What Is e-Watertest and What Does It Do?

Updated

e-Watertest is a professional water testing laboratory that serves both homes and businesses, with a history dating back to 1948. It offers drinking water tests and lab water testing services nationwide, and its test kits are now fulfilled through a partnership with SimpleWater Tap Score. It is a fit for anyone who wants laboratory-grade analysis of a private or building water supply rather than a quick at-home strip test.

What the laboratory actually does

e-Watertest performs environmental and water analysis in a laboratory setting. According to the site, its staff includes professional chemists, engineers, and microbiologists, and the lab tests for 200+ contaminants — lead, heavy metals, inorganics, pesticides, herbicides, industrial waste, chlorine disinfection byproducts, and more.

The site describes the organization as "the original water testing laboratory for home and business" and states it was the first water testing laboratory to offer professional water testing services online, in 2000. The laboratory itself was established in 1948.

Who it is built for

The service covers two broad audiences:

  • Residential customers — homeowners who want to know what is in their drinking water, particularly those on private wells or with concerns about a specific contaminant.
  • Industry and institutional clients — the site lists federal agencies, scientific labs, engineering firms, and hospitals among its clients, including NASA (Cape Kennedy, Florida), NOAA, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the US Navy at Travis Air Force Base, and St. Luke's Hospital.

If your goal is a documented, lab-analyzed result for a home, a business, or a regulated or institutional setting, this is the category of service e-Watertest provides. If you only need a rough screening, a lab service like this is more than the task requires.

The SimpleWater Tap Score partnership

The site notes a change for existing customers: kits have been upgraded through a partnership with SimpleWater Tap Score, associated with UC Berkeley. The page states that analysis is still performed by Don Lilley and the eWaterTest lab, while the kit experience, reporting, and customer service come through Tap Score. Existing customers are directed to a dedicated service team, and new customers start through a separate entry point.

The practical takeaway: the laboratory behind the results is the same, but the kit you order and the report you receive now run through the Tap Score system.

What you get with a kit

Based on the site's description:

  • Kits are shipped to your mailbox.
  • Return shipping is pre-paid — the site advertises free shipping both ways.
  • Results come with improved reporting through the Tap Score platform.
  • Customer support is described as award-winning and available to every customer.

Leadership and credentials

Donald Lilley is president and co-founder of e-Watertest, with more than 30 years in the water quality profession, including managing a large operation. The site states the team holds Public Water Supply System and Public Water Treatment Plant Operator licenses and has over 100 years of combined experience in laboratory instrumentation, equipment, water supply, and treatment.

How to decide whether to use it

Your situation Reasonable fit?
You want lab-grade results for a home well or tap water Yes — that is the core service
You need documentation for a business, institution, or agency Yes — the client list shows this is routine work
You want a fast, cheap screening only Probably not — a lab test is more than needed
You want to know exactly which contaminants a specific package covers Check the current kit options before ordering, since packages vary

Getting started

The site separates new and existing customers. New clients begin through a sign-up entry point; existing clients log in to their account. For questions, the site lists [email protected] and 888-346-9928. Because kit contents, turnaround, and pricing are not specified on the page, confirm those details with the service before ordering if they matter to your decision.