City / Mains Water Test Kits
NATA-accredited laboratory analysis of your treated municipal water, benchmarked against Australian and International Drinking Water Guidelines. Australia Wide.
Featured Products
Heavy Metals Water Test Kit – 18 Metals | NATA Accredited Laboratory Analysis
This comprehensive Heavy Metals Water Test Kit is designed to identify the presence of toxic metals and metalloids in your tap, tank, or bore water. Heavy metals can enter drinking water through corrosion of plumbing materials, industrial runoff, or naturally occurring deposits in soil and rock. Even trace amounts of certain metals can pose serious health risks over time.
With this kit, you’ll receive:
A complete sampling kit delivered to your door
Step-by-step instructions for collecting your water sample
Prepaid return shipping to our certified laboratory
Laboratory analysis of 18 heavy metals and metalloids
A comprehensive report comparing your results directly against the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG).
Metals tested include:
Arsenic (As), Silver (Ag), Beryllium (Be), Boron (B), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Antimony (Sb), Selenium (Se), Tin (Sn), Vanadium (V), Zinc (Zn)
Why Test for Heavy Metals?
Testing is especially important if:
Your home has older plumbing or metal fixtures
You rely on bore or tank water
You’ve noticed discoloured water or metallic taste
You want to ensure safe water for children or vulnerable individuals
According to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, metals can leach from plumbing products under certain conditions, especially when water sits stagnant in pipes. Regular testing helps identify risks and guide corrective actions.
Take control of your water quality. Know what’s in your tap.
Seeking a complete home profile? If you require a comprehensive view of your water chemistry including analysis for heavy metals, PFAS, VOCs, plumbing adhesives, and disinfection by-products consider our Complete Water Audit. It is our most popular choice for total peace of mind.
NATA-accredited PFAS water testing kit. 30 compounds at trace detection (0.001 µg/L) including PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA + 26 precursors.
Peer-reviewed monitoring data and recent national investigations have confirmed detectable PFAS concentrations in drinking water catchments across Australia's major cities and regional areas. These compounds are persistent — they do not break down in the environment or the body — and exposure thresholds under the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) have been revised downward as the health evidence base has matured.
A council water quality report tells you the system average. This test tells you what is coming out of your tap.
What the Kit Includes
Full laboratory analysis, no additional fees. NATA-accredited laboratory costs are included in the purchase price.
Pre-paid shipping. No additional costs at checkout. Sample collection and return logistics are fully managed.
Complete collection kit. Delivered to your door with chain-of-custody instructions and all required sample containers.
Interpreted engineering report. Results are presented against current ADWG thresholds with plain-English annotations — not a raw data sheet.
Analytical Scope and Detection Capability
Most commercially available PFAS tests screen for two to three compounds. That is insufficient given what is now understood about PFAS as a chemical class.
This panel screens for 30 distinct PFAS compounds, including PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS, plus 27 additional precursors and sulfonates. Detection limits are 1–5 ng/L across the panel, achieved by our NATA-accredited laboratory partner using validated LC-MS/MS methodology. This is 5 times below the ADWG thresholds.
Recommended Applications
Municipal supply verification. Confirm your household result against ADWG thresholds, independent of council reporting averages.
Filtration system validation. Paired pre- and post-filter samples provide documented proof of PFAS removal efficacy for your specific system.
Private bore water assessment. Groundwater in agricultural and peri-urban areas carries elevated risk of PFAS plume exposure from land-use history.
Baseline documentation. Establishing a dated, laboratory-verified baseline is useful for ongoing monitoring or property due diligence.
Need a Broader Water Chemistry Profile?
If your assessment requires PFAS data alongside heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, or legacy plumbing indicators, our Advanced City Screen delivers a comprehensive analyte suite in a single submission.
NATA-accredited tap water testing for treated mains supply. Microbiology, lead, chlorine, fluoride and core chemistry. Plain-English report against ADWG.
Core safety screen for city and town water.
Tests for the parameters most likely to vary after treatment — metals from ageing pipes, mineral balance, fluoride, and basic chemistry.
What's included
Complete sampling kit delivered to your door
Pre-paid express return shipping
NATA-accredited laboratory analysis
Detailed report benchmarked against Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG)
Plain-language exceedance explanations
38 Parameters
21 metals & metalloids — Lead, Copper, Arsenic, Zinc, Iron, Aluminium, Mercury, Nickel, Cadmium, Chromium, Manganese, Selenium, Barium, Antimony, Cobalt, Molybdenum, Boron, Tin, Vanadium, Beryllium, Silver
14 physical & chemical — pH, TDS, Hardness, Alkalinity, Conductivity, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Sulphate + more
Fluoride
Nitrate & Ammonia
The most comprehensive water test available in Australia. 214 parameters across PFAS, metals, pesticides, herbicides, VOCs, PAHs, microbiology and nutrients in a single kit. Works on any water source. NATA accredited laboratory analysis.
214 Analytes. Every Meaningful Risk Category. One Submission.
Most water tests are designed around a single concern — a specific chemical class, a particular source type, or a regulatory compliance check. This kit takes a different approach: a single, comprehensive audit covering the full range of biological, chemical, and physical parameters relevant to Australian residential water, regardless of supply type.
What the Kit Includes
Complete multi-bottle sampling kit with chain-of-custody documentation
Pre-paid express return shipping to our NATA-accredited laboratory partner
Laboratory analysis across 214 analytes
Interpreted engineering report comparing all results against current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG)
Why 214 Parameters
Your water is subject to two distinct risk categories. Source risks originate from the catchment, aquifer, or distribution system — geological contaminants, agricultural runoff, industrial residues. Infrastructure risks are introduced after the water leaves the main — pipe corrosion, tank linings, plumbing adhesives, disinfection by-products.
Most kits address one or the other. This panel is designed to capture both.
Analyte Coverage by Category
Metals and Geological Contaminants(19 analytes) Covers infrastructure leaching indicators (Lead, Copper) alongside geogenic contaminants (Arsenic, Uranium) and a full trace metal suite.
Volatile Organic Compounds(54 analytes) A dual-purpose screen for industrial solvents and fuel components (BTEX: Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene) and plumbing residues from PVC adhesives and resins (Vinyl Chloride, Styrene).
PFAS — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances(30 analytes) The complete 30-compound panel: PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and 27 additional precursors and sulfonates. Detection limits of 1–5 ng/L by LC-MS/MS, calibrated to be well below current ADWG health guideline values.
Pesticides and Herbicides(64 analytes) Comprehensive screen for Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs), Organophosphorus Pesticides (OPPs), and Triazine Herbicides. Relevant for any supply with agricultural land in the catchment or recharge zone.
Hydrocarbons — TRH and PAHs(25 analytes) Total Recoverable Hydrocarbon fractions plus Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), including Benzo(a)pyrene. PAHs can enter water via bushfire ash, asphalt roof runoff, or proximity to industrial land use — not routinely included in standard residential panels.
Disinfection By-Products(included in VOC panel) Trihalomethanes (THMs) formed during chlorination are captured within the VOC screen. On tank or bore water, these same parameters serve as indicators of broader organic loading.
Nutrients(4 analytes) Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, and Total Oxidised Nitrogen (NOx) — indicators of sewage influence, fertiliser infiltration, or septic system proximity.
Microbiological Indicators(2 analytes) E. coli and Thermotolerant Coliforms. A standard bacteriological screen confirming absence of faecal contamination.
Physical and Chemical Parameters(14 analytes) pH, Electrical Conductivity, TDS, Total and fractional Alkalinity, Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, Sulphate. The baseline characterisation of water chemistry — relevant to corrosivity, scaling, and palatability assessment.
Additional Parameters(2 analytes) Formaldehyde (relevant to certain plumbing materials and renovation scenarios) and Fluoride (reported against ADWG guideline values for both deficiency and excess).
Suitable For
Mains, tank, and bore water supplies
Properties with mixed or unknown plumbing materials
Catchments with agricultural, industrial, or bushfire-affected land use history
Baseline documentation for property purchase, due diligence, or ongoing monitoring
Households seeking a single comprehensive dataset rather than multiple targeted tests
A note on microplastics: Microplastic analysis requires a separate sampling and laboratory methodology and is not included in this panel. It is available as a standalone add-on kit.
Not sure you need everything? You can also choose a source-specific kit instead:
How It Works
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Step 1 - Select and purchase your test
We mail you a testing kit complete with laboratory testing bottles and step by instruction of how to collect your sample.
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Step 2 - Collect a water sample
Fill the supplied laboratory testing bottles with a sample of your drinking water. Place the bottles in the supplied postage parcel complete with pre-paid express shipping return label and place in post.
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Step 3 - Laboratory Testing
Your water sample will be sent to a NATA accredited Australian laboratory for testing. Our laboratory partners typically complete the analysis within 5 business days.
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Step 4 - Receive your results
Your detailed Water Quality Analysis Report is delivered as a digital PDF — plain-English results benchmarked against Australian drinking water guidelines, with the original NATA-accredited Certificate of Analysis included.
Three testing levels to match your concerns
| 07Mineral Balance & Water Chemistry | |||
| 14 physical & chemical parameterspH, TDS, Hardness, Total Alkalinity, Conductivity, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Sulphate, Bicarbonate, Carbonate, Hydroxide Alkalinity | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FluorideDental health — ADWG guideline 1.5 mg/L | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 06Nutrients & Catchment Health | |||
| Nitrate & AmmoniaAgricultural runoff and catchment contamination indicators | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NitriteRelevant for chloraminated distribution systems — used by most major Australian utilities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 01Heavy Metals & Pipe Corrosion | |||
| 21 metals & metalloidsLead, Copper, Arsenic, Nickel, Zinc, Iron, Aluminium, Mercury, Cadmium, Chromium, Manganese, Selenium, Barium, Antimony, Cobalt, Molybdenum, Boron, Tin, Vanadium, Beryllium, Silver | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 03Chlorine Treatment Residues | |||
| Trihalomethanes — Chloroform, Bromoform, Bromodichloromethane, Total THMsFormed when chlorine reacts with organic matter during treatment — levels vary seasonally and by distribution system length | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 04Plumbing Solvents & Glues | |||
| Vinyl Chloride, Styrene & PVC pipe residuesSolvent cement and pipe adhesive residuals — can leach for months after renovation or new construction | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FormaldehydePipe cement residual and chlorine by-product — common in newly installed plumbing | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 05Industrial & Fuel Solvents | |||
| BTEX — Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, XylenesPetrol station and industrial contamination — of particular concern in older urban and industrial suburbs | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TCE, PCE & chlorinated solventsTrichloroethylene and Tetrachloroethylene from dry cleaners and historical industrial activity — migrate through groundwater over decades | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 44 further volatile organic compoundsFull VOC panel includes Naphthalene, Carbon Tetrachloride, 1,2-Dichloroethane, Dichloromethane and 40 others at trace detection level | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 02PFAS — "Forever Chemicals" | |||
| 30 PFAS compounds at trace detection levelPFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA + 26 precursors at 0.001–0.005 µg/L — below the tightened ADWG 2025 limits | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| What's Included | |||
| Complete sampling kit delivered to your door | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pre-paid express return shipping | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NATA-accredited laboratory analysis (No. 1261) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Colour-coded PDF report benchmarked against ADWG | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plain-language exceedance explanations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Total parameters tested | ~38 | ~92 | ~122 |
Metals, minerals, and nutrients — the core safety screen for mains-connected homes.
Order Now — A$449Full chemical screen — VOCs, chlorine treatment residues, and plumbing solvents on the complete Essentials baseline.
Order Now — A$649Every contaminant class covered — the most comprehensive city water test available.
Order Now — A$949Every contaminant class in a single kit — metals, VOCs, PFAS, pesticides, herbicides, PAHs, microbiology, nutrients, and disinfection by-products. Trace-level detection throughout. Works on any water source.
Lead, copper, arsenic, mercury, chromium and 16 more — standalone screen for plumbing corrosion and geological contaminants.
PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS + 27 precursors at trace detection (0.001–0.005 µg/L). Benchmarked against ADWG 2025 guideline limits.
PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET, PC, PMMA, PA particle counts in potable water. No ADWG guideline currently exists — provided for information.
All analysis performed by NATA-accredited laboratories under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 · All prices include GST · Return shipping included
What We Screen For
Treatment reduces risk — it doesn't eliminate it. What comes out of your tap depends on your catchment, your pipes, and what your utility actually tests for.
Independent Testing by Environmental Scientists
Your council reports compliance at the system average. That doesn't tell you what's coming out of your tap. We test for the contaminants that actually reach city households — lead from older internal plumbing, disinfection by-products from the distribution network, PFAS from upstream sources, and microplastics. Results are interpreted by environmental scientists and benchmarked against the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, so you can make an informed decision about your water and any treatment system you have or are considering.
We don't sell filtration systems, water softeners, or treatment products — and we don't have a referral arrangement with anyone who does. Our results don't lead to a sale. They tell you what's actually in your tap water, and what you do next is up to you.
Most Australian household filters aren't independently certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 — the international standards for contaminant reduction. Manufacturer claims rarely come with verifiable test data. Lab testing your water before and after the filter is the only way to know whether the system is doing what it promised.
Lead and copper from older internal plumbing. Disinfection by-products like trihalomethanes formed in distribution. PFAS from upstream sources. Microplastics from pipework. Treatment plant compliance doesn't account for what happens in the kilometres of pipe between the plant and your kitchen.
Safe Water Lab is operated by environmental scientists with backgrounds in water quality and contaminated land. Every kit is specified for city water — we test for the contaminants that actually matter, choose the right test method and detection limit for each one, and write sampling instructions so the result reflects what's really at your tap. Every report is read by someone who understands what the numbers mean, before it reaches you.
- ✕Cannot detect PFAS, pesticides, or solvents
- ✕Lead detection limits 100× higher than the guideline
- ✕No measurement of trihalomethanes or disinfection by-products
- ✕Colour-match accuracy varies by user and lighting
- ✓Up to 134 parameters at trace detection levels
- ✓Lead, copper, and 19 other metals quantified to µg/L
- ✓Disinfection by-products including THMs reported separately
- ✓Results signed off by an accredited laboratory — auditable, traceable, defensible
Your treatment plant tests once a day, at the plant. The water at your kitchen tap travels through pipes, fittings, and storage tanks the plant can't see. The only way to know what you're drinking is to test where you drink it.
Your Report
The Clarity you need. Zero guesswork.
Every kit includes a Water Quality Analysis Report delivered as a digital PDF. Each report includes:
Results Summary — Colour-coded report card with pass/fail by contaminant category and next steps if you have an exceedance. Know where you stand in 60 seconds.
Detailed Results — All your results, compared against national and international drinking water safety limits.
Certificate — The original NATA-accredited Certificate of Analysis from the laboratory. Your official record.
The same laboratories trusted by Australian councils, water utilities, and environmental regulators.
Professional-grade analysis, delivered to your door.
City Water - Common Questions
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Possibly. While lead pipes were phased out in new construction from the 1980s, brass fixtures and fittings used well into the 1990s and 2000s can contain significant lead. Additionally, if your suburb has older mains infrastructure, lead can still enter the supply before it reaches your property.
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The Australian residential water filter market operates without mandatory product certification or independent performance verification. Manufacturers are not required to substantiate contaminant removal claims before bringing a product to market — meaning the performance figures on the packaging are largely self-reported. A NATA-accredited laboratory baseline provides the only objective, scientifically defensible audit of whether your filtration system is performing as claimed, or creating a false sense of security.
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It is incredibly simple. When your kit arrives, it includes step-by-step instructions. You simply fill the provided bottles from your tap, write the date on the included form, and place everything into the pre-paid express return mailer. Drop it at any Australia Post Express Post collection point, and you are done.
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Utilities test at the treatment plant and at selected points in the distribution network — not at your tap. The water that reaches your kitchen has travelled through kilometres of distribution mains and your own internal plumbing. Metals can leach from pipes and fittings, and disinfection by-product concentrations typically increase with transit time. This kit tests what actually comes out of your tap.
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Treated municipal water contains a chlorine residual specifically to prevent microbial contamination. This residual makes culture-based E. coli and coliform tests unreliable at the tap — you're more likely to get a false result than a meaningful one. If your water has lost its chlorine residual (which would indicate a distribution problem), you'd typically notice it by taste or odour before a test kit arrives. Our bore and tank kits include microbiology because those sources have no disinfection residual.
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City Essentials covers the core health parameters — metals, minerals, and water chemistry. City Complete adds disinfection by-products and a full volatile organic compound screen for a comprehensive chemical profile. City Advanced adds PFAS screening. If you want everything in a single kit, the Complete Water Audit covers 214 parameters across every contaminant class. Email us at info@safewaterlab.com.au with your suburb and we'll recommend a kit.
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Our laboratory partner completes analysis within 5 business days of receiving your sample. Your report is typically delivered by email 1–2 business days after that. Total time from posting your sample to receiving results is around 7–9 business days depending on postal transit.