Fresh water has never been more precious than it is today. But how can we keep up with demand?

Fortunately, water treatment factories can turn waste products into potable water… as long as they are testing the final product to ensure it meets regulatory standards. Unfortunately, this is not always as easy as it sounds.

Wastewater from industry and agriculture can carry a variety of toxic pollutants, including heavy metals and organic toxins, which can be discharged into the environment where they are harmful to ecosystems and human health.

This infographic will show you more on turning waste into water and the water treatment process. The regulatory importance of testing and the guidlines tio follow. Why water testing is essential for maintaining quality and the complex sample matrices involved.

Perchlorate was recently identified as an environmental contaminant in drinking water. It impairs normal thyroid function by interfering with iodine uptake by the thyroid gland. In February 2011, the EPA decided to develop a national primary drinking water regulation for perchlorate.

In 2011, the EPA also recommended improved monitoring for compounds containing chromium(VI) based on results from an independent survey showing that 35 U.S. drinking water samples exceeded the regulatory limits. Chromium(VI) is of particular concern since it is a highly toxic carcinogen linked to gastrointestinal and other cancers.