Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, and nickel are common pollutants in industrial wastewater and pose serious risks to both the environment and human health. This article explores a range of effective treatment methods designed to remove these contaminants and ensure compliance with increasingly strict environmental regulations.
Specialist drinking water testing and analysis
Water Treatment Services is a leading water, air and environmental specialist offering expert laboratory services including drinking water testing and analysis of both mains fed (tap water) and private water supplies (including boreholes, wells and other watercourses) to organisations and private individuals throughout the UK and Ireland.
Our potable water analysis procedures incorporate tests for metals and heavy metals, chemical and microbiological analysis, and in-field sampling services.
Drinking water, also known as potable water, is water that is considered safe for human consumption. It should be free from harmful contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and heavy metals that could cause illness. It comes from sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, boreholes and wells, rainwater harvesting and desalination.
Drinking water is typically treated through filtration, disinfection and other purification processes to ensure it meets local water quality standards.
When was the last time that you had the quality of your tap water tested? Here in the UK, water utility companies have to conform to strict water quality standards set by the Government, and enforced by the regulator, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). These standards ensure that the water flowing through the mains distribution system is up to scratch at all times. However, once the water leaves the mains supply and enters a private residence or commercial building, the pipes, storage tanks, local distribution systems and other factors can start to affect the quality of the water.
There are also properties, mostly in remote locations, which depend on other types of private water supplies such as springs, boreholes, rivers, lakes or wells and people using these types of supplies may need to carry out their own drinking water testing too.
Our specialist laboratory based drinking water tests and water quality analysis solutions include:
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained engineers, water treatment specialists and technicians we can offer professional, cost effective drinking water testing, in-field water sampling and laboratory analysis services across the UK and Ireland.
Contact WTS today to learn how our water quality analysis solutions can help identify contamination issues. To speak with one of our water testing experts call us on 0330 223 31 31 or simply use this button.
If you are supplied by a water utility company and are concerned about what might be getting into your water between it leaving the public mains and coming out of the taps in your property, then a good place to start is by looking at how you treat your water. This could include a review of the type of water distribution systems you have in your building, the materials that have been used (lead, copper, plastic etc.) to construct the system, especially the pipes carrying the water and any water storage tanks.
Older domestic and commercial properties which have not been renovated since 1970 might have lead pipes either in the kitchen, bathrooms, or elsewhere in the property on the route the water takes to the tap. Lead was a common material used for pipes and plumbing installations pre-1970 and can cause serious health issues, especially in children and pregnant women. If water testing identifies that lead is contaminating your water and is present at higher than the prescribed limits, you should take prompt action to replace the pipes.
Other common drinking water contaminants are corrosion by-products, most often caused by copper corrosion or cast iron pipes rusting and leaching iron particles into the water supply. If this is happening, the water way contain increased levels of iron, copper or even manganese which can all lead to discolouration of the water and unsightly surface staining of baths, sinks, WC’s, pools and spas.
There are several microbiological contaminants that can also affect water quality including Legionella bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These bacterium will typically colonise a buildings local water distribution system and, under the right circumstances can cause serious health issues.
If your water comes from a private water supply such as a well, spring, borehole or river, it is unlikely to have been through the intensive water treatment processing stages used by the water utility companies to filter and disinfect our mains drinking water.
In the worse case scenario, this could mean that there are bacteria, viruses and a range of other chemical or metal contaminants in your water.
One of the main concerns when extracting from a private water supply is contamination with faecal matter, especially in rural and agricultural areas where the presence of animals and cattle may pollute local water courses. This can lead to dangerous contamination of the water by organisms such as E. coli and Salmonella. Other issues in such areas include contamination from elevated levels of nitrates, nitrites, sulphates and sulphides which can be caused by the intensive use of commercial fertilisers or sewage contamination.
Regular drinking water testing will help to make sure that the steps you are taking to treat your water are having the desired effect and that any unwanted contaminants are maintained within the safe limits set out by the government. If you are living or working in a property with a private water supply, testing the supply might be something you do on a regular basis.
If you are testing drinking water for just one contaminant, such as lead or bacteria, then you might choose to use simple test strips or dip slides which you can dip in to the water to get your result. These are a quick and cost-effective way of testing your water but with one obvious drawback – you might get an answer about one type of contaminant but be completely unaware of other serious issues with your water.
We recommend it’s better and safer to have your tap water tested by the experts at WTS, who can run a series of specialist drinking water tests in the laboratory to identify a range of specific microbiological, metal and chemical contaminants in your water, and determine at which levels they are present. These results would then be compared to the standards set out in the governments Water Supply Regulations, and a report produced. The report will flag up those contaminants which are of particular concern, allowing you to target your efforts to reduce risk.
Our standard compliance suite of tests for potable (drinking) water is highly recommended and provides an excellent indication of overall water quality for general potable applications. This compliance suite includes for the following tests:
Our standard suite of chemical and metal parameter tests for mains fed water supplies would typically include:
Our standard suite of chemical and metal parameter tests for private water supplies, wells, boreholes, lakes and rivers would typically include:
Once you have your detailed drinking water analysis report giving information about the quality of your drinking water and any issues which have been found, you can then make plans for improving the quality of your water… or where this is not possible, to look for an alternative supply.
The approach and water treatment techniques selected will depend very much on the types of contaminants which have been identified. For example, if high levels of bacteria have been found in the water, the advice might be to use UV light to kill off the bugs, or add a suitable, DWI approved disinfectant to the water supply to kill them that way. If the issue is corrosion in the pipes causing the water to become discoloured, then replacing the pipes might be the only option.
If other types of contaminants are found, you might be able to filter them out by adding a filtration system either at the point where the water supply enters the property, or directly adjacent to the taps used for drinking water. However, it’s important to remember that there is no point making any of these changes before you know whether or not you have a problem with water quality, and that can only be determined by specialist drinking water testing.
Once you have invested in the correct improvements to your water supply, it’s then essential to have the water retested in exactly the same way so that you get an accurate comparison of the water quality before and after. It may also be well worthwhile implementing a regular programme of water testing to ensure water quality is maintained consistently.
Contact WTS today to find out more about our laboratory water analysis services including drinking water testing for mains fed and private water supplies, swimming pool testing and in-field sampling services.
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained technicians, in-field specialists and consultants we can offer cost effective environmental support solutions across the whole of the UK and Ireland.
Contact us today to learn how our expert water quality analysis services can help you keep your drinking water safe.
You may also be interested in…
Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, and nickel are common pollutants in industrial wastewater and pose serious risks to both the environment and human health. This article explores a range of effective treatment methods designed to remove these contaminants and ensure compliance with increasingly strict environmental regulations.
Specialist drinking water testing and analysis
Water Treatment Services is a leading water, air and environmental specialist offering expert laboratory services including drinking water testing and analysis of both mains fed (tap water) and private water supplies (including boreholes, wells and other watercourses) to organisations and private individuals throughout the UK and Ireland.
Our potable water analysis procedures incorporate tests for metals and heavy metals, chemical and microbiological analysis, and in-field sampling services.
Drinking water, also known as potable water, is water that is considered safe for human consumption. It should be free from harmful contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and heavy metals that could cause illness. It comes from sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, boreholes and wells, rainwater harvesting and desalination.
Drinking water is typically treated through filtration, disinfection and other purification processes to ensure it meets local water quality standards.
When was the last time that you had the quality of your tap water tested? Here in the UK, water utility companies have to conform to strict water quality standards set by the Government, and enforced by the regulator, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). These standards ensure that the water flowing through the mains distribution system is up to scratch at all times. However, once the water leaves the mains supply and enters a private residence or commercial building, the pipes, storage tanks, local distribution systems and other factors can start to affect the quality of the water.
There are also properties, mostly in remote locations, which depend on other types of private water supplies such as springs, boreholes, rivers, lakes or wells and people using these types of supplies may need to carry out their own drinking water testing too.
Our specialist laboratory based drinking water tests and water quality analysis solutions include:
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained engineers, water treatment specialists and technicians we can offer professional, cost effective drinking water testing, in-field water sampling and laboratory analysis services across the UK and Ireland.
Contact WTS today to learn how our water quality analysis solutions can help identify contamination issues. To speak with one of our water testing experts call us on 0330 223 31 31 or simply use this button.
If you are supplied by a water utility company and are concerned about what might be getting into your water between it leaving the public mains and coming out of the taps in your property, then a good place to start is by looking at how you treat your water. This could include a review of the type of water distribution systems you have in your building, the materials that have been used (lead, copper, plastic etc.) to construct the system, especially the pipes carrying the water and any water storage tanks.
Older domestic and commercial properties which have not been renovated since 1970 might have lead pipes either in the kitchen, bathrooms, or elsewhere in the property on the route the water takes to the tap. Lead was a common material used for pipes and plumbing installations pre-1970 and can cause serious health issues, especially in children and pregnant women. If water testing identifies that lead is contaminating your water and is present at higher than the prescribed limits, you should take prompt action to replace the pipes.
Other common drinking water contaminants are corrosion by-products, most often caused by copper corrosion or cast iron pipes rusting and leaching iron particles into the water supply. If this is happening, the water way contain increased levels of iron, copper or even manganese which can all lead to discolouration of the water and unsightly surface staining of baths, sinks, WC’s, pools and spas.
There are several microbiological contaminants that can also affect water quality including Legionella bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These bacterium will typically colonise a buildings local water distribution system and, under the right circumstances can cause serious health issues.
If your water comes from a private water supply such as a well, spring, borehole or river, it is unlikely to have been through the intensive water treatment processing stages used by the water utility companies to filter and disinfect our mains drinking water.
In the worse case scenario, this could mean that there are bacteria, viruses and a range of other chemical or metal contaminants in your water.
One of the main concerns when extracting from a private water supply is contamination with faecal matter, especially in rural and agricultural areas where the presence of animals and cattle may pollute local water courses. This can lead to dangerous contamination of the water by organisms such as E. coli and Salmonella. Other issues in such areas include contamination from elevated levels of nitrates, nitrites, sulphates and sulphides which can be caused by the intensive use of commercial fertilisers or sewage contamination.
Regular drinking water testing will help to make sure that the steps you are taking to treat your water are having the desired effect and that any unwanted contaminants are maintained within the safe limits set out by the government. If you are living or working in a property with a private water supply, testing the supply might be something you do on a regular basis.
If you are testing drinking water for just one contaminant, such as lead or bacteria, then you might choose to use simple test strips or dip slides which you can dip in to the water to get your result. These are a quick and cost-effective way of testing your water but with one obvious drawback – you might get an answer about one type of contaminant but be completely unaware of other serious issues with your water.
We recommend it’s better and safer to have your tap water tested by the experts at WTS, who can run a series of specialist drinking water tests in the laboratory to identify a range of specific microbiological, metal and chemical contaminants in your water, and determine at which levels they are present. These results would then be compared to the standards set out in the governments Water Supply Regulations, and a report produced. The report will flag up those contaminants which are of particular concern, allowing you to target your efforts to reduce risk.
Our standard compliance suite of tests for potable (drinking) water is highly recommended and provides an excellent indication of overall water quality for general potable applications. This compliance suite includes for the following tests:
Our standard suite of chemical and metal parameter tests for mains fed water supplies would typically include:
Our standard suite of chemical and metal parameter tests for private water supplies, wells, boreholes, lakes and rivers would typically include:
Once you have your detailed drinking water analysis report giving information about the quality of your drinking water and any issues which have been found, you can then make plans for improving the quality of your water… or where this is not possible, to look for an alternative supply.
The approach and water treatment techniques selected will depend very much on the types of contaminants which have been identified. For example, if high levels of bacteria have been found in the water, the advice might be to use UV light to kill off the bugs, or add a suitable, DWI approved disinfectant to the water supply to kill them that way. If the issue is corrosion in the pipes causing the water to become discoloured, then replacing the pipes might be the only option.
If other types of contaminants are found, you might be able to filter them out by adding a filtration system either at the point where the water supply enters the property, or directly adjacent to the taps used for drinking water. However, it’s important to remember that there is no point making any of these changes before you know whether or not you have a problem with water quality, and that can only be determined by specialist drinking water testing.
Once you have invested in the correct improvements to your water supply, it’s then essential to have the water retested in exactly the same way so that you get an accurate comparison of the water quality before and after. It may also be well worthwhile implementing a regular programme of water testing to ensure water quality is maintained consistently.
Contact WTS today to find out more about our laboratory water analysis services including drinking water testing for mains fed and private water supplies, swimming pool testing and in-field sampling services.
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained technicians, in-field specialists and consultants we can offer cost effective environmental support solutions across the whole of the UK and Ireland.
Contact us today to learn how our expert water quality analysis services can help you keep your drinking water safe.
You may also be interested in…
Testing water for metals and heavy metals.
Testing your water for metals and heavy metals is an important step in safeguarding health, protecting assets, and ensuring compliance with environmental and regulatory standards. At Water Treatment Services we provide specialist laboratory analysis and in-field sampling solutions designed to identify the presence and concentration of metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic and others that can pose serious risks if left unchecked. Our expert services support private individuals, businesses and organisations across the UK, helping to ensure drinking water, trade effluent and industrial wastewater remain safe, compliant and fit for purpose.
Our comprehensive testing services cover a wide range of applications, from the analysis of potable water supplies and private sources such as wells and boreholes, through to the testing of wastewater and trade effluent discharges. We use the latest laboratory techniques and in-field monitoring equipment to deliver accurate, reliable results across metals, chemicals and microbiological parameters. Whether you need reassurance about the quality of your drinking water, independent validation of water treatment performance, or assistance meeting strict effluent discharge consent limits, our experienced teams are here to help.
There are a number of reasons why you may want to test water for metals, including some of the more common heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic.
You may extract your water from a private supply and be concerned about contamination of your drinking water, or you may be a business looking to satisfy trade effluent discharge standards for your wastewater. Whatever your reasons Water Treatment Services has the expertise to help you.
Our specialist laboratory based water analysis and in-field sampling solutions include:
Testing water for metals and heavy metals is a vital step in protecting health, meeting legal obligations, and maintaining the performance of water systems and treatment programmes. Whether you are concerned about a private water supply, need to confirm compliance with the Water Supply Regulations, or have to meet strict trade effluent discharge standards, accurate and reliable analysis is essential.
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained engineers, water treatment service specialists and technical experts we can offer professional, cost effective water testing, in-field water sampling and laboratory analysis services across the UK and Ireland.
Contact Water Treatment Services today to learn how our professional water quality analysis, in-field testing and sampling solutions can help improve your water quality, water treatment validation and regulatory compliance processes. To speak with one of our water testing experts call us on 0330 223 31 31 or simply use this button.
Here in the UK we’re lucky to have a safe and reliable supply of clean drinking water, literally on-tap. Most homes and commercial buildings in the UK get their mains water supplied directly by one of the big water companies, who have a responsibility to check the quality of the water being supplied, and testing it to ensure it falls within strict legal limits set by the regulators.
Water supplied for drinking (often called potable water) in the UK has to be constantly monitored, and there is an independent regulatory body called the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) which monitors this. DWI inspectors regularly enter consumer properties to take water samples for independent analysis.
The quality of our drinking water is not something most of us need to worry about unless something goes wrong. However, if you’re buying or leasing a property for residential or commercial purposes which takes its water from a private water supply such as a well, borehole, spring or other water source, then it’s up to you to ensure your water meets the standards set in the Water Supply Regulations 2016. Confirming this may involve testing water for metals, chemicals, microbiological parameters and other common contaminants.
In general, heavy metals contaminating our water supplies are less of a problem than they were in the past. With improved environmental awareness we’ve cleaned up our collective act when it comes to waste and wastewater disposal.
Changing patterns of work have also meant that we just don’t have the heavy industrial processes that previously used iron, steel, lead, mercury, arsenic and other metals. However, that doesn’t mean there is now no longer any metal contamination of our water supplies. It’s therefore important that where you suspect there may be a metal contamination issue that you test your water to make sure concentrations’ do not exceed the safe limits set by the Government.
Some of the main metals and other elements you might find in water, and which could potentially cause health problems if present at high enough concentrations include:
The UK’s 2016 Water Supply Regulations set out maximum allowable limits for metals and heavy metals in drinking water. If your water is supplied from a water utility company then they are obliged to meet these standards. However, if you extract from a private water supply such as a well, borehole, spring or other water source, then it’s up to you to ensure you meet these standards. The following limits on the maximum concentration levels of metals in drinking water are taken from the Water Supply Regulations 2016.
| Metal | Maximum concentration in drinking water | Point of compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium (Al) | 200 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Antimony (Sb) | 5.0 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Arsenic (As) | 10 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Boron (B) | 1.0 mg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 5.0 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Chromium (Cr) | 50 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Copper (Cu) | 2.0 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Iron (Fe) | 200 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Lead (Pb) | 10 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Manganese (Mn) | 50 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Mercury (Hg) | 1.0 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Nickel (Ni) | 20 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Selenium (Se) | 10 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Sodium (Na) | 200 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
If you intend to discharge trade effluent or industrial waste water in to a public sewer or watercourse such as a stream, river, lake or the sea then you will need to obtain specific consent from your local sewerage undertaker. Your consent to discharge is likely to include strict limits on the quality of the effluent including its metal content. Water Treatment Services can analyse your waste water and effluent streams for a range of common metals including the following:
There are a number of steps you can take to make sure that your drinking water is safe, especially when you’re relying on water from a private supply or natural source rather than taking it from one of the big water utilities. The approach selected in treating your water before drinking will very much depend on what type of contamination problems exist or are suspected. Testing water for metals, chemicals, microbiological and other contaminants is therefore important. The main methods used to treat water to make it suitable for drinking are:
At Water Treatment Services we combine specialist laboratory testing, in-field sampling and expert consultancy to give you clear, dependable results you can act on with confidence. With offices and technical teams located across the UK, we offer full national coverage and cost-effective solutions tailored to your specific needs. Contact us today to speak with one of our water testing experts and find out how our comprehensive range of water analysis services can help you safeguard quality, demonstrate compliance and protect the people, processes and environments that matter most.
Contact us today to learn how our expert analysis solutions can help you determine your water quality and the presence and concentration of any metal contamination.
You may also be interested in…
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Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, and nickel are common pollutants in industrial wastewater and pose serious risks to both the environment and human health. This article explores a range of effective treatment methods designed to remove these contaminants and ensure compliance with increasingly strict environmental regulations.
Specialist drinking water testing and analysis
Water Treatment Services is a leading water, air and environmental specialist offering expert laboratory services including drinking water testing and analysis of both mains fed (tap water) and private water supplies (including boreholes, wells and other watercourses) to organisations and private individuals throughout the UK and Ireland.
Our potable water analysis procedures incorporate tests for metals and heavy metals, chemical and microbiological analysis, and in-field sampling services.
Drinking water, also known as potable water, is water that is considered safe for human consumption. It should be free from harmful contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and heavy metals that could cause illness. It comes from sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, boreholes and wells, rainwater harvesting and desalination.
Drinking water is typically treated through filtration, disinfection and other purification processes to ensure it meets local water quality standards.
When was the last time that you had the quality of your tap water tested? Here in the UK, water utility companies have to conform to strict water quality standards set by the Government, and enforced by the regulator, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). These standards ensure that the water flowing through the mains distribution system is up to scratch at all times. However, once the water leaves the mains supply and enters a private residence or commercial building, the pipes, storage tanks, local distribution systems and other factors can start to affect the quality of the water.
There are also properties, mostly in remote locations, which depend on other types of private water supplies such as springs, boreholes, rivers, lakes or wells and people using these types of supplies may need to carry out their own drinking water testing too.
Our specialist laboratory based drinking water tests and water quality analysis solutions include:
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained engineers, water treatment specialists and technicians we can offer professional, cost effective drinking water testing, in-field water sampling and laboratory analysis services across the UK and Ireland.
Contact WTS today to learn how our water quality analysis solutions can help identify contamination issues. To speak with one of our water testing experts call us on 0330 223 31 31 or simply use this button.
If you are supplied by a water utility company and are concerned about what might be getting into your water between it leaving the public mains and coming out of the taps in your property, then a good place to start is by looking at how you treat your water. This could include a review of the type of water distribution systems you have in your building, the materials that have been used (lead, copper, plastic etc.) to construct the system, especially the pipes carrying the water and any water storage tanks.
Older domestic and commercial properties which have not been renovated since 1970 might have lead pipes either in the kitchen, bathrooms, or elsewhere in the property on the route the water takes to the tap. Lead was a common material used for pipes and plumbing installations pre-1970 and can cause serious health issues, especially in children and pregnant women. If water testing identifies that lead is contaminating your water and is present at higher than the prescribed limits, you should take prompt action to replace the pipes.
Other common drinking water contaminants are corrosion by-products, most often caused by copper corrosion or cast iron pipes rusting and leaching iron particles into the water supply. If this is happening, the water way contain increased levels of iron, copper or even manganese which can all lead to discolouration of the water and unsightly surface staining of baths, sinks, WC’s, pools and spas.
There are several microbiological contaminants that can also affect water quality including Legionella bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These bacterium will typically colonise a buildings local water distribution system and, under the right circumstances can cause serious health issues.
If your water comes from a private water supply such as a well, spring, borehole or river, it is unlikely to have been through the intensive water treatment processing stages used by the water utility companies to filter and disinfect our mains drinking water.
In the worse case scenario, this could mean that there are bacteria, viruses and a range of other chemical or metal contaminants in your water.
One of the main concerns when extracting from a private water supply is contamination with faecal matter, especially in rural and agricultural areas where the presence of animals and cattle may pollute local water courses. This can lead to dangerous contamination of the water by organisms such as E. coli and Salmonella. Other issues in such areas include contamination from elevated levels of nitrates, nitrites, sulphates and sulphides which can be caused by the intensive use of commercial fertilisers or sewage contamination.
Regular drinking water testing will help to make sure that the steps you are taking to treat your water are having the desired effect and that any unwanted contaminants are maintained within the safe limits set out by the government. If you are living or working in a property with a private water supply, testing the supply might be something you do on a regular basis.
If you are testing drinking water for just one contaminant, such as lead or bacteria, then you might choose to use simple test strips or dip slides which you can dip in to the water to get your result. These are a quick and cost-effective way of testing your water but with one obvious drawback – you might get an answer about one type of contaminant but be completely unaware of other serious issues with your water.
We recommend it’s better and safer to have your tap water tested by the experts at WTS, who can run a series of specialist drinking water tests in the laboratory to identify a range of specific microbiological, metal and chemical contaminants in your water, and determine at which levels they are present. These results would then be compared to the standards set out in the governments Water Supply Regulations, and a report produced. The report will flag up those contaminants which are of particular concern, allowing you to target your efforts to reduce risk.
Our standard compliance suite of tests for potable (drinking) water is highly recommended and provides an excellent indication of overall water quality for general potable applications. This compliance suite includes for the following tests:
Our standard suite of chemical and metal parameter tests for mains fed water supplies would typically include:
Our standard suite of chemical and metal parameter tests for private water supplies, wells, boreholes, lakes and rivers would typically include:
Once you have your detailed drinking water analysis report giving information about the quality of your drinking water and any issues which have been found, you can then make plans for improving the quality of your water… or where this is not possible, to look for an alternative supply.
The approach and water treatment techniques selected will depend very much on the types of contaminants which have been identified. For example, if high levels of bacteria have been found in the water, the advice might be to use UV light to kill off the bugs, or add a suitable, DWI approved disinfectant to the water supply to kill them that way. If the issue is corrosion in the pipes causing the water to become discoloured, then replacing the pipes might be the only option.
If other types of contaminants are found, you might be able to filter them out by adding a filtration system either at the point where the water supply enters the property, or directly adjacent to the taps used for drinking water. However, it’s important to remember that there is no point making any of these changes before you know whether or not you have a problem with water quality, and that can only be determined by specialist drinking water testing.
Once you have invested in the correct improvements to your water supply, it’s then essential to have the water retested in exactly the same way so that you get an accurate comparison of the water quality before and after. It may also be well worthwhile implementing a regular programme of water testing to ensure water quality is maintained consistently.
Contact WTS today to find out more about our laboratory water analysis services including drinking water testing for mains fed and private water supplies, swimming pool testing and in-field sampling services.
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained technicians, in-field specialists and consultants we can offer cost effective environmental support solutions across the whole of the UK and Ireland.
Contact us today to learn how our expert water quality analysis services can help you keep your drinking water safe.
You may also be interested in…
Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, and nickel are common pollutants in industrial wastewater and pose serious risks to both the environment and human health. This article explores a range of effective treatment methods designed to remove these contaminants and ensure compliance with increasingly strict environmental regulations.
Specialist drinking water testing and analysis
Water Treatment Services is a leading water, air and environmental specialist offering expert laboratory services including drinking water testing and analysis of both mains fed (tap water) and private water supplies (including boreholes, wells and other watercourses) to organisations and private individuals throughout the UK and Ireland.
Our potable water analysis procedures incorporate tests for metals and heavy metals, chemical and microbiological analysis, and in-field sampling services.
Drinking water, also known as potable water, is water that is considered safe for human consumption. It should be free from harmful contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and heavy metals that could cause illness. It comes from sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, boreholes and wells, rainwater harvesting and desalination.
Drinking water is typically treated through filtration, disinfection and other purification processes to ensure it meets local water quality standards.
When was the last time that you had the quality of your tap water tested? Here in the UK, water utility companies have to conform to strict water quality standards set by the Government, and enforced by the regulator, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). These standards ensure that the water flowing through the mains distribution system is up to scratch at all times. However, once the water leaves the mains supply and enters a private residence or commercial building, the pipes, storage tanks, local distribution systems and other factors can start to affect the quality of the water.
There are also properties, mostly in remote locations, which depend on other types of private water supplies such as springs, boreholes, rivers, lakes or wells and people using these types of supplies may need to carry out their own drinking water testing too.
Our specialist laboratory based drinking water tests and water quality analysis solutions include:
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained engineers, water treatment specialists and technicians we can offer professional, cost effective drinking water testing, in-field water sampling and laboratory analysis services across the UK and Ireland.
Contact WTS today to learn how our water quality analysis solutions can help identify contamination issues. To speak with one of our water testing experts call us on 0330 223 31 31 or simply use this button.
If you are supplied by a water utility company and are concerned about what might be getting into your water between it leaving the public mains and coming out of the taps in your property, then a good place to start is by looking at how you treat your water. This could include a review of the type of water distribution systems you have in your building, the materials that have been used (lead, copper, plastic etc.) to construct the system, especially the pipes carrying the water and any water storage tanks.
Older domestic and commercial properties which have not been renovated since 1970 might have lead pipes either in the kitchen, bathrooms, or elsewhere in the property on the route the water takes to the tap. Lead was a common material used for pipes and plumbing installations pre-1970 and can cause serious health issues, especially in children and pregnant women. If water testing identifies that lead is contaminating your water and is present at higher than the prescribed limits, you should take prompt action to replace the pipes.
Other common drinking water contaminants are corrosion by-products, most often caused by copper corrosion or cast iron pipes rusting and leaching iron particles into the water supply. If this is happening, the water way contain increased levels of iron, copper or even manganese which can all lead to discolouration of the water and unsightly surface staining of baths, sinks, WC’s, pools and spas.
There are several microbiological contaminants that can also affect water quality including Legionella bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These bacterium will typically colonise a buildings local water distribution system and, under the right circumstances can cause serious health issues.
If your water comes from a private water supply such as a well, spring, borehole or river, it is unlikely to have been through the intensive water treatment processing stages used by the water utility companies to filter and disinfect our mains drinking water.
In the worse case scenario, this could mean that there are bacteria, viruses and a range of other chemical or metal contaminants in your water.
One of the main concerns when extracting from a private water supply is contamination with faecal matter, especially in rural and agricultural areas where the presence of animals and cattle may pollute local water courses. This can lead to dangerous contamination of the water by organisms such as E. coli and Salmonella. Other issues in such areas include contamination from elevated levels of nitrates, nitrites, sulphates and sulphides which can be caused by the intensive use of commercial fertilisers or sewage contamination.
Regular drinking water testing will help to make sure that the steps you are taking to treat your water are having the desired effect and that any unwanted contaminants are maintained within the safe limits set out by the government. If you are living or working in a property with a private water supply, testing the supply might be something you do on a regular basis.
If you are testing drinking water for just one contaminant, such as lead or bacteria, then you might choose to use simple test strips or dip slides which you can dip in to the water to get your result. These are a quick and cost-effective way of testing your water but with one obvious drawback – you might get an answer about one type of contaminant but be completely unaware of other serious issues with your water.
We recommend it’s better and safer to have your tap water tested by the experts at WTS, who can run a series of specialist drinking water tests in the laboratory to identify a range of specific microbiological, metal and chemical contaminants in your water, and determine at which levels they are present. These results would then be compared to the standards set out in the governments Water Supply Regulations, and a report produced. The report will flag up those contaminants which are of particular concern, allowing you to target your efforts to reduce risk.
Our standard compliance suite of tests for potable (drinking) water is highly recommended and provides an excellent indication of overall water quality for general potable applications. This compliance suite includes for the following tests:
Our standard suite of chemical and metal parameter tests for mains fed water supplies would typically include:
Our standard suite of chemical and metal parameter tests for private water supplies, wells, boreholes, lakes and rivers would typically include:
Once you have your detailed drinking water analysis report giving information about the quality of your drinking water and any issues which have been found, you can then make plans for improving the quality of your water… or where this is not possible, to look for an alternative supply.
The approach and water treatment techniques selected will depend very much on the types of contaminants which have been identified. For example, if high levels of bacteria have been found in the water, the advice might be to use UV light to kill off the bugs, or add a suitable, DWI approved disinfectant to the water supply to kill them that way. If the issue is corrosion in the pipes causing the water to become discoloured, then replacing the pipes might be the only option.
If other types of contaminants are found, you might be able to filter them out by adding a filtration system either at the point where the water supply enters the property, or directly adjacent to the taps used for drinking water. However, it’s important to remember that there is no point making any of these changes before you know whether or not you have a problem with water quality, and that can only be determined by specialist drinking water testing.
Once you have invested in the correct improvements to your water supply, it’s then essential to have the water retested in exactly the same way so that you get an accurate comparison of the water quality before and after. It may also be well worthwhile implementing a regular programme of water testing to ensure water quality is maintained consistently.
Contact WTS today to find out more about our laboratory water analysis services including drinking water testing for mains fed and private water supplies, swimming pool testing and in-field sampling services.
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained technicians, in-field specialists and consultants we can offer cost effective environmental support solutions across the whole of the UK and Ireland.
Contact us today to learn how our expert water quality analysis services can help you keep your drinking water safe.
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Testing water for metals and heavy metals.
Testing your water for metals and heavy metals is an important step in safeguarding health, protecting assets, and ensuring compliance with environmental and regulatory standards. At Water Treatment Services we provide specialist laboratory analysis and in-field sampling solutions designed to identify the presence and concentration of metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic and others that can pose serious risks if left unchecked. Our expert services support private individuals, businesses and organisations across the UK, helping to ensure drinking water, trade effluent and industrial wastewater remain safe, compliant and fit for purpose.
Our comprehensive testing services cover a wide range of applications, from the analysis of potable water supplies and private sources such as wells and boreholes, through to the testing of wastewater and trade effluent discharges. We use the latest laboratory techniques and in-field monitoring equipment to deliver accurate, reliable results across metals, chemicals and microbiological parameters. Whether you need reassurance about the quality of your drinking water, independent validation of water treatment performance, or assistance meeting strict effluent discharge consent limits, our experienced teams are here to help.
There are a number of reasons why you may want to test water for metals, including some of the more common heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic.
You may extract your water from a private supply and be concerned about contamination of your drinking water, or you may be a business looking to satisfy trade effluent discharge standards for your wastewater. Whatever your reasons Water Treatment Services has the expertise to help you.
Our specialist laboratory based water analysis and in-field sampling solutions include:
Testing water for metals and heavy metals is a vital step in protecting health, meeting legal obligations, and maintaining the performance of water systems and treatment programmes. Whether you are concerned about a private water supply, need to confirm compliance with the Water Supply Regulations, or have to meet strict trade effluent discharge standards, accurate and reliable analysis is essential.
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained engineers, water treatment service specialists and technical experts we can offer professional, cost effective water testing, in-field water sampling and laboratory analysis services across the UK and Ireland.
Contact Water Treatment Services today to learn how our professional water quality analysis, in-field testing and sampling solutions can help improve your water quality, water treatment validation and regulatory compliance processes. To speak with one of our water testing experts call us on 0330 223 31 31 or simply use this button.
Here in the UK we’re lucky to have a safe and reliable supply of clean drinking water, literally on-tap. Most homes and commercial buildings in the UK get their mains water supplied directly by one of the big water companies, who have a responsibility to check the quality of the water being supplied, and testing it to ensure it falls within strict legal limits set by the regulators.
Water supplied for drinking (often called potable water) in the UK has to be constantly monitored, and there is an independent regulatory body called the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) which monitors this. DWI inspectors regularly enter consumer properties to take water samples for independent analysis.
The quality of our drinking water is not something most of us need to worry about unless something goes wrong. However, if you’re buying or leasing a property for residential or commercial purposes which takes its water from a private water supply such as a well, borehole, spring or other water source, then it’s up to you to ensure your water meets the standards set in the Water Supply Regulations 2016. Confirming this may involve testing water for metals, chemicals, microbiological parameters and other common contaminants.
In general, heavy metals contaminating our water supplies are less of a problem than they were in the past. With improved environmental awareness we’ve cleaned up our collective act when it comes to waste and wastewater disposal.
Changing patterns of work have also meant that we just don’t have the heavy industrial processes that previously used iron, steel, lead, mercury, arsenic and other metals. However, that doesn’t mean there is now no longer any metal contamination of our water supplies. It’s therefore important that where you suspect there may be a metal contamination issue that you test your water to make sure concentrations’ do not exceed the safe limits set by the Government.
Some of the main metals and other elements you might find in water, and which could potentially cause health problems if present at high enough concentrations include:
The UK’s 2016 Water Supply Regulations set out maximum allowable limits for metals and heavy metals in drinking water. If your water is supplied from a water utility company then they are obliged to meet these standards. However, if you extract from a private water supply such as a well, borehole, spring or other water source, then it’s up to you to ensure you meet these standards. The following limits on the maximum concentration levels of metals in drinking water are taken from the Water Supply Regulations 2016.
| Metal | Maximum concentration in drinking water | Point of compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium (Al) | 200 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Antimony (Sb) | 5.0 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Arsenic (As) | 10 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Boron (B) | 1.0 mg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 5.0 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Chromium (Cr) | 50 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Copper (Cu) | 2.0 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Iron (Fe) | 200 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Lead (Pb) | 10 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Manganese (Mn) | 50 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Mercury (Hg) | 1.0 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Nickel (Ni) | 20 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Selenium (Se) | 10 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
| Sodium (Na) | 200 µg/l | Consumers’ taps |
If you intend to discharge trade effluent or industrial waste water in to a public sewer or watercourse such as a stream, river, lake or the sea then you will need to obtain specific consent from your local sewerage undertaker. Your consent to discharge is likely to include strict limits on the quality of the effluent including its metal content. Water Treatment Services can analyse your waste water and effluent streams for a range of common metals including the following:
There are a number of steps you can take to make sure that your drinking water is safe, especially when you’re relying on water from a private supply or natural source rather than taking it from one of the big water utilities. The approach selected in treating your water before drinking will very much depend on what type of contamination problems exist or are suspected. Testing water for metals, chemicals, microbiological and other contaminants is therefore important. The main methods used to treat water to make it suitable for drinking are:
At Water Treatment Services we combine specialist laboratory testing, in-field sampling and expert consultancy to give you clear, dependable results you can act on with confidence. With offices and technical teams located across the UK, we offer full national coverage and cost-effective solutions tailored to your specific needs. Contact us today to speak with one of our water testing experts and find out how our comprehensive range of water analysis services can help you safeguard quality, demonstrate compliance and protect the people, processes and environments that matter most.
Contact us today to learn how our expert analysis solutions can help you determine your water quality and the presence and concentration of any metal contamination.
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