Navigating rising water testing demands with automated, compliance-ready workflows
30 Jul 2026
As regulatory requirements tighten and testing volumes continue to grow, water laboratories face increasing pressure to deliver accurate, compliant results faster than ever before.
This practical guide explores how automation is helping laboratories overcome common bottlenecks across drinking water, wastewater, and environmental monitoring workflows. Through expert case studies, application notes, and technical resources, discover strategies to improve throughput, reduce manual handling, simplify regulatory compliance, and support long-term laboratory sustainability.
Key topics explored:
- Rising water testing volumes and regulatory pressure
- Workflow automation and productivity gain
- Faster turnaround times without compromising compliance
- Reduced solvent use, waste, and manual intervention
- PFAS, VOCs, SVOCs, heavy metals, anions, and HAA analysis
- End-to-end workflows from sample prep to data reporting
- Sustainability and laboratory efficiency
Resource details:
Document type: SelectScience guide
Page count: 127
Edition: 2nd
Frequently asked questions
What are the biggest challenges facing water testing laboratories today?
Many water testing laboratories are managing increasing sample volumes, tighter regulatory requirements, staff shortages, and pressure to reduce turnaround times while maintaining analytical accuracy and compliance.
How can automation improve water testing workflows?
Automation can reduce manual sample preparation, minimize human error, increase throughput, support unattended operation, and improve consistency across routine water testing methods.
Which contaminants are commonly monitored in water testing laboratories?
Common targets include PFAS, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), inorganic anions, haloacetic acids (HAAs), pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and toxic metals.
How can laboratories improve compliance with water quality regulations?
Modern analytical workflows combine automated sample preparation, advanced chromatography, mass spectrometry, and data management software to help laboratories meet EPA, ISO, ASTM, and EU water testing requirements.
Why is automation important for PFAS analysis?
PFAS testing often requires extremely low detection limits and careful sample handling. Automated sample preparation can improve reproducibility, reduce contamination risks, and help laboratories manage growing testing demand.
How can laboratories reduce costs in water analysis?
Laboratories can improve efficiency by automating labor-intensive workflows, reducing solvent consumption, minimizing repeat analyses, increasing instrument utilization, and streamlining data reporting processes.
