Straight answers, not a sales pitch
A soft, chloraminated supply often needs less than people expect. If your readings say you're fine, that's what we'll tell you.
Readings before recommendations
Water Testing & Analysis in San Mateo
Not sure what's coming out of the tap at your place near Delaware Street? We take readings on site in San Mateo and explain each number before anyone talks equipment.
Know the numbers before you buy anything
Plenty of people buy a filter because a neighbor did. San Mateo Water Filtration offers water testing and analysis in San Mateo so you can decide based on your own readings instead. Most homes here are on chloraminated Cal Water supply, which is generally soft, and some are on private wells.
The visit is a sit-down at your kitchen tap. We measure hardness, chlorine and chloramine, TDS, pH, and iron with you watching. For anything that needs a lab, we tell you what to order and how to collect the sample. The visit is priced up front when you book, and you'll know what's in the glass by the end of it.
What we measure, and what goes to a lab
Some readings are reliable on site with the right meter or reagent. Others need a certified lab, and we're clear about the difference.
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Hardness
We measure hardness in grains per gallon with a titration kit. It tells you whether softening is worth discussing, and in much of San Mateo it isn't.
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Chlorine and chloramine
We read total and combined chlorine, and chloramine shows up as the combined share. That reading explains a pool-like taste and tells us whether catalytic carbon makes sense.
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Total dissolved solids
A TDS meter gives a quick picture of dissolved minerals. It's also the baseline we use later to check how well an RO system is working.
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pH
pH matters most on wells, where low readings can mean corroding copper pipe. On city water it mostly confirms what the utility reports.
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Iron
An iron reading separates well water staining from rust shed by older galvanized pipe. That difference changes the fix completely.
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Lead goes to a lab
Lead in homes built before 1986 usually comes from solder or fixtures, not the supply. A first-draw sample sent to a certified lab is the right way to measure it, and we explain how to collect one.
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Bacteria goes to a lab
Coliform and E. coli on a private well need a sterile sample and a certified lab. No field kit gives an answer you should rely on.
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PFAS and other contaminants
PFAS, arsenic, and nitrates require lab analysis at very low detection levels. We help you choose a panel that matches your concern rather than ordering everything.
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Reading the utility report
Cal Water publishes an annual water quality report for each system it runs. We go through the relevant lines with you so the on-site numbers make sense in context.
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Written summary
You get every reading written down with a plain note on what it means. If treatment is worth considering, the summary says which kind and why.
How a testing visit goes
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Book a time
You pick a slot that suits you, and we confirm whether the house is on city water or a well. If you have specific worries, like lead or an odd smell, mention them when booking. That way we bring the right reagents and lab sample guidance.
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Take the readings
We run the cold tap, then measure hardness, chlorine, TDS, pH, and iron right in front of you. Each number is explained as it comes up. The whole thing usually takes under an hour.
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Talk through results
We go over the written summary and say plainly what needs attention and what doesn't. If a lab sample is the better route for a concern, we explain the steps. Any equipment recommendation comes with a written quote, and you're under no obligation.
Why Choose San Mateo Water Filtration for Water Testing & Analysis
Honest about field limits
Lead, bacteria, and PFAS can't be confirmed with a field kit. We say so and point you to a proper lab sample instead of guessing.
Numbers you can keep
Every reading is written down, so you can compare later or share it with anyone else you consult. It's your data.
- Flat visit priceQuoted when you book
- Five on-site readingsHardness, chlorine, TDS, pH, iron
- Booked appointmentsA time that suits you
- NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 58Benchmarks for any next step
Find out what's really in your water
A short visit gets you real numbers and a clear explanation. Book a time, and we'll take readings on site and tell you whether you need treatment, a lab sample, or nothing at all.