Our Water Contamination Sampling & Laboratory Testing Services
Whether it's for regulatory compliance as part of an environmental permit, confirming drinking water suitability, identifying surface water contamination, irrigating agricultural land or you're simply curious about the risk of water contamination at your property or site, our tailored water contamination testing services, for commercial and domestic clients, can help. We can carry out water sampling as part of our assessment or can send you a water testing kit, allowing you to collect samples yourself. After your water samples have been tested in our UKAS accredited laboratory, we will provide you with an interpretive report, including explanation of the results, potential risks and putting it into context for your specific situation.
Water Sample Collection - We can visit your site or property to carry out water sampling, for contamination testing in a UKAS and MCERTS accredited laboratory, or send you a water testing kit, allowing you to collect the samples yourself. We can also provide recommendations for appropriate sampling at your site to ensure that the sampling is suitable for potentially affected waters.
Laboratory Water Contamination Testing - Our laboratory contamination testing of water samples can include a huge variety of contaminants, including dissolved metals and hydrocarbons that are often found in water bodies near industrial areas, pesticides that can run off the surface of agricultural fields into nearby waters and dangerous bacteria from sewage spills or faecal matter. Simply let us know your situation and we can either build a suitable contaminant suite of water testing or carry out testing based on your specific request. Alternatively, if you're looking for a generic assessment of common waterborne contaminants, we can provide a generic suite of contaminants to allow assessment of surface water or drinking water contamination levels.
Clear & Jargon Free Reporting - After your water samples have been tested, we will provide you with a detailed analysis and interpretation of your laboratory results, assessing them against a range of suitable screening values depending on your situation, for example to confirm if the water is considered to be contaminated, safe to be discharged to a watercourse or appropriate for its intended use, whether this be for drinking water or for use in industry or agriculture.
A very efficient service to test my drinking water for contamination. Clear instructions and report. All within the agreed timescale. Very happy.
- Tom Black
How Our Water Contamination Testing Can Help
We offer a quick and convenient water contamination testing service, fully tailored to your specific needs, however, we've highlighted some common projects we regularly help our clients with. Remember that we can tailor water contamination testing for your specific requirements.
Drinking Water (Potable) - Drinking water, also known as potable water, is water that is safe to drink or use for food preparation. In order to assess whether water is suitable, we carry out laboratory testing for contaminants, such as dissolved metals and harmful bacteria, in addition to testing for physical characteristics, such as suspended solids and electrical conductivity. Contamination testing of drinking water is most often conducted following a potentially contaminative event or prior to the use of non-mains fed water for drinking.
Regulatory Compliance - You may need sample and test water that is to be discharged to a watercourse or drainage network following use in an industrial process, in order to obtain an environmental permit. In this case, water samples will need to be collected and then tested in UKAS accredited laboratory, for a tailored suite of contaminants.
Due Diligence - If you want to find out about the condition of your drinking water or the surface water on your land, we can carry out water contamination testing for a generic suite of contaminants that are known to pose a risk to controlled waters and human health. Rivers, ponds and land drains can be contaminated through surface runoff of contaminants or the leaching of contaminants through soil, however, there may also be previously unidentified historical contamination in the sediment of these watercourses that may be released into the soil when disturbed. It is often very difficult to determine the quality of water, including suitability for use as drinking water, by observation alone so it may be desirable to carry out water sampling and contamination testing for peace of mind.
Agriculture - Unidentified contamination of water, utilised for the irrigation of crops and other activities, may negatively impact agricultural land and crops. You may, therefore, wish to carry out water contamination testing to ensure the quality and safety of your crops and agricultural land. Water samples can be easily collected using our water testing kits or we can visit your site to collect the samples and provide a more in-depth interpretive report.
Water Contamination Testing Case Study
BBC Water Contamination Investigation - We had the pleasure of assisting the BBC with an investigation into hydrocarbon contamination in the River Nene. The programme, which aired on BBC One & BBC News, focused on the rise of 'Wild Swimming', swimming in natural bodies of water e.g. lakes, ponds, rivers and the ocean, and the potential human health affects of swimming in potentially contaminated water.
Water samples were collected to assess the potential impact of hydrocarbon runoff on the River Nene in two contrasting locations. A sample was collected from the River Nene near the rural village of Denford, with another collected from a stretch of the Nene, near an industrial area in Northampton.
Hydrocarbon runoff from industrial activities and roads can occur through the release of emissions from vehicles or the use of coal tar in the construction of old roads. Laboratory testing of the water samples indicated that no harmful concentrations of hydrocarbon contamination were present, however, elevated concentrations of hydrocarbons may be present within sediment and soils adjacent to the watercourse, as these organic substances tend to adsorb to soil particles and are also insoluble in water, so are more likely to build up to higher concentrations in sediments and soils rather than the water itself.
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Meet Our Water Contamination Consultants
Louis Turner, Technical Director - Having graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Environmental Science, Louis is recognised for his technical leadership and precision in environmental consultancy. Louis provides strategic oversight across all service areas, ensuring projects meet the highest standards of compliance, accuracy, and environmental responsibility. Louis manages water testing initiatives, applying rigorous sampling and laboratory analysis to assess water quality and contamination risks. His technical oversight ensures compliance with environmental regulations and provides clients with actionable insights to supporting both regulatory compliance and safeguard public health.
Joe Turner, Operations Director - Providing practical expertise and a client-focused approach, Joe ensures that every project is delivered quickly, efficiently, and without unnecessary hassle. He has successfully managed a wide variety of project types across the consultancy, bringing a wealth of operational knowledge and a reputation for keeping projects on track. Joe's leadership guarantees a smooth process for clients, from initial enquiry through to final reporting. Joe manages water testing services, ensuring sampling and laboratory analysis are carried out to the highest standards. His operational oversight guarantees timely, dependable reports on water quality and contamination risks, supporting regulatory compliance and safe development.
Richard Turner, Director - With over 30 years of experience in site development, he provides invaluable insight into pragmatic solutions that balance costs, practicalities, and client objectives. Richard has a detailed understanding of building regulations and a clear sense of what is and isn't possible on site, making him a trusted advisor for developments of all sizes. Richard manages water testing services with an emphasis on practicality and compliance, ensuring that results are not only accurate but also directly inform safe, cost effective development decisions.
Request Water Contamination Testing
Contact us for an informal discussion about your requirements or, if your requirements are more complex, a more formal consultation may be necessary. Following initial consultation we can provide an outline proposal detailing how we can help and the costs involved. If you're looking for more information about our services or our company then complete the below contact form and we will endeavour to respond to your enquiry in a timely manner, alternatively, give us a call on 0800 433 2906 and our experienced consultants can provide actionable advice and guidance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does water testing cost? - Although water testing costs are highly correlated to factors such as the number of samples, project type, reporting requirements and the scope of UKAS and MCERTS accredited laboratory testing, our water testing services start at £275. For samples taken using our water test kit service, allowing you to take the samples, the cost of your testing will largely depend on the number of samples and the testing you select, whereas, for water sampling carried out by our consultants, a number of other factors will also be taken into account.
How to test water? - The most cost effective way to test your water is to utilise our water testing kits. Sample containers and a sampling guide are provided, allowing this approach to offer fast, affordable and accurate UKAS & MCERTS testing of water samples.
References
HM Government. The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive)
World Health Organization. Drinking Water Quality Guidelines