAMI ST108 standards.
• Proactive partnership: Beyond testing, continuous support to keep you ahead of risk.

Stay Survey-Ready with ST108 Water Quality Standard Compliance

The ST108 water quality standard is more than a checkbox, it’s a safeguard for patient safety and operational success. Failing to meet compliance requirements puts patients, staff, and facilities at risk. Don’t wait until a failed survey or equipment breakdown forces action.