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Principal State Drinking Water Laboratory

The DSHS is the Principal State Drinking Water Laboratory of Texas. This means that the State of Texas designates our laboratory as capable of performing analytical measurements of all contaminants specified in the State’s primary drinking water regulations. Texas is required to have a laboratory with this designation to maintain its power of delegation from the EPA for the oversight of the Safe Drinking Water Act in Texas. The DSHS Environmental Chemistry Laboratory is also currently certified by the TCEQ to conduct biological tissue testing, potable and non-potable water testing, and solid and chemical materials testing.

Drinking (Potable) Water Testing

Texas Laboratory tests for the following analytes that are regulated under the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR). The NPDWR are legally enforceable primary standards and treatment techniques that apply to public water systems. Primary standards and treatment techniques protect public health by limiting the levels of contaminants in drinking water.

List of Certifications:

National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP)

• Disinfection Byproducts
• Inorganic Chemicals
• Organic Chemicals
• Radionuclides

The DSHS Laboratory also tests drinking water for the presence of coliforms and Escherichia coli. That bacteriological testing is conducted by the DSHS Microbiology Unit. For more information on the bacteriological testing of drinking water, please visit the Environmental/Consumer Microbiology testing webpage.

_{Sequential radium testing at the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory. © DSHS 2025}