Water Testing Accurate analysis of water quality is essential for environmental protection, regulatory compliance, and safe site operation. Whether you’re managing process effluent, discharging to controlled waters, or assessing site risk, chemical water testing helps ensure your operations remain compliant and environmentally responsible.
At Envirochem, we provide chemical water analysis supported by our in-house UKAS-accredited testing laboratory (No. 1227). We test a wide range of environmental, process, and waste waters to help you meet regulatory obligations, manage risk, and make informed decisions about discharge, treatment, or reuse.
What We Test For
Water testing requirements vary depending on the source and purpose of the sample. We carry out chemical analysis on:
- Process waters and cooling system effluents
- Runoff and surface waters from industrial or construction sites
- Groundwater and borehole samples
- Treated or untreated leachates
- Discharge waters subject to trade effluent consent
Typical testing parameters include:
- pH, conductivity, turbidity, and suspended solids
- Heavy metals (lead, copper, zinc, cadmium, chromium, and more)
- Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD)
- Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
- Anions and cations such as chloride, sulphate, nitrate, and ammonia
- Phenols, cyanides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Additional parameters can be included based on your discharge permit, operational activities, or site-specific regulatory context.
Our Process
Each project begins with a consultation to understand your sampling context, water source, and compliance requirements. We help determine which tests are appropriate and, where required, provide sampling kits or attend site to assist with collection.
All samples are analysed in our UKAS-accredited laboratory (No. 1227) using validated methods. Results are typically compared against applicable standards such as Environmental Quality Standards (EQS), trade effluent limits, or water discharge permits.
We understand that environmental compliance often depends on rapid turnaround and clarity of results. Reports are presented clearly and include full analytical results, any relevant threshold comparisons, and interpretation of compliance risks or areas requiring further action.
When Is Water Testing Required?
Chemical water testing may be required in a range of scenarios, including:
- Ongoing trade effluent monitoring to meet permit or consent conditions
- Environmental impact assessments for new developments
- Verification of treatment plant performance or pollution control measures
- Investigation of suspected contamination in surface water or groundwater
- Monitoring runoff from construction, demolition, or industrial operations
If you're unsure which water tests are appropriate, our consultants can advise on a proportionate, standards-aligned approach.
Compliance and Risk Considerations
Chemical water testing is often a legal requirement for discharge, drainage, or groundwater monitoring. Whether you're managing a landfill site, applying for an environmental permit, or monitoring trade effluent, your results must meet strict criteria under regulations such as the Environmental Permitting Regulations or site-specific consent conditions.
Failing to carry out the right testing can result in permit breaches, enforcement action, and delays to site operations. It can also expose your organisation to reputational risk and costly remediation work if pollution is identified after the fact.
Testing is particularly important for discharges to sewer, surface water or groundwater, where contaminants like heavy metals, nutrients, hydrocarbons, or pesticides may be present. In landfill settings, regular leachate analysis is critical to meet Environment Agency requirements and demonstrate control over environmental risk.
At Envirochem, we help you get this right from the outset. Our consultants help define the correct parameters and sampling strategy, whilst our UKAS-accredited laboratory (No. 1227) ensures all testing is carried out using validated methods and delivers data that meets regulatory standards. This reduces uncertainty, supports compliance, and helps avoid unnecessary delays, penalties, or rework.
Why Choose Envirochem?
Envirochem is both a UKAS-accredited testing laboratory (No. 1227) and an experienced environmental consultancy. This dual capability means we offer more than just lab analysis: we help you understand the regulatory context, make sense of complex data, and act on the results with confidence.
Our team supports clients across manufacturing, construction, waste, and land remediation. We’re trusted to deliver results that regulators accept and project teams can rely on. Additionally, because we operate our own in-house laboratory, we retain full control over sample integrity, testing accuracy, and turnaround times.
Whether you're testing for permit compliance, investigating a pollution event, or preparing for site development, we tailor our service to your needs and ensure you receive usable, timely results.
Speak to Our Team
If you need to carry out chemical water testing or would like to discuss your sampling requirements, get in touch with our expert team. We’ll help you determine the right testing strategy and provide data you can rely on to stay compliant.
Articles and Research see more articles
