Water Analysis at a COFRAC-Accredited Laboratory

You may need to have your water analyzed before purchasing a water filtration system, whether it is a reverse osmosis system, an ultrafiltration system or a water softener, and whether you plan to use municipal water, collected water, river or lake water, or even well water.

These analyses, which we can help you interpret, will help you choose the most suitable system from our wide selection.

At Josmose.fr, we have chosen to work with two laboratories, including EUROFINS, the leading laboratory for testing in France. Below, you will find the various basic analysis packages we offer.

EUROFINS is a COFRAC-accredited laboratory. COFRAC is the only organization in France that guarantees reliable results. To obtain this accreditation, the laboratory commits to following testing procedures very strictly.

Please note, although the EUROFINS laboratory is COFRAC-accredited, the results you receive will not be. This accreditation requires complete control over sample storage conditions and the time between collection and analysis, which shipping via Chronopost, with its inherent uncertainties, cannot guarantee. However, residents of the Lille metropolitan area can have the tests performed according to COFRAC requirements. In this case, you will need to drop off the samples yourself at the EUROFINS laboratory in Douai within the time frame and under the conditions provided to you.

Water analysis packages

We offer comprehensive analysis packages that include the various basic tests needed to give you an overall picture of your water based on your situation.

Comprehensive drinking water safety analysis

The first package is a comprehensive drinking water safety analysis, including both microbiological and physicochemical tests, so you can test the water you drink, whether it is municipal water or water you filter using various methods.

This package includes the following analyses : 

• Comprehensive microbiology (E. coli and coliform bacteria, intestinal enterococci, culturable microorganisms at 22°C, culturable microorganisms at 36°C, spores of sulfite-reducing anaerobic microorganisms)
• Comprehensive physicochemical analysis : (aluminum, ammonium, mineralization, conductivity at 25°C, metals injection, iron, nitrates, pH, turbidity)
• Visual appearance/color
• Odor/taste at 25°C
• Free chlorine
• Total chlorine

Microbiological analyses

We offer 2 microbiological analysis packages for your water.

Microbiological analysis package 1

This is a comprehensive microbiological analysis of your drinking water, also including a test for thermotolerant coliforms. 

This package tests for : 

• E. coli and coliform bacteria
• Intestinal enterococci
• Culturable microorganisms at 22°C
• Culturable microorganisms at 36°C
• Spores of sulfite-reducing anaerobic microorganisms
• Thermotolerant coliforms

It is intended for anyone who drinks filtered water from a well, river or lake.

Microbiological analysis package 2

The third package includes a comprehensive analysis of your drinking water and is intended for anyone who drinks tap water : 

• E. coli and coliform bacteria
• Intestinal enterococci
• Culturable microorganisms at 22°C
• Culturable microorganisms at 36°C
• Spores of sulfite-reducing anaerobic microorganisms

Physicochemical analyses

Finally, we offer 5 physicochemical testing packages to help you determine your water's basic characteristics, such as hardness and conductivity, chlorine or nitrate and nitrite levels, the presence of certain metals, etc.

Chemical analysis package 1

This package is very comprehensive and tests numerous key parameters. It is suitable for a detailed assessment of water quality, especially for water from a well, river or lake.

• Total organic carbon (TOC)
• Total hardness
• Free chlorine
• Total alkalinity
• Suspended solids
• pH
• Nitrates
• Nitrites
• Conductivity at 25°C
• Iron
• Manganese

This package is ideal if you want an in-depth analysis of your water quality before installing complex filtration systems.

Chemical analysis package 2

This is also a very comprehensive set of tests, but it does not test for manganese.

• Total organic carbon (TOC)
• Total hardness
• Free chlorine
• Total alkalinity
• Suspended solids
• pH
• Nitrates
• Nitrites
• Conductivity at 25°C
• Iron

This package provides a comprehensive but slightly less detailed analysis, ideal if you do not need to check for manganese in your water but still want a comprehensive analysis of the other components.

Manganese can affect your water's color, taste and odor, and in some cases, it can pose health risks if consumed in large amounts over the long term. If you are unsure whether it is present in your water, we recommend chemical analysis package 1.

Chemical analysis package 3

This package tests the following parameters : 

• Total organic carbon (TOC)
• Total hardness
• Free chlorine
• Total alkalinity
• Suspended solids
• pH
• Nitrates
• Nitrites
• Conductivity at 25°C

This analysis is suitable for checking water quality in situations where iron or manganese levels are not a concern.

Chemical analysis package 4

This package is simpler and includes only the basic parameters for water analysis.

• Total hardness
• Free chlorine
• Suspended solids
• pH
• Nitrates
• Nitrites
• Conductivity at 25°C

It is suitable for a quick check of the main parameters (hardness, chlorine, pH, nitrates), ideal if you want a basic assessment, for example for municipal water or a source with generally good water quality.

Chemical analysis package 5

This is the simplest package, focusing on pH, nitrates, nitrites and chlorine : 

• Free chlorine
• pH
• Nitrates
• Nitrites

Very useful for a quick, basic analysis, especially for household drinking water or an initial assessment before proceeding with more comprehensive tests.

How do you arrange these analyses?

After selecting one of the packages above, you will need to choose how to deliver your samples to the laboratory. You do this during checkout. You have two options : drop off the cooler containing the bottles yourself at the laboratory in Douai (free) or return it via Chronopost (shipping costs will be calculated and added at that point).

We will then send you a polystyrene cooler containing everything you need to collect your water samples. You will need to :

1. Place the supplied ice pack or packs in the freezer. They must be placed in the freezer at least 48h before you collect the samples.
2. Wash your hands and fill the supplied bottles with the water to be analyzed, then close them. Please note : all samples must come from the same source.
3. Complete the sampling form supplied with your package. You must clearly indicate the date and time of collection, as well as the source (for example "source1", or "kitchen faucet").
4. Place the tightly closed bottles, sampling form and ice packs in the cooler, and seal it with tape.
5. Attach the supplied Chronopost label (with the barcode) to the cooler.
6. Drop off your cooler at a Chronopost pickup point the same day (You can find pickup points on their website by entering your postal code)

Please note, the time between sample collection and analysis is very important, especially for microbiological analyses. The supplied Chronopost shipping label guarantees (unless the carrier fails to deliver) delivery to the laboratory the day after drop-off, before 10 a.m.).

For optimal results, you should therefore collect the water sample in the afternoon, as close as possible to your Chronopost location's closing time.

Never send your package on a Friday or the day before a public holiday. This would mean that your analysis would only be performed 2 or 3 days later, when the laboratory opens, and your results would no longer reflect your water's condition, as microorganisms would have had time to multiply in the bottles.

After that, you will need to wait a little while for the analyses to be performed, and we will send you the results as soon as we receive them. Results can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks.