Top Tips - Water Quality Testing Filter Selection

Choosing the right filter is a critical step in ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of your water quality testing. This ultimate guide will walk you through the key factors for filter selection, helping you protect expensive lab equipment and preserve the integrity of your data.
Aug. 28, 2025

Our Top Tips on Water Quality Testing Filter Selection is a comprehensive guide for lab technicians on how to choose the correct filters for water quality tests. It emphasizes that proper filtration is essential for complying with federal, state, and local regulations and for protecting lab equipment from damage caused by particulate matter. The guide outlines a step-by-step process, beginning with the need to understand regulatory requirements and the specific contaminants being tested. It then stresses the importance of identifying the correct testing method, as these methods often specify the necessary filter standards.

The article details key filter characteristics to consider, such as particle retention efficiency, throughput, and pore size. It advises against simply choosing a finer pore size than necessary, as this can lead to clogging and damage. Finally, the text highlights valuable resources for filter selection, including online vendor tools that allow users to search by standards, methods, and analytes. It also encourages labs to directly contact vendor experts for personalized guidance, ensuring the lab staff can make the most informed decision for their specific testing application.