Water Safety Check – pH, Salts & E. coli Lab Test (Any Water Source)

Is your water safe? Start here.

The Water Safety Check is the quickest, most affordable way to get a lab answer to the two questions that matter most: is there harmful bacteria in my water, and is its basic chemistry in a healthy range? Choose your water source from the dropdown, collect a sample, and we do the rest.

Who it’s for

• Borehole and well owners: a first check, or a routine health check between full analyses
• Rainwater harvesters: making sure stored water hasn’t picked up bacteria
• Spring water users: checking a natural source before drinking
• Households on municipal water: after outages, pipe repairs, or changes in taste or smell
• Pool, dam and river users: checking water used for swimming and recreation
• First-time testers: an affordable starting point before deciding on a full analysis

What we test

Biological

• E. coli / total coliforms: present or absent. This is the key indicator of faecal contamination.

Physical

• pH: how acidic or alkaline the water is. It affects taste, pipe corrosion and how well disinfection works.
• Electrical conductivity (EC): the overall level of dissolved minerals and salts.
• Total dissolved solids (TDS): the total amount of substances dissolved in the water.
• Salinity: the salt content. It’s important for boreholes near the coast and for irrigation.
• Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP): shows how well the water can disinfect itself, which is useful for pools and chlorinated supplies.
• Specific gravity (SG): the water’s density compared with pure water.

What “good” looks like

Your report compares your results against the SANS 241:2015 drinking-water guidelines, where they apply:

• E. coli: not detected
• pH: between 5 and 9.7
• EC: up to 170 mS/m
• TDS: up to 1,200 mg/L

How it works

1. Order online and choose your water source from the dropdown.
2. Collect your sample. Fill a sterile container.
   • From a tap: run the water for 2–3 minutes first.
   • From a natural source: fill the container directly, avoiding surface debris.
   • Always: don’t touch the inside of the cap or bottle.
3. Complete the Sample Information Card with your name, contact details, the collection date and time, the water source, and any concerns such as colour, smell or taste.
4. We arrange courier collection to our lab. Keep the sample chilled (not frozen) and get it to us within 24 hours of collection. [CONFIRM: courier cost included, or added at checkout?]
5. Receive your report by email, with each result explained in plain language and clear next steps.

What this test doesn’t cover

The Water Safety Check doesn’t test for heavy metals (lead, mercury, chromium), nitrates, fluoride, iron or hardness.

If your water tastes metallic, stains fittings, comes from a new borehole, or will be drunk by infants, choose the Universal Water Baseline Check (R899, 29 parameters) instead.

For regulatory compliance or a certificate, choose a SANS 241 compliance test (from R3,000).

Something flagged?

• E. coli detected? Don’t drink the water untreated. Book a 30-minute consultation with a TCSC water scientist (from R649.50) to plan disinfection and a retest.
• pH, EC or TDS out of range? Upgrade to the Universal Water Baseline Check to find out exactly which substances are responsible.
• Want to keep an eye on things yourself? Add the 21-in-1 Water Test Kit (R1,750, 100 tests per panel) for regular monitoring at home.

Why TCSC

The Chemistry Solutions Company is a Cape Town water science company that has supported more than 100 environmental projects. TCSC was named second runner-up in the UNIDO Global Cleantech Innovation Programme South Africa (2024). Every test also supports the Water Warrior Project, which provides free community water testing.

Frequently asked questions

Why choose a water source if the test is the same?
It tells our analysts how to interpret your results and which follow-up advice is most relevant. For example, salinity matters more for coastal boreholes, and ORP matters more for pools.

How long do results take?
Chemistry takes 24 hours and E. coli takes 48 hours, both from when we receive your sample.

Can I send a sample from outside Cape Town?
Yes, as long as it reaches us chilled and within 24 hours of collection.

Is this a SANS 241 certificate?
No. This is a screening test. For compliance, choose a SANS 241 test from Tier 4 in our shop.

Which test should I choose instead?
See our Water Testing Shopping Guide, which compares every TCSC test on one page.

See our product disclaimer.