WATERS WATER TESTING SOLUTIONS

Significance of the topic

Access to safe drinking water is vital for public health, environmental sustainability, and regulatory compliance. Advanced analytical methods allow laboratories to detect trace-level contaminants, reduce health risks, and support informed decision making.

Objectives and Study Overview

This document highlights Waters Corporation's integrated solutions for water quality testing. It covers sample preparation strategies, chromatographic separations, mass spectrometry detection, multidimensional workflows, and informatics platforms designed to improve sensitivity, throughput, and data reliability across diverse matrices.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Method development and instrumentation play a central role in achieving accurate and efficient water analysis.

• Sample preparation: Oasis solid-phase extraction, Sep-Pak SPE cartridges, and certified vials reduce matrix effects, enhance recoveries, and prevent contamination.
• Chromatography: UPLC and HPLC columns (general purpose and application-specific) deliver high resolution and reproducibility with reduced solvent use.
• Liquid chromatography systems: ACQUITY UPLC H-Class, I-Class, and 2D configurations offer rapid separations, solvent savings up to 95%, and enhanced peak capacity.
• Detection techniques: Optical detectors (TUV, PDA, fluorescence), mass detectors (QDa, Xevo TQ-S, Xevo TQD, Xevo G2-S QTof) and soft ionization GC-APGC sources cover single-class screening to comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analyses.
• Informatics: Empower CDS, MassLynx, UNIFI, NuGenesis, and Paradigm software streamline data acquisition, processing, library management, and reporting in a compliant environment.

Main Results and Discussion

Implementation of these technologies yields:

• Up to ten times faster analysis with UPLC compared to traditional HPLC.
• Trace-level detection at parts-per-trillion concentrations by direct injection UPLC-MS/MS and APGC-MS.
• Enhanced sensitivity and selectivity through two-dimensional separations and RADAR technology.
• Robust quantification workflows with automated optimization (IntelliStart, ScanWave) and reduced operator variability.
• Comprehensive screening and identification of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, PAHs, and other emerging contaminants.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Increased laboratory throughput and reduced per-sample costs.
• Minimized solvent consumption and waste generation.
• Improved data quality, reproducibility, and compliance with regulatory limits.
• Streamlined workflows from sample preparation to final report.
• Adaptable solutions for environmental monitoring, municipal water testing, and industrial QA/QC.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging developments will further advance water analysis capabilities:

• Integration of high-resolution and ion mobility mass spectrometry for deeper compound profiling.
• Expanded use of two-dimensional separations and soft ionization techniques in GC-MS.
• Cloud-based informatics with AI-driven data interpretation and predictive analytics.
• On-site and remote monitoring platforms for real-time water quality assessment.
• Development of broader compound libraries and certified reference materials for new contaminants.

Conclusion

Waters Corporation's comprehensive suite of sample preparation products, chromatographic systems, detectors, and informatics platforms addresses the evolving challenges of water quality testing. By combining innovative technology with robust workflows, laboratories can achieve faster, more sensitive, and more reliable analyses to protect public health and the environment.