Testing water quality is a no-brainer when it comes to protecting public health, meeting environmental standards and keeping industrial processes running smoothly. Whether you’re checking the purity of drinking water supplies, managing a fish farm or doing some environmental monitoring, having the right water quality meter really can be the difference between good and bad results.
As the Australian agent for HORIBA water quality instruments, Australian Scientific offers a wide range of super-accurate testing gear designed to help professionals like yourself get the job done in the lab, in the field or in an industrial setting. In this guide we’re going to take a look at the different types of water quality meters out there and help you figure out which one is best for your testing needs.
Why Water Testing is Important
Water quality can be affected by all sorts of things like pollution, industrial waste, agricultural runoff and natural geological processes. Regularly checking key parameters to see what’s going on helps you pick up potential contaminants before they become a serious problem, makes sure you’re in line with Australian health and safety standards and keeps both human health and aquatic ecosystems safe.
The sorts of parameters you’ll be checking with a water quality meter include:
- pH levels – a measure of how acidic or alkaline the water is
- Conductivity – a measure of the dissolved ions and salts in the water
- Dissolved oxygen – vital for aquatic life
- Turbidity – a way to measure water cloudiness and see how much suspended particles there are
- ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) – a measure of how good the water is at fighting off bacteria and other contaminants
Types of Water Quality Meters Australian Scientific Offers
Bench Meters for Lab Use
HORIBA LAQUA benchtop meters are built for lab environments where precision is all that matters. With big, easy to read displays and touchscreen controls on select models, these instruments walk you through calibration and measurement with ease. The practical design includes an easy to clean glass top and rounded body, making them perfect for tough lab settings.
Best for: Research facilities, quality control labs, schools and water treatment plants that need lab-grade accuracy.
LAQUAtwin Pocket Meters
Taking 70 years of HORIBA know-how, the LAQUAtwin pocket meters deliver pro-quality results in a remarkably compact package. These user-friendly instruments don’t require any special training and feature an intuitive stability indicator – a friendly smile that lets you know when the results are ready. The unique electrode design means calibration and measurements only take a few drops of solution.
Available parameters: pH, ORP, conductivity, salinity, and specific ions like calcium, fluoride, nitrate, sodium, potassium and more.
Multiparameter U-50 Series
For a comprehensive water quality check-up, HORIBA’s U-50 series multiparameter meters enable you to measure multiple parameters at the same time on a single instrument. These versatile meters let you check pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, ORP, salinity, depth, GPS location, specific gravity and temperature – making it easy to do environmental, aquaculture and industrial monitoring in one go.
Featuring high-quality, modular cable assembly options (available in 2m, 10m and 30m lengths), these meters make sure data collection is accurate and reliable in the field. Their robust construction and military-spec connectors also make them super reliable for harsh field conditions.
Portable Meters for Field Work
HORIBA LAQUA portable meters bridge the gap between pocket convenience and lab accuracy. Their compact, rugged design makes them a breeze to transport, while advanced data logging capabilities on select models make it easy to do on-site water quality assessments. Perfect for environmental monitoring, industrial processes and water treatment facilities where mobility is key.
Turbidity Meters
Turbidity meters measure the cloudiness in the water caused by suspended particles – a key sign of water quality. Our range from HORIBA and Apera Instruments gives you flexibility with Infrared LED light sources for ISO 7027 compliance or tungsten lamp sources for USEPA 180.1 compliance. Features like automatic self-diagnostic calibration and TruRead measurement modes ensure accurate, reliable results.
Specialised Equipment
And while standard meters are a must, we also supply:
- Oil Content Analysers (OCMA) – for quick oil-in-water analysis in environmental monitoring and process control
- Platypus Jar Testers – simulating coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation processes
- Lovibond Colorimeters & Reagents – precision measurement of water contaminants
Industries We Help
Our water quality testing solutions support professionals across a whole range of sectors:
- Water treatment facilities – monitoring drinking water and wastewater
- Environmental monitoring – checking rivers, lakes and groundwater
- Aquaculture operations – keeping conditions just right for fish and shellfish
- Industrial processes – quality control in manufacturing
- Research and education – lab testing and teaching
- Swimming pool and spa – keeping your recreational water safe to swim in
Why Choose Australian Scientific?
As the official Aussie arm for HORIBA water quality gear, we supply not just the tools of the trade – but the support that goes with them too. That includes top-notch sales help, solid technical knowhow, peace of mind that comes from our warranty, plus servicing and repairs done right – all backed up with genuine spare parts and other consumables. The idea is we’re there for you, to help you get the best from your kit as long as it’s in service.
Our Complete Range of Water Quality Gear
Getting the right meter for your needs isn’t rocket science – it’s just a matter of finding one that fits. Check out our full range of meters, probes, sensors, and all the calibration kits & consumables you’ll need. You can have a look through our Water Quality Meters page to see everything that’s available – or – drop us a line to get some expert advice on what will work best for you.