At Sonic Food & Water Testing, we offer testing of the following water sources:
- air-conditioning towers
- purified, treated and filtered waters
- water tanks, bores, wells, dams, springs and creeks
- swimming pools and spa baths
- bottled water and ice-making water
- recycled water for irrigation, agriculture or industry
- monitoring stream water pollution - tracking sources of pollution, identifying origin of seepage water
- testing of any other water source
Legionella Count
Artificial water systems can provide environments that allow Legionella bacteria to proliferate to hazardous levels. These man-made systems include showers, spa pools, fountains, and also cooling towers associated with air conditioning and industrial cooling processes.
The Health Department has established regulation for the maintenance, microbial control, and testing of cooling towers and warm water systems.
Owners of premises that have cooling towers, public spa pools, or warm water systems are required by law to conduct regular maintenance, cleaning and disinfection of this equipment to reduce the risk of Legionella contamination and spread.
Performing a Legionella count monitors the effectiveness of such measures.
We have a Legionella and heterotrophic plate count request pad book. Each request is carbonised so you can retain a copy and send the original with the samples. Our collection staff will sign this book in order to record the date, time and place of sample delivery.
The Legionella and heterotrophic plate count request pad book is available free of charge. Please contact us to request a pad.
Tank Water for Drinking
Tank water may be contaminated with faecal bacteria from birds, possums, and rodents.
Faecal coliform and E. coli counts can be used to indicate such pollution. If these organisms are found to be present, then the water may also contain harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites, and therefore require boiling or chemical disinfection before use for drinking or cooking. Direct testing for viruses or parasites is not routinely performed, as these tests require a large sample volume (up to 100 litres).
Bore Water
Bore water routinely contains minerals and chemicals. The levels of these substrates can be measured in order to gauge suitability for domestic or agricultural use.
Swimming Pools & Spas
The Health Department has published a booklet: Public Swimming Pool and Spa Pool Guidelines; which outlines appropriate water testing protocols for pools and spas. Monitoring includes monthly microbiological testing. The government guidelines can also be used for private facilities.
Bottled Water
The Health Department's, Code of Food Handling, includes guidelines for the testing of water for sale.
Trade Water & Recycled Water
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may request testing in certain situations to demonstrate that levels of pollution do not exceed acknowledged safety and regulated levels. Local government bodies, industrial companies, golf clubs, owners of large septic tank systems, and landholders adjacent to waterways may receive such requests.
Microbiological Water Testing
Sonic Food & Water Testing are accredited to perform the following microbiological testing upon water samples:
- Heterotrophic plate counts
- Faecal coliform counts
- Total coliform counts
- E. coli counts
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa counts
- Faecal Streptococcus
- Enterococcus counts
- Legionella counts
- Yeast and mould counts
Among the organisms we test for are:
- Bacillus cereus
- Campylobacter species
- Clostridium perfringens
- Coagulase positive Staphylococci
- Coliforms
- Enterobacteriaceae
- Escherichia coli
- Escherichia coli 0157
- Faecal coliforms
- Faecal Streptococci (Enterococci)
- Lactic acid bacteria
- Legionella species & pneumophilia
- Listeria species & monocytogenes
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa & species
- Salmonella species
- Staphylococci (coagulase positive)
- Vibrio cholerae
- Vibrio parahaemolyticus/vulnificus
- Yeasts & moulds
Chemical Water Testing
Sonic Food & Water Testing perform the chemical analysis of the following water samples:
(recommended testing for some of these scenarios, also includes certain microbiological analyses)
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Request Forms
Below is a link to our Water Testing request form (PDF), please print the request, complete your details and testing requirements, and include the form with your water sample.