The 8 Best Turbidity Meters

Editor's Notes

April 02, 2020:

Measuring the turbidity of lakes, streams, or rivers is extremely important, and often the first step in knowing if a water source is drinkable. It's also crucial for discerning whether a stream, river, lake, or pond is sustainable for aquatic life, as it shows the amount of algae, microorganisms, sediment, and other particulate present in the sample. Turbidimeters can also be used in the wine making process to discern the stabilization of wine and thus its suitability for bottling.

It's important to also keep in mind which standard you need your meter to meet. There are the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Method 180.1 and the International Standardization Organization's 7207. Mainly, the former standard is used in the United States, while the latter is recognized throughout the world.

You should also know the application you would like to use it for before purchasing. Some of our models have smaller handheld designs which enable you to take them into the field, while others are benchtop builds best suited for a laboratory.

If you only need to test a limited number of samples, you might want to go with our cheapest option, the LaMotte 7519-01. It consists of just two vials, one of which you release an included liquid into in order to measure against the other, to test the turbidity manually. Of course, this will yield a much more general number, as the readings are not nearly as accurate as the other models on our list with photovoltaic sensors.

For those looking for something more affordable you can take to a local stream, try the Sper Scientific Turbidity Meter. It comes with all you need to start making accurate measurements.

Finally, if you are working in a lab setting, you'll want to check out the Vtsyiqi Standard Benchtop Turbidimeter or the Baoshishan Turbidity Meter. Both are highly accurate benchtop meters that can switch between all 4 turbidity units of measurement including NTU, FNU, EBC and ASBC.