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Drinking Water Analysis
Analytical solutions to ensure safe drinking water
Drinking water requires testing for over 90 possible contaminants according to U.S. EPA regulations in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Using approved analytical methods, scientists in municipal water facilities and contract labs routinely monitor for pollutants such as inorganic anions and cations, metals, radionuclides, and organic contaminants using a range of Thermo Scientific solutions including IC, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, GC, GC-MS, LC, LC-MS, and colorimetry. See below to determine which technique to use.
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Drinking water analysis categories
Our pH, ISE, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen measurement products are well known for excellence in water and liquid analysis. Thermo Scientific™ Orion™ products include a full range of complementary liquid sensing and measurement.
These portable colorimeters can go where you go for your water analysis needs. Choose from 134 preprogrammed methods to measure the concentrations of sample components.
Take your portable turbidity meter to the source for onsite measurement. Our turbidity meters feature white and infrared light sources, helping you meet regulatory requirements.
Use IC for analysis of inorganic anions in drinking water by EPA Method 300.0 or 300.1, and for anion analysis measuring nitrate, nitrite, fluoride, and disinfection byproducts (bromate, chlorite).
Use LC-MS/MS for hormones by EPA 539, and for microcystins by EPA Methods 544 and 545. Use the power of Orbitrap-based LC-MS to identify and quantify unknown emerging contaminants.
Our GC and GC-MS systems are tailored to meet regulatory compliance for analysis of organic contaminants in drinking water, including volatiles (VOCs) and semivolatiles (SVOCs).
EPA Method 200.8 uses ICP-MS to analyze certain heavy metal contaminants in drinking water. For regulatory compliance, different metals require the use of different methods.
U.S. EPA Method 200.7 employs ICP-OES to analyze heavy metal contaminants in drinking water. Different metals require different methods to meet regulatory compliance.
Our discrete analyzers automate photometric and electrochemical analysis providing fast, reproducible results that allow laboratories to measure multiple analytes simultaneously, while reducing total analysis and operator time.
Rely on these solutions to deliver value and help to you achieve your drinking water safety goals.
Choose from a complete line of ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometers. With award-winning designs and user-friendly software, they help you quantify, assess purity, and more.
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When it comes to advancing your analytical capabilities, learning from other experts is key. Join our Environmental Analysis community to connect with our experts and your colleagues around the globe.
Techniques routinely used for drinking water analysis
| Turbidity Meter | IC | GC, GC-MS | LC, LC-MS | ICP-OES, ICP-MS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water turbidity |  | — | — | — | — |
| Odor and taste | — | | | — | — |
| Inorganic anions | — | | — | — | — |
| Trace metals | — | — | — | — | |
| Disinfection byproducts | — | | | | — |
| Organic contaminants | — | — | | | — |
| Emerging contaminants | — | — | | | — |
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Thermo Fisher Scientific is committed to enhancing the quality of our global water resources. As innovation leaders in ion and liquid chromatography, our analytical instruments are used by governments and industry to provide solutions for environmental water testing for a wide range of regulated and emerging inorganic elements and organic compounds.
Access this Toolkit to learn from application and industry experts about workflows and innovations that you can implement to advance your environmental water testing. Explore eBooks, application notes, white papers, case studies, webinars and more to optimize your sample processing and analysis.
Combining rugged hardware, specifically designed software, and simple operation, Thermo Scientific Gallery and Gallery Plus Aqua Master discrete analyzers are built for high-throughput water and nutrient analysis that meets local regulations.
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