Laboratory Analysis

Watercare Laboratory Services carries out a range of tests on:

• Water

• Wastewater

• Environmental samples

• Air

Water samples

Watercare Laboratory Services is IANZ accredited and registered with the Ministry of Health as an approved laboratory for testing potable water to confirm compliance with the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards. Strict internal processes ensure that clients meet the Ministry of Health Guidelines for sampling and analysis of their sources and reticulated water supply. Typical analyses performed include, but are not restricted to, the following:

• E.coli

• Cryptosporidium and giardia

• Enterovirus/adenovirus

• Helminths

• Algae and cyanobacteria

• Anions (e.g. nitrate, nitrite, sulphite, chloride, fluoride)

• Ammoniacal nitrogen

• Conductivity

• Turbidity

• pH

• Metals - Semi-quantitative screening through to ultra trace detection limits for up to 70 different elements using ICP-MS technology

- Detection of mercury to ultra low levels

- Analysis of metals including selenium, arsenic and antimony

• Suspended solids

• Chlorine, free available

• Hardness

• Alkalinity

• Colour

• Cyanide

• Total organic carbon 

• In addition, a range of organics (VOCs, SVOCs, PAHs, disinfection by products and pesticides etc) and microbial analysis are available.

If the test you require is not listed above, please contact us.

Tests available include:

• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

• A full range of metals including the heavy metals such as; chromium, nickel, copper, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, zinc and lead

• Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

• Total nitrogen

• Total phosphorus

• Ammonia, nitrate, nitrite

• Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN)

• Faecal coliforms

• Oil and grease

• Total metals

• Sulphide

• Odour analysis

• Campylobacter

• Salmonella

• Cultured adeno and entero viruses

• Bacteriophage

• Helminth ova

• Cryptosporidium and giardia

• Siloxanes concentration in biogas

Environmental samples

Watercare Laboratory Services has significant experience within the field of environmental sample analysis. Environmental projects span a number of matrices and are often unique in their analysis requirements. These analyses are used for operational and stormwater monitoring, State of the Environment monitoring and resource consent purposes. For ongoing environmental monitoring or one-off projects the range of analyses are extensive and include:

• Shellfish for marine water quality testing

• Timber treatment plants for heavy metals and organic compounds

• Horticultural sites for persistent pesticides

• Macroinvertebrate and algae to determine the health of our streams and lakes

• Chemical and microbial profiles of stream, sediments, soils and waterways

• Nutrients, metals and organics in stormwater

• Low level metals in environmental samples

The following lists offer a sample of the tests we can provide. If the test you require is not listed below, please contact us.

Microbiological testing

• Algae and cyanobacteria

• Cryptosporidium and giardia

• f-specific bacteriophages

• Filamentous bacteria

• Helminths

• Indicator micro-organisms

• Iron and sulphur bacteria

• Macroinvertebrates

• Pathogens

• Periphyton

• Enteric viruses 

• Zooplankton

General chemistry

• Ash free dry weight

• Nitrate, nitrite, ammonia

• Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

• Phosphorous

• Oil and grease

Metal analysis

• A full range of metal detection limits; analysis includes semi-quantitative screening through to ultra-trace detection limits (ppt) using ICP-MS technology

• A full range of metals including the heavy metals chromium, nickel, copper, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, zinc, lead, antimony and selenium

Organic chemistry

• A range of organic analyses to trace or ultra trace detection limits

• Acid herbicides

• Alcohols

• Aldehydes

• BTEX

• Cyanotoxins

• Dilhaloacetonitriles

• Disinfection byproducts

• Endocrine disruptors

• Haloacetic acids

• Organochlorine pesticides

• Phenols

• Polychlorinated biphenyls

• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

• Semi volatile organic compounds

• Siloxanes

• Taste and odour

• Total petroleum hydrocarbons

• Trihalomethanes

• Volatile organic compunds

• Volatile fatty acids