Free Shipping on Orders of $100 or More
ETR Laboratories helps Charlotte residents see past a passing grade on paper. Every kit includes lab-tested results, a free expert consult, and free two-way shipping.
Fast Turnaround Times

Ships free to your door

Takes under 5 minutes

Free return shipping

Expert Consultation



$415.00



$415.00
ETR Laboratories is accredited by ANAB for specific testing as listed in our scope of accreditation.
Charlotte draws its water from Mountain Island Lake on the Catawba River, a surface source rich in organic matter. Chlorine used to disinfect that water reacts with the organic matter and forms trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids. Our in-house lab runs disinfection byproduct panels on site, the same panels other testing companies send us when they need results they can stand behind. Passing a federal standard and staying below a health-based guideline are two different things, and we help you see which one your water actually meets.
Hexavalent chromium, known as chromium-6, has turned up in Charlotte's water above recommended health guidelines. The EPA has not set a legal limit for this compound, so its presence carries no violation and no public notice. Our water quality experts have spent over 30 years catching exactly these kinds of gaps between legal compliance and actual risk. A system can report zero violations and still contain a contaminant worth knowing about, and we'll walk you through what that means for your home.
Mecklenburg County's rapid development has pushed new construction into areas outside Charlotte Water's service area. Groundwater near Charlotte Douglas International Airport has shown high PFAS levels tied to historical firefighting foam use. ETR has completed over 1,000 in-field well inspections nationwide, and we've seen this exact pattern of PFAS near airports and military sites before. Every sample runs start to finish in our own lab, so new well owners in these developments get answers they can trust, not a data sheet forwarded from somewhere else.
Max substances in Ultimate panel
Money-back guarantee
Expert consult every order
“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.”
Yes. Charlotte Water reports zero violations, but that standard doesn't account for unregulated contaminants like chromium-6. It also doesn't mean boiling or basic filtering handles everything in your water, since disinfection byproducts and metals survive both.
Trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids from chlorine treatment are the most consistently detected compounds in the city's water. Chromium-6 has also been found above health guidelines, despite having no enforceable federal limit yet. Our chromium-6 (hexavalent) test checks for this specific compound directly.
Meeting a legal limit and staying below a health-based guideline are not the same thing. A system can report zero violations while still containing compounds worth watching, and ignoring that gap has a real cost over time. Independent testing is the only way to know where your own water actually stands.
It depends heavily on location. Charlotte's municipal supply shows low PFAS levels, but groundwater near Charlotte Douglas International Airport has tested far higher due to historical firefighting foam use. If you're on a private well in that area, understanding how PFAS moves through soil and groundwater matters more than the city-wide average.
For most homes on city water, the premium city water test covers 108 substances, including the metals and VOC panel relevant to chromium-6 exposure. Well owners near known PFAS sites should consider the ultimate city water test for its full 244-substance screen. If you're unsure, reach out and one of our experts will point you in the right direction at no charge.
Yes, especially if you're noticing scale, spotting, or unusual taste despite the city's naturally soft supply. Our water hardness test confirms your actual mineral content instead of relying on citywide averages. Browse our full drinking water resources library if you want more background before ordering.
Contact us and we will walk you through it. Every order comes with a free consultation from a water quality expert who explains your results in plain terms, with no products to sell and no agenda behind the advice.
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.