Knowing what is in your water is important to ensure you have good water to drink, use in CPAP machines, water plants, and many science experiments. Before purchasing a water quality test, you need to make sure it is accurate. The tests on our round-up have a reputation for being the best and most accurate regardless of the water temperature. Most are digital and can be reused, though we do include kits with disposable test strips.
Hofun TDS Digital Water Test
The most versatile water tester
The Hofun TDS digital water test is the most versatile on our list. It can be used to test the quality levels of any type of water for any use including water dispensing systems, aquariums, and swimming pools. The tip of this tester is dipped into that water and the LCD display will show you the PH balance. It is super sensitive and will detect even small trace amounts of pH in the water. It travels well and will pick up pH balances in other substances, like wines and food. This TDS water tester also tests for the ppm, or chemical contaminants in your water, and dissolved solids like calcium and sodium, also called TDS levels.
GroTheory TDS Meter, 2 Pack
Two for the price of one
This is a two-pack of digital and reusable water quality testers. You can designate one for drinking water and the other for your aquarium. Or divide these testers between two laboratory tests. Both of these pen-style tests are partially immersed in water just long enough for them to display the ppm in drinking water, swimming pools, and aquariums. The LCD backlit screen shows TDS measurements with only a two percent difference. Readings are accurate regardless of the temperature of the water. When you’re done dry off the meter and secure the safety cap to keep it protected until ready to use again.
HM Digital TDS-EZ Water Quality Tester
The economic solution
The EZ water tester by HM Digital is specifically for economic, or home use, rather than for a science lab. It is ideal for testing drink water and other water in your home including fish tanks or your garden hose. This test uses a metal probe inserted into the water to detect particles in your water and displays the results on the digital screen. It is 97 percent accurate in detecting most carcinogens in your home water. The HM Digital water quality analyzer comes with two button cell batteries already installed that will give you over 1000 hours of use before dying.
HoneForest Water Quality Tester
Raising levels to professional
This is a professional grade water tester, so it’s a really good tool to have in a laboratory. It measures chemical levels in your water in .09990ppm, which is really, really small and impressive. It uses an automatic temperature compensation (ATC) probe that will accurately read TDS levels regardless of how hot or cold the water is. The HoneForest meter monitors reverse osmosis systems, tests nutrient levels in hydroponics systems, and helps maintain healthy levels in aquariums. Readings appear on the LCD display screen within seconds of testing and the device will automatically turn off after two minutes of non-use.
SJ Wave 16 in 1 Drinking Water Test Kit
Enough for 100 tests
This kit uses testing strips to detect 16 different particles in your drinking water. This includes lead, iron, copper, and pH balances. It also will show you the overall hardness of your water. The kit includes a dropper and a test tube to collect and hold your water sample. A test strip is then inserted into the water and then compared to the results card to see how high each particle is. This kit FDA certified and will give you accurate results in under two minutes. This kit is a good tool for school projects where multiple students need to test and rate results individually. It comes with 100 individual test strips.
Bottom line
The Hofun TDS digital water test is at the very top of our list of the best water quality testers. This is because it is the most versatile and can be easily used for both home and laboratory needs. It shows you TDS levels, ppm, and water pH levels in straight water and in foods and wines that include water in them. It also works in testing water in dispensing systems.
For a really good breakdown of the specific chemicals found in your drinking water, we recommend the SJ Wave 16 in 1 drinking water test. These strips are designed to show you 16 different chemicals typically found in water including fluoride, ammonia, and chlorine. Because they are small and discrete they work really well while traveling. The strips can be discarded after use.
