WATER TESTING
Potable, Non-Potable & Process-Water Testing
Biotrax provides microbiological and selected chemistry testing for potable, non-potable—including wastewater—and process-water samples. The appropriate analysis depends on where the water comes from, how it is used, the testing objective, and whether a specific method or NYS ELAP-certified result is required.
Contact Biotrax before collection if the required method, container, volume, preservation, holding time, or delivery requirements have not already been confirmed.
IMPORTANT: Biotrax maintains NYS ELAP certification for specific microbiological analyses in potable and non-potable water. Certification applies only to the analyte-and-method combinations listed on the current certificates. Other available or coordinated analyses may fall outside that scope. Review the current certificates or contact Biotrax before collection.
WHICH TYPE OF WATER ARE YOU TESTING?
The appropriate testing path depends on the type of water and the question the testing needs to answer. Use these categories as a starting point.
POTABLE WATER
Potable water is intended for drinking, food preparation, or another use requiring potable-quality water. Testing may support routine monitoring, investigations, and applicable customer, internal, or regulatory requirements.
Tell us the water source, sampling location, testing objective, and whether an NYS ELAP-certified result or specified method is required.
NON-POTABLE WATER
Non-potable water is not intended for drinking and may include wastewater, influent, effluent, and other operational or environmental water.
Testing may support treatment or process monitoring, investigations, and applicable customer, operational, discharge, or regulatory requirements. Tell us the water source, treatment stage, sampling location, testing objective, and required certification or method.
PROCESS WATER
Process water may be used during manufacturing, formulation, cleaning, rinsing, cooling, or other operational activities. Testing may support process monitoring, investigations, troubleshooting, internal quality programs, and applicable customer or operational specifications.
Process water may be potable or non-potable depending on its source and intended use. Tell us where it comes from, how it is used, whether it contacts products, packaging, equipment, or food-contact surfaces, and what the testing needs to determine.
SELECTED WATER CHEMISTRY
Biotrax provides or coordinates selected water-chemistry analyses based on the water type, intended use, required method, and testing objective. Testing may support process monitoring, investigations, troubleshooting, and applicable customer, internal, or regulatory requirements.
IMPORTANT: If an ELAP-certified result or specified method is required, contact Biotrax before collection. Certification status, submission requirements, and whether an analysis is performed in-house or coordinated through a qualified partner laboratory must be confirmed for the specific request.
pH
Biotrax performs pH analysis in-house. pH indicates how acidic or alkaline a water sample is.
Results may support evaluation of treatment conditions, corrosion or scaling, cleaning and sanitation programs, equipment performance, product formulation, or other process requirements. The appropriate range depends on the water source, intended use, and applicable specification.
IMPORTANT: pH is not listed on Biotrax’s current NYS ELAP potable- or non-potable-water certificates.
NITRATE & NITRITE
Nitrate and nitrite analysis is coordinated through a qualified partner laboratory. Testing may support water-quality investigations, environmental or agricultural concerns, treatment-system evaluation, customer or internal specifications, or applicable drinking-water requirements.
Contact Biotrax before collection to confirm the required method, certification status, container, preservation, sample volume, and holding time.
LEAD
Lead analysis is coordinated through a qualified partner laboratory. Lead may enter water through plumbing materials, fixtures, solder, service lines, or source-water contamination.
The collection procedure affects what the result represents. First-draw, flushed, source, and point-of-use samples may provide different information.
Contact Biotrax before collection to confirm the testing objective, required method, certification status, container, preservation, sampling procedure, and holding time.
BEFORE COLLECTING OR SUBMITTING YOUR WATER SAMPLE
Water-testing methods may require a specific container, sample volume, preservation, temperature, collection procedure, holding time, and delivery timeframe. Confirming these requirements before collection can help prevent a sample from becoming unsuitable for the requested analysis.
Requirements may include:
- A sterile or preserved sample container.
- A minimum sample volume.
- Method-specific collection instructions.
- Temperature control.
- Protection from outside contamination.
- A defined holding time.
- Delivery to the laboratory within a specific timeframe.
- Accurate documentation of the location and collection time.
Microbiology samples typically need at least 100 milliliters, although the exact amount may vary depending on the specific analysis and the number of tests requested. Process-water membrane-filtration methods might necessitate a different or larger sample volume.
BEFORE SUBMISSION OR COLLECTION:
Tell Biotrax:
- Water category
- Source and intended use
- Sampling location
- Testing objective
- Whether an ELAP-certified result is required
- Any specified method or reporting unit
- Planned collection and delivery time
- Whether onsite collection is requested
Biotrax will help confirm:
- Appropriate available analysis
- Whether work is in-house or coordinated
- Certification status
- Required container and volume
- Preservation and temperature requirements
- Applicable holding time
- Collection-vessel availability
- Pickup or onsite-collection options