Full Baseline Check: Lab Testing Service (Chemical, Physical & E. coli) – 29 parameters

Know your water before you rely on it

The Full Universal Water Baseline Check gives you a complete chemical, physical and bacterial profile of any water source. It’s the recommended first step when you’re using a new source, see or taste a change, or need to understand what’s in your water before treating it, drinking it or using it in a process.

Who it’s for

• Borehole, wellpoint and spring users: before first use, or as an annual health check
• Households: tap water that tastes metallic or bitter, smells musty or of rotten eggs, or looks cloudy
• Rainwater harvesters and irrigators: tanks, catchments and surface water
• Properties near mines, industry or farms: checking for metals, sulfates, nitrates and ammonia from runoff
• Older buildings: copper, lead or zinc leaching from pipes
• Pools, facilities and process water: chlorine, bromine, cyanuric acid and alkalinity balance
• Homes and workplaces with young children or vulnerable people

What we test (29 parameters)

Biological

• E. coli / total coliforms: present or absent (48-hour incubation)

Physical

• pH: acidity or alkalinity
• Electrical conductivity (EC): dissolved mineral and metal content
• Total dissolved solids (TDS): total dissolved substances
• Salinity: dissolved salt concentration
• Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP): the water’s oxidising or sanitising capacity
• Specific gravity (SG): density relative to pure water

Nutrients and salts

• Nitrate
• Nitrite
• Ammonia
• Phosphate
• Potassium
• Sulfate
• Fluoride

Metals and heavy metals

• Aluminium
• Chromium
• Copper
• Iron
• Lead
• Manganese
• Mercury
• Zinc

Sanitisers and water chemistry

• Free (residual) chlorine
• Total chlorine
• Bromine
• Cyanuric acid
• Total alkalinity
• Carbonate
• Total hardness

How it works

1. Order online. We post you a sterile sample bottle & Sample Information Card.
2. Collect your sample. Fill a sterile 1-litre container.
   • From a tap: run the water for 2–3 minutes first.
   • From a natural source: submerge the bottle and fill it directly, avoiding surface debris.
   • Always: don’t rinse the bottle or touch the inside of the cap.
3. Complete the Sample Information Card. Include your name, phone number and email; the date and time you collected the sample; the water source (for example “mains tap”, “borehole” or “rainwater tank”); and any unusual colour, smell or other concerns.
4. Book your courier collection. Let us know when your sample is ready and we’ll arrange collection to our lab. Courier costs are added at checkout unless already included in your order. Keep the sample chilled (not frozen) and get it to us within 24 hours of collection so the E. coli result stays valid.
5. Receive your report by email, with results for each parameter, a plain-language explanation of anything of concern, and recommended next steps.

Screening vs. compliance testing

The Universal Water Baseline Check is a comprehensive screening analysis. It is designed to identify likely problems and guide treatment decisions.

For regulatory compliance, a certificate for a new borehole, or confirmation of a concerning result (especially heavy metals, where SANS 241 health limits are very low), choose our SANS 241:2015 Basic Panel (R4,278 incl. VAT). We run it in partnership with an accredited reference laboratory, with results in 5–10 working days.

Want help understanding your results?

Add a 30-minute consultation with a TCSC water scientist (from R649.50). We’ll walk you through your report and help you choose the right treatment.

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

How long do results take?
E. coli results take 48 hours. The full report is emailed within 3 working days of receiving your sample.

Can I send a sample from outside Cape Town?
Yes. We arrange courier collection, and the sample must reach us chilled and within 24 hours of collection.

Is this the same as a SANS 241 certificate?
No. This is a screening analysis. For compliance, choose the SANS 241:2015 Basic Panel.

Can you test mine or industrial process water?
Yes. Tell us the source on the Sample Information Card, because some samples may need extra handling.

Does it test for arsenic, cadmium or pesticides?
No. These need specialised laboratory analysis, so contact us for a quote.

See our product disclaimer.