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2–4 Days
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2–4 Days
Fast Turnaround
Get accurate results from a real in-house lab, a free consultation with an actual water quality expert, fast turnaround and free two-way shipping.
Fast Turnaround Times
Fast turnaround times

Ships free to your door

Takes under 5 minutes

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Expert Consultation

Ships free to your door

Takes under 5 minutes

Free return shipping

Expert Consultation



$415.00
ETR Laboratories is accredited by ANAB for specific testing as listed in our scope of accreditation.
The EPA estimates US water systems lose approximately 2 trillion gallons of treated water annually through aging infrastructure. Every leak in that distribution system is a potential entry point for contamination. Water that leaves a treatment plant clean does not always arrive at your tap the same way. Most city water customers assume treatment is the end of the story. We have tested enough municipal water to know it rarely is.
Chlorine used to disinfect municipal water reacts with naturally occurring organic matter to form trihalomethanes, compounds linked to increased health risks with long-term exposure. Homes built before 1986 carry real risk from lead service lines and solder that can leach directly into drinking water regardless of how the source water tests. Bacteria is something many testing companies skip entirely when testing city water, assuming treatment eliminates the need. We disagree. Given the scale of infrastructure leakage across the country, coliform and E. coli testing matters for municipal water customers too.
Every test is run start to finish in our own lab by our own scientists. Most labs, even ones that market themselves as water testing specialists, send some portion of their analysis to outside facilities. We have the equipment and in-house capacity to handle the full panel ourselves. Full-time quality control managers review every result before it leaves. And because we do not sell filtration products, when we tell you what your results mean, there is nothing to sell you on.
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“The test was simple–collect a water sample from a faucet in the home. We sent the test to the lab and received a water quality analysis within a few days. The test included analysis of the water sample for the presence of: coliform bacteria, E. coli, iron, lead, pH, turbidity, and nitrates/nitrites.”
“Incredible lab, they really care about their customers. As someone who doesn’t know a whole lot about water quality, they took their time to help me understand everything about my water quality situation.”
1,200+ customer reviews
via Angie's List
via Angie's List
via Angie's List
Yes. Municipal treatment plants test water as it leaves their facility. Lead, bacteria, disinfection byproducts, and PFAS are all documented in city and town water supplies across the US, and none are detectable by taste, smell, or appearance. Your city's annual report does not reflect what is coming out of your specific tap.
Read more: Why Drinking Water Sickens a Million Americans a Year.
Lead from aging service lines and household plumbing, trihalomethanes from chlorine treatment, PFAS, hardness minerals, and bacteria in systems with aging or compromised infrastructure. Your specific risk depends on your city's infrastructure age, your home's plumbing, and local environmental factors. Our Contaminant Glossary explains what each substance is and why it matters.
Consumer Confidence Reports cover the system at the point water leaves the treatment plant. They do not reflect what happens across the miles of distribution pipes or inside your home's plumbing. If your house was built before 1986 or has older internal plumbing, your tap water can differ meaningfully from what the report shows.
Read more: What Kannapolis Tells Us About City Water Safety.
Our Premium Water Test is the most practical starting point for municipal water customers. It covers 113 substances including lead, heavy metals, bacteria, trihalomethanes, VOCs, radon, and a full hardness panel. For the most comprehensive screening, the Ultimate Water Test covers 249 substances.
Lead enters tap water through corrosion of service lines and household plumbing, not from the source water itself. It can be present even when your city's report shows clean results. Homes built before 1986 carry the highest risk, but newer homes are not immune. Our Premium Water Test includes a full lead and heavy metals panel.
Boiling eliminates some biological threats but does not remove lead, heavy metals, PFAS, nitrates, or disinfection byproducts. In some cases it concentrates chemical contaminants by reducing water volume. Testing tells you what is present so you know whether any action is necessary.
Read more: Does Boiling Water Remove Contaminants?
Yes. PFAS has been detected in municipal water supplies across the US from industrial discharge, firefighting foam use near water sources, and contaminated groundwater feeding into public systems. Standard municipal treatment does not remove it. Our PFAS "Forever Chemical" Drinking Water Test screens for 18 compounds and pairs well with any standard city water test kit.
Read more: PFAS Is Not Going Away.
Yes. Testing before confirms the filter is designed for the contaminants actually in your water. Testing after confirms it is working. The Premium Water Test works well for both.
Contact us. Every order includes a free consultation with one of our in-house water quality experts. We explain your results in plain language and tell you what steps are actually necessary. We do not sell filtration products, so there is no agenda. Our Well and City Water FAQ also covers the most common scenarios.
No shared results. Our laboratory holds our clients privacy to the highest regard, your results and information will never be shared. Be aware that state certified laboratories may be required to report your results to various government agencies.