Drinking Water Testing
Potability testing for homes, offices and institutions, quantifying TDS and screening for contaminants like arsenic, fluoride, lead and E. coli before they become a health risk.
What is drinking water testing?
Drinking water testing checks tap, RO, borewell or packaged water against BIS 10500 (India's Indian Standard for Drinking Water Specification), covering physical, chemical, heavy-metal and microbiological parameters. It's the only reliable way to know whether a supply that looks and tastes normal is actually safe, since contaminants like excess TDS, arsenic, fluoride, lead and E. coli rarely announce themselves before a health complaint, a failed office audit, or a customer query about your packaged water brand.
Equinox Labs tests drinking water from taps, RO units, borewells and packaged sources against BIS 10500 at NABL-accredited (ISO/IEC 17025) laboratories, covering physical, chemical, heavy-metal and microbiological parameters. It's one part of the testing infrastructure that has served 95,000+ clients across 500+ cities. If you also need industrial, construction or borewell water tested at the same site, see our full water testing services.
Why does untested drinking water put you at risk?
None of these show up by taste or smell. Only a lab test catches them.
- Microbiological Contamination. Cholera, hepatitis A and dysentery are all linked to bacteriologically contaminated supply.
- Chemical Contaminants. Arsenic, fluoride and lead accumulate with repeated exposure and carry long-term health effects.
- Workplace Water Quality. Cafeteria and drinking-point water is a standard compliance checkpoint.
- Quality Documentation. Packaged water brands risk BIS licence issues if batch quality isn't documented.
What does a drinking water test check?
From taste-affecting TDS to health-critical bacteriological screening.
TDS & Physical Quality
Total Dissolved Solids, turbidity, pH and conductivity checked against the ideal potable range.
Heavy Metal Screening
Arsenic, lead, mercury and chromium quantified to catch contamination that's invisible by taste.
Microbiological Safety
E. coli, total coliform and MPN count screening against the pathogens that cause waterborne disease.
Packaged Drinking Water Testing
BIS-compliant testing for bottled and packaged water brands ahead of licensing or renewal.
What parameters are tested for BIS 10500 compliance?
Physical, chemical and microbiological parameters used to assess drinking water quality.
Physical & Chemical
Heavy Metals
Microbiological
Who needs drinking water testing?
From individual households to packaged water manufacturers.
Homes & Housing Societies
Assess drinking water from taps, RO units, storage tanks and other relevant sources to monitor water quality.
Corporate Offices & Institutions
Quarterly cafeteria and drinking-point testing to meet FSSAI and internal EHS norms. See how this fits into a wider corporate compliance programme.
Packaged Water & RO Brands
Batch-level testing to support BIS compliance and licensing documentation.
Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities
Patient-safety-critical testing where water quality ties directly into infection control, part of our healthcare sector coverage.
Schools & Colleges
Campus drinking water safety for student and staff wellbeing. See our education sector testing programme.
Corporate Office Water Quality Testing Guide
Single-point testing can miss the contamination risks hidden inside complex office plumbing. Learn how multi-point sampling and NABL-accredited testing strengthen compliance and employee safety, especially where restroom and kitchen water carry separate, often overlooked risks.
- Single-point testing blind spots. Why single-point testing misses hidden contamination across a building's plumbing.
- Restroom vs. kitchen risk. How restroom and kitchen water create separate, often overlooked compliance risks.
- NABL-accredited reporting. Why NABL accredited water testing lab reports matter for defensible compliance.
- Inspection readiness. How structured water quality testing services improve inspection readiness.
Free Guide
Corporate Office Water Quality Testing Guide
Learn how multi-point sampling and NABL-accredited testing strengthen compliance and employee safety. Download the free guide.
Download Your Free GuideSee the real cost of unsafe water
Video
80% of Illnesses Are Caused by Water Pollution
- Why unsafe drinking water sits behind most preventable illness in Indian workplaces
- The warning signs tap and RO water can carry that go unnoticed until someone falls sick
- How a lab report turns a guess about your water into a documented, actionable result
Sample to certified report, in four steps
The same process across every drinking water testing engagement.
Inquire
Tell us your water source: tap, RO, borewell or packaged supply.
Sample Collection
Our field team collects samples on-site in sterile, controlled conditions.
Testing
Samples are tested at our NABL-accredited labs against BIS 10500.
Results & Support
We email your certified report and advise on any corrective action needed.
Access the Equinox PortalWhy choose Equinox Labs for drinking water testing?
Accredited methodology and a team that explains what a failed parameter actually means.
NABL Accredited Across 5 Labs
ISO/IEC 17025 accredited testing across our 5 laboratories, with 12 accreditations held in total, stands up to any regulator, auditor or client query.
Full BIS 10500 Panel
Physical, chemical, heavy-metal and microbiological parameters in a single submission.
Pan-India Reach
Sample logistics and testing coverage across 500+ cities, trusted by 95,000+ clients to date.
A Dedicated Account Manager
One point of contact for recurring potability testing across sites.
Drinking Water Testing FAQs
Drinking water testing evaluates water quality through physical, chemical and microbiological analysis. Depending on the source and testing requirements, parameters may include TDS, pH, selected metals and microbiological indicators such as E. coli and coliforms. Results help assess water quality against applicable requirements.
Total dissolved solids (TDS) measures the concentration of dissolved substances in water. Under IS 10500, the acceptable limit for TDS is 500 mg/L, with a permissible limit of 2,000 mg/L in the absence of an alternative source. TDS alone cannot establish whether water is safe to drink, so other relevant parameters must also be considered.
Contaminated drinking water can expose people to harmful microorganisms and chemical contaminants. The potential health effects depend on the contaminant, concentration and exposure. Because some contaminants cannot be identified by appearance, taste or smell, laboratory testing can help assess water quality.
Testing frequency depends on the water source, use, risk assessment and applicable requirements. Households, housing societies and commercial establishments can establish a suitable monitoring schedule based on these factors. Testing should also be considered when the water source changes or there are concerns about its quality.
IS 10500 specifies requirements for drinking water. Food businesses must also consider applicable FSSAI requirements for water used in food preparation and related operations. Packaged drinking water is subject to its applicable product-specific requirements. The relevant standard and testing scope should be confirmed for the intended use.
Testing may be available for packaged drinking water, subject to the product, required parameters and laboratory scope. Packaged drinking water has specific applicable requirements, so confirm the relevant standard, testing panel and documentation needs with the laboratory before submitting samples.
Reports are typically delivered within 3–5 working days. The actual timeline depends on the testing parameters, sample requirements and laboratory workload. Confirm the expected reporting time when placing your enquiry.
The cost depends on the water source, number of parameters, selected testing panel and sample collection requirements. Contact our team for a quotation based on your testing needs.
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