Potability control

Potability testing involves verifying whether water meets the regulatory criteria defined for drinking water. This analysis, essential for ensuring public health safety, assesses both physicochemical and microbiological parameters. It detects the potential presence of chemical, mineral, organic, or microbiological contaminants that could render the water unfit for consumption. Potability testing applies to water from private sources (wells, boreholes), bottled water, internal networks of industrial or agricultural facilities, and water used in certain processes requiring impeccable quality.

Importance of control

Water quality directly impacts human health. Water must be free of pathogenic microorganisms and comply with strict limits for chemical substances such as nitrates, heavy metals, pesticides, aromatic hydrocarbons, solvents, and disinfection byproducts. Potability testing identifies potential contamination from soil, storage facilities, inadequate treatment processes, or accidental leaks. It also ensures the regular monitoring of the quality of distributed or packaged water, guaranteeing compliance with European and French standards. Individuals, industries, farmers, and infrastructure managers rely on this analysis to ensure safe consumption, prevent health risks, and rigorously monitor their water resources.

Analytical methods

Drinking water quality analysis employs a range of complementary techniques depending on the parameters being investigated.
Spectrophotometry allows for the measurement of compounds such as nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, ammonium, and certain metals after colorimetric analysis.
Ion, liquid, and gas chromatography are used to analyze pesticides, solvents, volatile organic compounds, pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and other trace chemicals.
Standardized microbiological analyses (ISO) detect indicator bacteria of fecal or pathogenic contamination, such as Escherichia coli, enterococci, coliforms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Clostridium perfringens.
Other parameters, such as pH, conductivity, hardness, turbidity, total organic carbon, and overall mineralization, complete the water's analytical profile. These combined methods provide a comprehensive diagnosis of water quality.

Analyzed matrices

Drinking water quality testing applies to all types of water intended for consumption: well water, borehole water, spring water, bottled water, water from internal networks, domestic or industrial treated water, and water used in the food industry. Each water matrix may present specific risks related to local geology, human activity, or treatment facilities. Analysis allows for the rapid identification of anomalies, the optimization of filtration or disinfection systems, and ensures regulatory compliance of distributed or used water.

Interest for professionals and individuals

For individuals using well or borehole water, potability testing is essential to guarantee safe consumption. For industrial users, monitoring water quality is crucial for process safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance. In the agri-food sector, the water used must meet strict standards to minimize any risk of contamination. Local authorities, farmers, drilling companies, and managers of sensitive sites have a reliable means of ensuring the safety of their water resources thanks to this analysis.

YesWeLab Expertise

YesWeLab collaborates with a network of laboratories specializing in water analysis, mastering physicochemical, microbiological, and chromatographic methods. The majority of our partners are ISO 17025 or COFRAC certified or accredited, guaranteeing highly reliable results. We select the laboratory best suited to your specific needs, target parameters, and regulatory requirements. Our digital platform provides comprehensive support, simplified tracking, and seamless management of your analyses. Since 2020, numerous individuals, industrial clients, and engineering firms have entrusted us with the quality control of their water to ensure its compliance and safety.

Other relevant analyses from the YesWeLab catalogue

• Heavy metal search
• Detection of pesticides and solvents
• Measurement of total organic carbon