What Contaminants Can e-Watertest Test For in Drinking Water?

Updated

e-Watertest is a laboratory-based drinking water testing service that covers more than 200 contaminants, grouped into categories such as lead and other heavy metals, inorganics, pesticides, herbicides, industrial waste, and chlorine disinfection byproducts. That scope makes it relevant whether you are a homeowner worried about a specific tap-water concern or a business that needs documented water quality results. The lab has operated since 1948 and now performs its analyses through a partnership with SimpleWater Tap Score, with kits shipped to your address and prepaid return shipping included.

Contaminant categories covered

According to the site, the testing program spans 200+ contaminants. The named categories are:

  • Lead and heavy metals — the most common residential concern, especially in older plumbing.
  • Inorganics — mineral and chemical constituents in water.
  • Pesticides and herbicides — agricultural and lawn-care runoff.
  • Industrial waste — contaminants tied to manufacturing and industrial activity.
  • Chlorine disinfection byproducts — compounds formed when chlorine treats drinking water.

The site presents these as a combined capability rather than a single fixed panel, so the exact list you receive depends on the testing package you order. If your concern is a specific contaminant, confirm it is included before purchasing rather than assuming the 200+ figure covers it.

Who performs the testing

e-Watertest states that its work is staffed by professional chemists, engineers, and microbiologists. The team has held Public Water Supply System and Public Water Treatment Plant Operator licenses and reports over 100 years of combined experience in laboratory instrumentation, water supply, and treatment. The president and co-founder, Donald Lilley, has more than 30 years in the water quality profession.

The practical takeaway: results come from a laboratory staffed by credentialed specialists, not a strip test read at home. That matters if you need defensible documentation for a real estate transaction, a business compliance file, or a dispute with a landlord.

Residential vs. business use

The service is described as serving both residential customers and industry nationwide, with a client list that includes federal agencies, scientific labs, engineering firms, and hospitals. Named examples include NASA (Cape Kennedy), NOAA, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the US Navy at Travis Air Force Base, and St. Luke's Hospital.

For a household, this means the same lab infrastructure used by institutional clients is available for a single home sample. For a business, it means the reporting is built for professional use. The site notes improved reporting as part of the Tap Score partnership, which is relevant if you need results formatted for review by someone else.

How the process works

  1. Order a kit — it ships to your mailbox.
  2. Collect your water sample following the kit instructions.
  3. Return the sample using the prepaid shipping.
  4. Receive lab analysis performed by the e-Watertest lab.

Shipping is described as free both ways, and the site states support is available for every customer. For questions before or after ordering, the listed contact is [email protected] or 888-346-9928.

What to check before you buy

  • Match the panel to your concern. With 200+ contaminants across multiple categories, verify the specific substance you care about is on the list for the package you choose.
  • Confirm the use case. If you need results for a business, regulatory, or real estate purpose, ask what the reporting includes.
  • Check current pricing and turnaround. The available site information does not list prices or processing times, so request those directly rather than assuming.

If your main worry is lead, the heavy metals category covers it. If it is agricultural runoff or industrial contamination, the pesticides, herbicides, and industrial waste categories are the relevant ones. For anything outside these named groups, contact the lab first to confirm coverage.