Water Testing
Water is one of our community's most precious resources. PathWest's Environmental Microbiology Unit (EMU) provides microbiological testing on all types of water found in our natural and built environments through our specialist water testing laboratory, helping our community enjoy safe water for drinking and recreation.
Our experience and expertise
The PathWest laboratory is the largest of its type in Western Australia and is a NATA accredited specialist water testing laboratory. Our expert and experienced staff analyse thousands of samples and work collaboratively with a variety of businesses and organisations including Water Corporation, Department of Health, local government authorities and many private clients to support water testing and monitoring to help safeguard water quality.
With over 40 years' experience in water microbiology, PathWest EMU has also been at the forefront of public health outbreak investigations and management.
PathWest is represented on various water committees such as Standards Australia FT/20 Water Microbiology and Advisory Committee for Purity of Water (ACPOW). You can learn more in the FAQs below.
EMU tests different types of water samples such as drinking water, oceans, rivers, dams, tanks, water for medical use, packaged water, ice, swimming pools, spas, floatation tanks, hydrotherapy pools, process, waste and industrial waters. The testing is to ensure the quality of the water is suitable for its intended purpose.
The waters laboratory test samples for the presence of bacteria, amoeba parasites and some viruses. Refer to FAQ for the full list.
PathWest's services are supported by the latest analytical developments in water analysis technology, with methods being chosen for their sensitivity and specificity as required. To speak about your water testing needs, get in touch with us. Already a client? Visit our resources page.
Learn more about water testing
We can test many different types of water, helping to determine if the water is fit for intended uses such as:
- Drinking water including treated, untreated and packaged water.
- Water used in hospital medical equipment such as reverse osmosis, dialysis and final rinse waters.
- Recreational water in backyards and communal spaces, including swimming pools, spas and hydrotherapy.
- Cooling water e.g. water in air conditioning units.
- Natural bodies of water e.g. dams, rivers and oceans.
- Agricultural water e.g. dams.
- Wastewater and industrial process water - testing sewerage and irrigation effluent and different types of industrial process water.
- Re-used or recycled water systems.
It is a microbiological analytical procedure which uses samples of water to determine the concentration or presence of bacteria or amoeba. It is then possible to draw inferences about the suitability of the water for use. Microorganisms can be studied using a range of technologies:
- Microbial cultures - growing microorganisms on or in a specific culture media in a controlled lab environment
- Immunoassays - detecting proteins unique to the microorganism
- Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs) - nucleic acid-based testing that examines DNA or RNA unique to the microorganism.
- Total coliforms
- Escherichia coli (E. coli)
- Thermotolerant coliforms
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Salmonella
- Legionella
- Plate counts (Heterotrophic, Standard and Total)
- Enterococci
- Clostridium perfringens
- Somatic coliphage
- Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB)
- Iron Related Bacteria (IRB)
- Coagulase positive staphylococci
- Endotoxin
- Thermophilic and clinical mesophilic amoeba - includes Naegleria fowleri.
- SARS COV-2 (COVID -19) in wastewater.
There are a variety of different regulations that apply to different types of water use in business and in the community. We can provide some general advice regarding testing or you can learn more below about possible regulation and compliance requirements that may impact you. This list is not designed to be comprehensive and we suggest that you do additional research.
- The Water Unit at the WA Department of Health provides guidelines and monitors drinking water in WA. Learn more here
- You can download the 'Australian Drinking Water Guidelines' which also provides information about water potability for livestock
- If you have agricultural water, you can learn more about testing that here
The scientist in charge will be happy to let you know the cost of individual tests. An official written quote can also be sent if required. Contact: Robin Woodward (08) 64574372 or robin.woodward@health.wa.gov.au
Be sure to have spoken to our lab before sending any samples. You can call the Waters Laboratory directly with any questions on (08) 6457 4372 or send us an enquiry.
It will be the client’s responsibility to collect and transport the sample/s to our laboratory. Please refer to the PathWest EMU Guide to Microbiological Water Sampling and Transport. You can learn more on our resources page.
We can also help with a quote to get you started.
Yes. Please contact the scientist in charge who will be able to explain the results. Contact: Robin Woodward (08) 64574372 or robin.woodward@health.wa.gov.au
PathWest EMU is represented numerous committees including:
- Standards Australia FT-020 and FT-020-01 - Water Microbiology
- Standards Australia FT-20-01 - Legionella Methodology
- Representation on the WA Health 'Advisory Committee for the Purity of Water' and sub-committee
- Representation on Ministerial working groups such as the 'Working Party for Water Testing in Remote Communities'
- Participation in various Cooperative Research Council (CRC) projects
- Corporate member of the Australian Water Association.
NATA is the National Association of Testing Authorities. PathWest EMU is a NATA-accredited laboratory.
NATA accreditation provides our customers with the assurance that an external body audits PathWest EMU to ensure competency of the laboratory in performing analyse.
Not all tests are covered by NATA and you can obtain that information by contacting the laboratory.
Most test results provided for tests not covered in our scope of accreditation are often as valid as the accredited tests. The difference is that we have not provided the methodology to NATA for formal assessment.
Turnaround times depend entirely on the test you ordered. Interim reports can be emailed out if some tests are completed but waiting for other test to be finalised.
If you need tests urgently, please contact the scientist in charge and let them know. Please note that microbiological tests cannot be hurried as we need to wait the required time for growth of microorganisms to perform your test accurately.
The results will be emailed as a PDF to the email address supplied as soon as the results have been finalised. If you do not have an email address, please speak to us to organise an alternative method of delivery.
It is important that you provide samples according to PathWest's collection, sampling and transport guides. Please visit our Resources library for more information on collecting, packing and transporting your samples for optimal testing.
This cannot be answered with one response as circumstances will vary. Please phone or email PathWest EMU to discuss your requirements and what we can offer. Contact: Robin Woodward (08) 64574372 or robin.woodward@health.wa.gov.au
An invoice is emailed the month following your test report. Bank details for payment will be provided with the invoice.
No. PathWest EMU do not add a batch or administration fee.
No, containers, coolers and ice bricks are provided free of charge.
Samples can be delivered in person to the laboratory at:
PathWest Water Examination Laboratory,
Second Floor J Block,
Hospital Avenue
NEDLANDS 6009
or sent by courier to the same address.
We do not provide routine testing on the weekends. Our hours are 730 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.
Samples need to be in the laboratory by 3pm for processing. We do not accept late samples on Friday. If samples need to be delivered and/or reported outside these times please call to discuss the options available.
For instructions on where to find the laboratory contact the scientist in charge. Contact: Robin Woodward (08) 64574372 or robin.woodward@health.wa.gov.au
Do not take samples to a PathWest Collection Centre. These centres are for pathology samples only.
You must deliver the samples yourself or use an external courier.
Most microbiological samples should be in the laboratory and tested within 24 hours from collection. Holding times can vary for different microorganisms.
If samples need to be delivered and/or reported outside these times please call to discuss the options available. Contact: Robin Woodward (08) 64574372 or robin.woodward@health.wa.gov.au
The sample container generally has a label. You must label the sample with the description or name, the sample date and time. Sample details on the container must be the same as on the accompanying request form.
Yes. This can be emailed to you or you can download it from our Resources page.
The request form must be filled out with the sample description or name, the date and time sampled, your signature, a contact phone number and email, a purchase order number if you require that to also be reported. Sample details must be the same as on the accompanying sample container.
For each request form a separate report will be created. Multiple samples can be submitted on the one request form but each sample must be on an individual line.
The maximum number of samples that will fit on a request form is usually six. If you require more than six sample to be on the one report still complete multiple request forms and number them as page 1 of etc.
Yes. Please write that you have received a quote and the date that is on the front page of the quote or email. Quotes expire at the end of each financial year.
Please feel free to contact the laboratory with any questions you have. It is important that collection and transport are done correctly and we are happy to help you where we can.
Contact: Robin Woodward (08) 64574372 or Sandra Sjollema 6457 2167.