Water Quality Testing

Water quality testing determines the suitability of use of water for its intended purposes. It may be required for human uses: drinking, for instance, or swimming. It may be tested to ensure safety to be used in food and drink processing and manufacturing; for industrial uses; or environmental water quality for biotic species living in specific ecosystems. Water can contain naturally occurring contaminants or ones that have been introduced from other sources. It does not need to be sterile, but pathogens (micro-organisms capable of causing disease such as Legionella bacteria) must be removed before it is used. Testing also checks for inorganic contaminants like salts and metals; organic chemical contaminants from petroleum and industrial processes; and run-off such as pesticides, herbicides and radioactive contaminants. Different standards of compliance are laid down depending on water use, and appropriate water tests will be carried out against its chemical, physical, biological and radiological characteristics. For water to be considered fit for human consumption, for example, it must meet legally enforceable quality standards set by both UK legislation and European Directives. Water supply companies and commercial laboratories UKAS accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 to the Drinking Water Testing Specification are approved to test potable water.