Turbidity is the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles — silt, algae, organic matter — and is measured in NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units). Pacific Sensor Technologies stocks portable and benchtop turbidity meters from Hanna Instruments, Milwaukee Instruments and GOnDO, covering laboratory, field and process applications across drinking water, wastewater, aquaculture and industrial monitoring.
Turbidity is the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles — silt, algae,...
Turbidity meter, Range: 0.00 to 50.00 (FNU) | 50 …
Range: 0 ~ 19.99 NTU | 20.0 ~ 199.9 NTU | 200 ~ 1…
Turbidity meter, EPA method. Range: Turbidity Ran…
Turbidity meter, ISO method. Range: Turbidity Ran…
High accuracy benchtop Turbidity Meter, EPA Compl…
High accuracy benchtop Turbidity Meter, ISO 7027 …
A turbidity meter shines a light source through a water sample and measures how much light scatters off suspended particles at a 90° angle. The scattered light is converted into an NTU reading on the display. ISO 7027-compliant meters use an infrared light source; EPA-compliant meters (EPA Method 180.1) use a broadband white light source — the two standards aren’t directly interchangeable, so match the meter to the standard your reporting requires.
Portable turbidity meters are handheld, battery-powered units built for field sampling, spot checks and on-site compliance testing. Benchtop turbidity meters stay in the lab and typically offer higher accuracy and repeatability for routine sample runs. Both formats are available in ISO 7027 and EPA Method 180.1-compliant versions below.
There are several ways to measure turbidity, depending on the level of accuracy needed and the available equipment.
A turbidity meter measures the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles such as silt, algae and organic matter. It's used to monitor drinking water safety at treatment plants, check river, lake and ocean water quality, and manage process water in industries like aquaculture, food and beverage, and wastewater treatment.
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity — how much light is scattered or blocked by particles suspended in the water, rather than passing straight through. Higher turbidity means cloudier water and, typically, a higher concentration of suspended solids.
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC) set an aesthetic guideline of less than 5 NTU, dropping to less than 1 NTU for water being disinfected without prior filtration. Conventional treatment is technically capable of reducing turbidity below 0.2 NTU. Acceptable levels vary by application — check the specific guideline that applies to your site.
A portable turbidity meter is handheld and battery-powered, built for field sampling and on-site spot checks. A benchtop turbidity meter is a laboratory instrument, generally offering higher accuracy and repeatability for routine sample analysis. Choose portable for field work, benchtop for lab-based compliance testing.
Most manufacturers recommend calibrating a turbidity meter before each use or measurement session, with a full multi-point calibration at least monthly for units in regular use. Follow the calibration schedule in your specific meter's manual, and use certified turbidity calibration standards for accurate results. If you are running the Milwaukee Mi415 PRO, the matching set is the Mi515-100 turbidity reagent kit, which supplies 0, 10 and 500 FNU standards.
NTU stands for Nephelometric Turbidity Unit — the standard unit turbidity meters use to report results, based on the amount of light scattered by a water sample at a 90° angle from the light source.
