Laboratory Water Testing Equipment and Supplies

The presence of certain contaminants in our water can lead to health issues, including gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders.

The steady advancement of more sophisticated water testing equipment has enabled more detailed, accurate lab testing of all planetary waters.

Let Avantor help your lab with our wide array of water testing supplies.

Water testing overview

Water testing in a laboratory is done to meet regulatory requirements and adhere to the safety procedures needed for pollutant-free water. This core goal involves many different methods to analyze and evaluate the quality of water.

Whether water is used for business purposes, agriculture, public sanitation systems -- or is used by public municipalities providing water to private homeowners -- water must be tested regularly to keep the water source safe and free from environmental risks and potential health disorders.

Water testing in the laboratory

A through water test in the lab provides an actual count of the bacteria level found, which is useful because it is diagnostic both before -- and after -- attempts to correct a bacteria problem.

If water tested in a lab "fails" a bacteria test, that usually means there is also a higher risk of the presence of other contaminants that might be found on the ground surface (pesticides, fertilizers, etc).

Additional, commonly conducted water quality tests in the laboratory include:

Temperature testing

• Testing water temperature helps determine the rate of biochemical reactions in an aquatic environment, and whether they can occur at all. If the water temperature is too elevated, this can limit the water’s ability to hold oxygen and decrease certain organisms’ capacity to resist particular pollutants.

pH testing

• This measures the acidity of water. Most aquatic organisms can only survive within a pH range of 6 to 8.

Chloride testing

• Chloride is usually present in fresh and salt water. High chloride levels can give a "salty" taste to drinking water, damage household appliances like boilers, and, if the water is being used for irrigation, it may inhibit vegetation growth.

Salinity testing

• This measures the total of all non-carbonate salts dissolved in water. Measuring groundwater salinity indicates how salty your topsoil may become if the water table rises.

Dissolved Oxygen Test

• Allows measurement of the amount of oxygen dissolved in water—a key indicator of water health. Without good oxygen levels, aquatic life cannot conduct cellular respiration.

Turbidity test

• This measures the amount of particulate matter suspended in the water, or how clear it is. If elevated turbidity levels are present, photosynthesis is affected as light cannot penetrate, increasing the water temperature.

Nitrate and Phosphate

• Testing for the presence of these essential nutrients is a good indicator of strong plant life.

Pesticides

• It is very important to determine if any pesticides are present in water and what their concentration levels.

Metals

• This testing indicates any metals which are not naturally occurring in water. Heavy metals in water are known to harm the kidneys, liver, nervous system, and bone structure. Lead poisoning via water consumption can be lethal.

What to consider when purchasing water testing supplies

You can protect the interests of your organization and the surrounding community by always securing the highest quality testing equipment and supplies. With high-quality test supplies, you can rest assured you’ll receive accurate, actionable information from every sample. On the other hand, poor quality equipment, could return incorrect results that cause you to make the wrong water quality treatment decisions.

While evaluating potential equipment purchases, remember that industry certified and regulatory-compliant products are designed and tested for accuracy and performance. Avantor is a reliable provider of high-quality water testing supplies and equipment options.

Laboratory equipment needed for water analysis and monitoring spans a wide range of instruments, such as spectrophotometers, colorimeters, turbidimeters, digital thermostats, titration systems as well as equipment for electrochemical analysis, such as pH meters and conductometers.

When shopping for water testing supplies, it’s helpful to organize your lab’s needs into the three core lab functions—sample analysis, sample collection and preparation, and sample handling.

Explore Avantor’s product offerings for these key areas (and related accessories) below: