The bigger picture
About this topic
A hardness kit, a TDS meter, and a laboratory panel answer different questions. Choose the test around the concern, and keep the sample location and units with the result.
Public water or a private well?
For public water, find the supplier’s annual report and any current notices. A concern involving your own plumbing may still need a household sample. For a private well, begin with our annual testing guide and local health advice.
Before you fill a bottle
Contact the receiving lab for its collection and delivery instructions. Ask which analyses are included. A result for one substance doesn’t describe everything in the water, and a low hardness reading doesn’t establish drinking-water safety.
