Water Testing
Your Industry, Our Focus
Introduction
Water is a fundamental resource for human health, agriculture, industry, and ecosystems. However, water can act as a carrier of harmful contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, pathogens, and industrial pollutants. Contaminated water poses serious health risks, regulatory challenges, and reputational damage to businesses.
At Eurofins, we provide end-to-end water testing solutions that ensure compliance with international standards and safeguard consumer trust.
Why Water Testing is Essential
Eurofins emphasizes water testing for:
- Public Health Protection – Identifying harmful microorganisms, chemicals, and toxins.
- Regulatory Compliance – Meeting national and international drinking water, industrial water, and wastewater standards.
- Environmental Protection – Preventing contamination of aquatic ecosystems.
- Industrial Safety – Monitoring water quality in pharmaceuticals, beverages, food processing, and power plants.
- Risk Management – Detecting pollutants early to avoid costly recalls, penalties, or environmental damage.
Types of Water and Their Testing Needs
|
Water Type |
Key Parameters Tested |
Common Users |
|
Drinking Water |
Microbiological (E. coli, coliforms), heavy metals, nitrates, fluoride, pesticides, residual chlorine |
Municipalities, bottled water plants |
|
Groundwater |
Arsenic, fluoride, hardness, TDS, pesticides, industrial effluents |
Rural supply, agriculture |
|
Surface Water (rivers, lakes) |
Dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD, heavy metals, pathogens, oil & grease |
Environmental monitoring, fisheries |
|
Wastewater/Effluents |
pH, TSS, BOD, COD, heavy metals, surfactants, phenols |
Industries, sewage treatment plants |
|
Process Water (industrial use) |
Conductivity, silica, hardness, microbial load |
Food & beverage, pharma, power plants |
|
Packaged/Bottled Water |
Microbial quality, toxins, compliance with IS 14543 / WHO standards |
Beverage manufacturers, exporters |
Common Water Contaminants and Their Risks
|
Contaminant |
Source |
Risk to Health/Environment |
|
Pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella, viruses, protozoa) |
Sewage, surface water contamination |
Gastrointestinal diseases, outbreaks |
|
Heavy Metals (lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium) |
Industrial discharge, natural leaching |
Neurological damage, cancer, organ toxicity |
|
Pesticides & Herbicides |
Agricultural runoff |
Endocrine disruption, reproductive issues |
|
Nitrates/Nitrites |
Fertilizers, sewage |
Blue baby syndrome, cancer risk |
|
Microplastics |
Packaging, wastewater |
Bioaccumulation, unknown long-term effects |
|
Chemical Pollutants (phenols, surfactants, solvents) |
Industrial effluents |
Toxicity, aquatic ecosystem disruption |
|
Excess Salts (TDS, hardness, fluoride) |
Natural sources, overuse of fertilizers |
Dental/skeletal fluorosis, kidney damage |
Water Testing & Analysis: A Purpose-Driven Approach
Before testing any water sample, it’s important to understand its intended use. The purpose—whether for drinking, industrial processing, irrigation, or discharge into open water bodies—determines what standards apply and which parameters to analyze.
Which Standards Guide Water Testing?
Water quality is assessed using guidelines established by leading regulatory and scientific bodies. The selection of standards depends on the end use of the water:
- APHA (American Public Health Association) – Widely used for laboratory procedures
- IS (Indian Standards – BIS) – National drinking water and industrial use standards
- CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) – Discharge and surface water standards
- WHO (World Health Organization) – Global reference for safe drinking water
Main Categories of Water Quality Tests
Water testing is typically divided into three major categories, each focusing on different aspects of water quality:
Physical Tests
These tests evaluate properties that can be detected using the senses or simple equipment.
Common Parameters:
- Color
- Odor
- Taste
- Turbidity
- Temperature
Purpose: Quick indication of visible pollution or quality changes.
Chemical Tests
These assess the presence and concentration of chemical substances, both natural and man-made.
Key Parameters:
- pH (Acidity/Alkalinity)
- BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)
- DO (Dissolved Oxygen)
- TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)
- Chloride, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Nitrate
Purpose: Determine how water affects health, equipment, and the environment.
Bacteriological Tests
These tests detect microbial contamination, especially organisms indicating fecal or sewage pollution.
Typical Indicators:
- Escherichia coli (E. coli)
- Total coliform bacteria
- Fecal streptococci
Purpose: Ensure water is safe for human contact or consumption.
Regulations and standards
INDIAN STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR DRINKING WATER
IS: 10500
|
S.NO. |
Parameter |
Requirement desirable Limit |
Remarks |
|
1. |
Colour |
5 |
May be extended up to 50 if toxic substances are suspected |
|
2. |
Turbidity |
10 |
May be relaxed up to 25 in the absence of alternate |
|
3. |
pH |
6.5 to 8.5 |
May be relaxed up to 9.2 in the absence |
|
4. |
Total Hardness |
300 |
May be extended up to 600 |
|
5. |
Calcium as Ca |
75 |
May be extended up to 200 |
|
6. |
Magnesium as Mg |
30 |
May be extended up to 100 |
|
7. |
Copper as Cu |
0.05 |
May be relaxed up to 1.5 |
|
8. |
Iron |
0.3 |
May be extended up to 1 |
|
9. |
Manganese |
0.1 |
May be extended up to 0.5 |
|
10. |
Chlorides |
250 |
May be extended up to 1000 |
|
11. |
Sulphates |
150 |
May be extended up to 400 |
|
12. |
Nitrates |
45 |
No relaxation |
|
13. |
Fluoride |
0.6 to 1.2 |
If the limit is below 0.6 water should be rejected, Max. Limit is extended to 1.5 |
|
14. |
Phenols |
0.001 |
May be relaxed up to 0.002 |
|
15. |
Mercury |
0.001 |
No relaxation |
|
16. |
Cadmium |
0.01 |
No relaxation |
|
17. |
Selenium |
0.01 |
No relaxation |
|
18. |
Arsenic |
0.05 |
No relaxation |
|
19. |
Cyanide |
0.05 |
No relaxation |
|
20. |
Lead |
0.1 |
No relaxation |
|
21. |
Zinc |
5.0 |
May be extended up to 10.0 |
|
22. |
Anionic detergents (MBAS) |
0.2 |
May be relaxed up to 1 |
|
23. |
Chromium as Cr+6 |
0.05 |
No relaxation |
|
24. |
Poly nuclear aromatic Hydrocarbons |
-- |
-- |
|
25. |
Mineral Oil |
0.01 |
May be relaxed up to 0.03 |
|
26. |
Residual free Chlorine |
0.2 |
Applicable only when water is chlorinated |
|
27. |
Pesticides |
Absent |
-- |
Bacteriological Quality of Drinking Water
|
S.NO. |
Organism |
Requirement |
|
1 |
All water intended for drinking: a) E. coli or thermotolerant coliform bacteria |
Shall not be detectable in any 100 ml sample |
|
2 |
Treated water entering the distribution system: a) E. coli or thermotolerant coliform bacteria
b) Total coliform bacteria |
Shall not be detectable in any 100 ml sample
Shall not be detectable in any 100 ml sample |
|
3 |
Treated water in the distribution system: a) E. coli or thermotolerant coliform bacteria
b) Total coliform bacteria |
Shall not be detectable in any 100 ml sample
Shall not be detectable in any 100 ml sample |
https://cpcb.nic.in/wqm/BIS_Drinking_Water_Specification.pdf
Directive (EU) 2020/2184, enacted by the European Parliament and Council on 16 December 2020, specifies the minimum parametric values for assessing water quality intended for human consumption. This regulation sets stringent microbiological, chemical, and indicator standards to ensure the safety and suitability of drinking water, upholding high public health protection measures.
Part A: Microbiological Parameters
|
Parameter |
Parametric Value |
Unit |
Notes |
|
Intestinal enterococci |
0 |
number/100 ml |
For water in bottles or containers, count per 250 ml. |
|
Escherichia coli (E. coli) |
0 |
number/100 ml |
For water in bottles or containers, count per 250 ml. |
Part B: Chemical Parameters
|
Parameter |
Parametric Value |
Unit |
Notes |
|
Acrylamide |
0.1 |
μg/l |
Refers to residual monomer in water. |
|
Antimony |
10 |
μg/l |
|
|
Arsenic |
10 |
μg/l |
|
|
Benzene |
1 |
μg/l |
|
|
Benzo(a)pyrene |
0.01 |
μg/l |
|
|
Bisphenol A |
2.5 |
μg/l |
|
|
Boron |
1.5 |
mg/l |
2.4 mg/l when desalinated water predominates. |
|
Bromate |
10 |
μg/l |
|
|
Cadmium |
5 |
μg/l |
|
|
Chlorate |
0.25 |
mg/l |
0.70 mg/l where chlorine dioxide is used. |
|
Chlorite |
0.25 |
mg/l |
0.70 mg/l where chlorine dioxide is used. |
|
Chromium |
25 |
μg/l |
50 μg/l until 2036. |
|
Copper |
2 |
mg/l |
|
|
Cyanide |
50 |
μg/l |
|
|
1,2-dichloroethane |
3 |
μg/l |
|
|
Epichlorohydrin |
0.1 |
μg/l |
Refers to residual monomer in water. |
|
Fluoride |
1.5 |
mg/l |
|
|
Haloacetic acids (HAAs) |
60 |
μg/l |
Measure only when relevant disinfection methods are used. |
|
Lead |
5 |
μg/l |
10 μg/l until 2036; then 5 μg/l at point of supply. |
|
Mercury |
1 |
μg/l |
|
|
Microcystin-LR |
1 |
μg/l |
Measure in event of potential blooms. |
|
Nickel |
20 |
μg/l |
|
|
Nitrate |
50 |
mg/l |
Ensure [nitrate]/50 + [nitrite]/3 ≤ 1. |
|
Nitrite |
0.5 |
mg/l |
Ensure [nitrate]/50 + [nitrite]/3 ≤ 1. |
|
Pesticides |
0.1 |
μg/l |
For each pesticide, 0.030 μg/l for certain substances. |
|
Pesticides Total |
0.5 |
μg/l |
Sum of all detected pesticides. |
|
PFAS Total |
0.5 |
μg/l |
Applies once monitoring guidelines are developed. |
|
Sum of PFAS |
0.1 |
μg/l |
Sum of specified PFAS substances. |
|
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons |
0.1 |
μg/l |
Sum of specified compounds. |
|
Selenium |
20 |
μg/l |
30 μg/l in regions with high selenium. |
|
Tetrachloroethene and Trichloroethene |
10 |
μg/l |
Sum of concentrations. |
|
Trihalomethanes Total |
100 |
μg/l |
Strive for a lower value where possible. |
|
Uranium |
30 |
μg/l |
|
|
Vinyl chloride |
0.5 |
μg/l |
Refers to residual monomer in water. |
Part C: Indicator Parameters
|
Parameter |
Parametric Value |
Unit |
Notes |
|
Aluminium |
200 |
μg/l |
|
|
Ammonium |
0.5 |
mg/l |
|
|
Chloride |
250 |
mg/l |
Water should not be corrosive. |
|
Clostridium perfringens |
0 |
number/100 ml |
Measure if risk assessment indicates. |
|
Colour |
Acceptable to consumers and no abnormal change |
|
|
|
Conductivity |
2,500 |
μS cm-1 at 20 °C |
Water should not be aggressive. |
|
Hydrogen ion concentration |
≥ 6.5 and ≤ 9.5 |
pH units |
Lower values acceptable for certain bottled waters. |
|
Iron |
200 |
μg/l |
|
|
Manganese |
50 |
μg/l |
|
|
Odour |
Acceptable to consumers and no abnormal change |
|
|
|
Oxidisability |
5 |
mg/l O2 |
Not needed if TOC is analyzed. |
|
Sulphate |
250 |
mg/l |
Water should not be corrosive. |
|
Sodium |
200 |
mg/l |
|
|
Taste |
Acceptable to consumers and no abnormal change |
|
|
|
Colony count 22°C |
No abnormal change |
|
|
|
Coliform bacteria |
0 |
number/100 ml |
For bottled water, count per 250 ml. |
|
Total organic carbon (TOC) |
No abnormal change |
Not required for supplies under 10,000 m³/day. |
|
|
Turbidity |
Acceptable to consumers and no abnormal change |
|
|
Water Quality Testing Parameters
Below are various parameters used to assess the quality of water, along with corresponding testing methods:
|
Sr No |
Water Testing & Analysis Parameter |
Water Testing and Analysis Method |
|
1 |
Colour |
Visual comparison, Spectrophotmetric method |
|
2 |
pH |
pH paper, Universal indicator or pH meter |
|
3 |
Turbidity |
Nephelometric method |
|
4 |
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) |
Winkler method |
|
5 |
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) |
Winkler method |
|
6 |
Chloride (Cl) |
Argentometric method |
|
7 |
Hardness – Ca and Mg |
EDTA method |
|
8 |
Total Dissolved solids |
Gravimetric method |
|
9 |
Sulphate as SO4 |
Turbidimetric method |
|
10 |
Nitrate as NO3 |
Colorimetric method |
|
11 |
Iron (Fe) |
AAS |
|
12 |
Sodium (Na) |
AAS |
|
13 |
E.Coli |
MPN – completed test for E.coli |
|
14 |
Total Coliform Bacteria |
MPN |
|
15 |
Total Bacteria |
Enumeration method |
Eurofins role in testing water analysis
Types of Water Testing We Offer
Eurofins provides one of the broadest portfolios of water testing services, including:
- Microbiological Testing: Total coliforms, E. coli, Salmonella, Legionella, yeast, and mold.
- Heavy Metal Analysis: Arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, nickel (AAS, ICP-MS).
- Chemical Parameters: Nitrates, nitrites, fluorides, phosphates, ammonia, pesticides.
- Physical Parameters: pH, turbidity, TDS, hardness, conductivity.
- Organic Pollutants: VOCs, PAHs, phenols, surfactants.
- Emerging Contaminants: PFAS, pharmaceuticals, microplastics.
- Wastewater Parameters: BOD, COD, TSS, oil & grease.
Testing Methodologies Used
- ICP-MS & AAS – Heavy metals analysis.
- LC-MS/MS, GC-MS – Pesticides, VOCs, organic pollutants.
- HPLC – Pharmaceutical residues, toxins.
- UV-Vis Spectroscopy – Nutrients, fluoride, nitrates.
- Membrane Filtration / MPN – Microbiological testing.
- Gravimetric & Titrimetric Methods – TSS, hardness, alkalinity.
How Our Testing Process Works
- Sample Collection – Guidance on container type, preservatives, and shipping.
- Laboratory Testing – Conducted in NABL & ISO/IEC 17025-accredited labs.
- Turnaround Time – Fast-track (24–48h) and standard options (3–7 days).
- Reporting – Clear, detailed results with compliance interpretation.
- Regulatory Support – Corrective actions, reformulation guidance, and audit support.
Who Needs Water Testing?
- Municipal Corporations & Water Boards – Drinking water monitoring.
- Food & Beverage Industry – Ingredient and process water compliance.
- Pharmaceutical & Healthcare – Sterile and ultrapure water testing.
- Industrial Units – Effluent and discharge compliance.
- Hospitality & E-commerce Brands – Packaged drinking water validation.
- Environmental Agencies & NGOs – Monitoring pollution and conservation.
Common Issues We Solve
|
Issue |
How Eurofins Helps |
|
Pathogen Outbreaks |
Rapid microbiological testing & corrective action plans |
|
Heavy Metal Contamination |
ICP-MS analysis & compliance certification |
|
Industrial Non-Compliance |
Wastewater testing & CPCB reporting support |
|
Export Rejections |
Pre-export compliance testing for EU, US, Middle East |
|
Consumer Complaints |
Independent third-party verification & dispute resolution |
Case Study: Helping a Packaged Water Brand Achieve Export Clearance
A bottled water exporter faced shipment rejection in the EU due to elevated nitrate levels. Eurofins conducted detailed LC-MS/MS and ICP-MS testing, provided corrective guidance, and validated reformulated batches. The client successfully obtained clearance, avoiding losses and safeguarding brand reputation.
Why Choose Eurofins for Water Testing?
- Global Expertise – 900+ laboratories across 50+ countries.
- Accreditations – NABL, ISO/IEC 17025, FSSAI, CPCB, US EPA, EU compliance.
- Advanced Technology – ICP-MS, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, microbiological automation.
- Expert Support – Chemists, microbiologists, and regulatory specialists.
- Logistics Advantage – Nationwide pickup, secure sample handling, fast TAT.
- Partner with Eurofins to ensure your water is safe, compliant, and sustainable.
- Contact our water testing experts for customized solutions.
Click to Schedule testing today to meet regulatory timelines and safeguard public trust.
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