All sales are final.

Why we don't accept returns

The Water Test kit is a single-use chemistry product. Every kit contains:

• A pre-measured Nile Red stain solution in organic solvent
• A peroxide-based digestion reagent
• Pre-cut PTFE filter membranes sealed in sterile packaging
• A UV-calibrated blue LED viewing light

Once a kit ships, we have no way to accept it back:

• We can't legally re-ship chemistry. Our reagents ship under a limited-quantity exception designed for new, sealed, single-direction outbound shipments. Once a kit has been in a customer's hands, we can't verify that seals are intact, that nothing has been cross-contaminated, or that the reagents are still within spec — which means we can't legally re-introduce it into the supply chain or forward it to another customer.
• We don't have a returns address. We're a small research operation, not a warehouse with reverse logistics. There is no inbound receiving dock. There is no QA lane to re-test returned reagents. We can't accept what we can't process.
• Once opened, a kit is consumed. The stain, the digestion solution, and the filter membranes are all single-use. Even a partially used kit cannot be restored to a saleable state.
• Our margins don't cover reverse logistics. The kit is priced near cost so testing is accessible. There is no pricing cushion to absorb return shipping, restocking, or disposal of returned chemistry as regulated waste.

If your kit arrives damaged

That's on us. Email hello@thewatertest.com within 7 days of delivery with your order number and a photo of the damage. We'll ship a replacement free of charge. You do not need to return the damaged kit — please dispose of it following the instructions included in your replacement.

If your kit is defective or missing a component

Same deal. Email us within 7 days of delivery and we'll make it right — either by shipping the missing component or replacing the kit. Keep the original; we don't want it back.

If you change your mind before it ships

Contact hello@thewatertest.com before your order leaves the warehouse and we'll cancel it and refund in full. Once a tracking number has been generated and the kit has been handed to the carrier, the sale is final.

Results

Refunds are not available based on the outcome of your test. The kit is a screening tool, not a lab service — you're paying for the materials and the method, not for a specific result. Please review the Terms of Service and the methodology page before ordering so you know exactly what the kit does and does not do.