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Methods Approved to Analyze Drinking Water Samples to Ensure Compliance with Regulations

  • EPA protects drinking water by requiring that laboratories analyze samples using EPA-approved methods. Learn about drinking water analytical methods.

About Drinking Water Analytical Methods

  • Learn about analytical methods
    • Method Development for Unregulated Contaminants in Drinking Water: Public Meeting and Webinar, June 2018 (PDF) (104 pp, 2.3 MB, About PDF)
  • Lowest Concentration Minimum Reporting Level (LCMRL) Calculator

Approved Methods

  • Approved methods for analyzing drinking water samples
  • Contact information for approved drinking water methods (PDF)(3 pp, 73 K, About PDF)

Submit New Methods for Approval (Alternate Test Procedure Program)

  • Application requirements and process for submitting alternate drinking water methods to EPA

Expedited Approval of Methods

  • Requirements for approving methods using the expedited process
  • August 17, 2022 - EPA announces approval of alternative testing methods
    • Federal Register Action Fact Sheet - Expedited Methods Approval (pdf) (159.95 KB, August 2022, 815-F-22-004)

Related Information

  • Laboratory Certification & Analysis Requirements
  • Have your Drinking Water Tested
  • Clean Water Act Methods
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on August 17, 2022
United States Environmental Protection Agency

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