Types of Water Testing in India
Different water sources need different test panels — IS 10500 for drinking water, IS 14543 for packaged water, IS 13428 for mineral water, USP <1231> for pharma, and CPCB norms for industrial effluent. Auriga Research delivers NABL-accredited testing for all of them, mapped against the right standard for your use case, on a single CoA usable for FSSAI, BIS, CPCB, and pharmacopoeial submissions.
Choosing the right type of water test depends on three factors: the source of the water (municipal supply, bore well, river, treated effluent), the intended use (drinking, food processing, industrial, pharmaceutical), and the regulatory requirement (IS 10500, IS 14543, FSSAI, CPCB / SPCB, USP / IP). Our scope covers all eight major water testing categories under one roof — physical, chemical, microbiological, heavy metals by ICP-MS, and pharmacopoeial methods on the same sample where applicable.
Backed by the Arbro Group's unbroken NABL accreditation since 2003, our reports are accepted by FSSAI regional offices, BIS licensing authorities, CPCB / SPCB, municipal water utilities, and major packaged drinking water, pharmaceutical, and industrial buyers across India.
8 Types of Water Testing at Auriga Research
Drinking Water Testing
IS 10500:2012Complete potability testing for municipal supply, bore wells, tanker water, and household purifiers. Covers physical, chemical, heavy metals, and microbiological parameters.
Packaged Drinking Water
IS 14543Compliance testing for packaged water brands per IS 14543 and BIS certification requirements. Includes Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bromate, and ozone residual testing.
Groundwater / Bore Well Testing
IS 10500 + GeochemistryComprehensive groundwater quality assessment covering potability, geochemical parameters, and irrigation suitability (SAR, RSC) for bore wells, open wells, and aquifers.
Industrial Process Water
Application-specificWater quality analysis for cooling towers, boilers, textile, paper, and manufacturing processes. Parameters chosen based on process requirements and CPCB discharge norms.
Pharmaceutical Water (PW/WFI)
IP / USP / EP / BPPurified water (PW) and Water for Injection (WFI) testing per Indian Pharmacopoeia, USP, and European Pharmacopoeia. NABL-accredited reports for GMP compliance.
Wastewater & Effluent
CPCB / SPCB normsEffluent and wastewater characterisation for CPCB and SPCB discharge compliance. Includes BOD, COD, TSS, heavy metals, and sector-specific parameters.
FSSAI Water Testing
IS 10500 + FSSAIWater test reports for FSSAI food business licence applications and renewals. NABL-accredited reports accepted by FSSAI regional offices across India.
Swimming Pool Water
IS 3025 / BIS / WHOPool water quality monitoring for hotels, residential complexes, and public swimming pools. Covers disinfection, turbidity, pH, and microbiological parameters.
Water Testing Parameters — Quick Reference
Physical Parameters
- pH
- Turbidity (NTU)
- Colour (Hazen units)
- Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
- Electrical Conductivity
- Temperature
- Odour & Taste
Chemical Parameters
- Total Hardness
- Total Alkalinity
- Bicarbonate Alkalinity
- Chloride
- Fluoride
- Nitrate & Nitrite
- Sulphate
- Iron & Manganese
- Residual Chlorine
Heavy Metals (ICP-MS)
- Lead (Pb)
- Arsenic (As)
- Cadmium (Cd)
- Chromium (Cr)
- Mercury (Hg)
- Selenium (Se)
- Copper (Cu)
- Zinc (Zn)
- Nickel (Ni)
Microbiological Parameters
- Total Coliform (MPN)
- Faecal Coliform / E. coli
- Total Plate Count (TPC)
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Salmonella (packaged water)
- Yeast & Mould
Indian Water Quality Standards — Quick Reference
| Standard | Scope | Published by |
|---|---|---|
| IS 10500:2012 | Drinking water specification | BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) |
| IS 14543:2024 | Packaged drinking water (other than natural mineral water) — superseded IS 14543:2016 in September 2024 | BIS |
| IS 3025 | Methods of sampling and test for water/wastewater (50+ parts) | BIS |
| FSSAI Schedule | Water used in food manufacturing and processing | FSSAI |
| IP 2022 | Purified Water and Water for Injection (pharmaceutical) | Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission |
| CPCB Standards | Effluent discharge norms for industry-specific wastewater | Ministry of Environment |
| WHO Guidelines | Global drinking water quality guidelines | World Health Organisation |
How It Works
Get a Quote
Share your water source type and the parameters or regulatory requirement needed. Your SPOC confirms the exact scope and sample collection requirements for your use case.
Collect and Send Your Sample
Collect water in Auriga-provided containers — sterile bottles for microbiological parameters, HDPE bottles for chemical testing. Samples must reach the lab within 24 hours of collection for microbiological parameters. Each sample is bar coded and registered in YLIMS on receipt.
Testing and QA Review
Your sample is tested against the confirmed method (IS 10500, IS 3025, IS 14543, CPCB, or pharmacopoeial as applicable). All results pass through formal internal QA review before the report is generated.
Receive Your NABL Report
Your NABL-accredited report is delivered digitally within the committed TAT, accepted by FSSAI, BIS, CPCB, and state regulatory authorities. Track status via YLIMS throughout the process.