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​​Non-Targeted Analysis of Water and Biosolids

Non-targeted mass spec reveals unknown chemistry driving upsets

Modern water and wastewater systems are facing a reality that traditional monitoring methods were never designed to handle. Every day, treatment plants receive a constantly changing mix of commercial products, industrial agents, specialty chemicals, inhibitors, and emerging compounds. Many of these substances were not part of legacy testing frameworks—and many have direct, measurable impacts on treatment performance.

When issues arise, operators are often left responding to symptoms rather than causes. Foaming events, biological inhibition, toxicity, variability, and even overflows or treatment upsets can occur without a clear explanation. Targeted testing may confirm that regulated parameters are within limits, yet the system continues to behave unpredictably.

Diagram showing how mass spectrometry works for non-targeted water analysis, including sample inlet, ionization, mass separation, detection, and mass spectrum data output used to identify chemical compounds.
Operators rely on targeted testing but can’t see unknowns → NTA reveals them.

This gap between what is measured and what is actually driving process performance is where non-targeted analysis of water and biosolids delivers value. By revealing the full chemical fingerprint of a system and translating that data into operational intelligence, non-targeted analysis transforms samples into solutions.

👉  Ready to see what’s really in your influent or biosolids? Contact Clipper Controls to launch a non-targeted analysis pilot.

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​​Why Traditional Monitoring No Longer Tells the Full Story

Targeted water testing has long been the foundation of wastewater monitoring and compliance. These methods are effective at measuring known parameters—specific regulated compounds, nutrients, or indicators that operators expect to find. However, they are fundamentally limited by design: targeted methods only detect what is already known and explicitly tested for.

In today’s operating environment, that limitation is increasingly problematic.

Wastewater and collection systems now receive inputs from evolving commercial formulations, specialty industrial chemicals, surfactants, solvents, pharmaceutical and biotech residues, agricultural runoff, and emerging contaminants such as PFAS. When these compounds interact with treatment processes, they often manifest as indirect operational issues—foaming, nitrification inhibition, oxygen transfer interference, sludge bulking, or organic shock loads.

Traditional monitoring can confirm that a problem exists, but it rarely explains why it is happening. Operators are left correlating trends, making assumptions, or reacting after an upset has already occurred. The complexity of modern water quality has outpaced the capabilities of targeted testing.

​​What Is Non-Targeted Analysis (NTA)?

Non-Targeted Analysis (NTA) is a modern approach to water and biosolids monitoring that answers a more powerful question than traditional testing:

What is actually in this water—and how does it affect treatment?

Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, NTA generates a complete chemical fingerprint from a single sample. Each analysis reveals tens of thousands of organic compounds captured from any point in a system, including influent, effluent, lift stations, interceptors, upstream collection nodes, or industrial discharge points.

Dashboard view from non-targeted analysis showing the top five most concerning compounds for wastewater plant operations, including days detected, relative abundance, source attribution, treatment impact, and operator alerts.
Water Intelligence Report by CEC Innovations showing how non-targeted analysis ranks the most concerning compounds by abundance, source attribution, treatment impact, and recommended operator actions to support proactive decision-making.

Clipper Controls works with CEC Innovations (cecinnovations.com) to deliver non-targeted analysis services to customers in California, Nevada, and Hawaii. CEC Innovations performs the mass spectrometry analysis and applies their specialized database to link identified compounds to known product sources and treatment impacts. Clipper Controls supports customers with sampling strategy, program setup, and access to ongoing analytical consulting through CEC Innovations.

Detection Is Only the First Step

The true value of NTA is not the instrument alone—it is what happens after detection.

For this service, detected compounds are interpreted using CEC Innovations’ specialized database, which links chemical signatures to known product types, likely sources, and documented treatment impacts. This step is what turns mass spectrometry data into information operators can use.

Each compound is enriched with insight into:
  • What the compound is
  • Where it originated (industrial, commercial, residential, environmental)
  • How it impacts treatment processes or environmental outcomes
  • This transforms analytical output into information operators can use.

From Raw Chemistry to Operational Intelligence

High-resolution mass spectrometry produces enormous volumes of data—but data alone does not prevent upsets or improve compliance. NTA becomes actionable by applying structured interpretation to every compound detected.

Source Attribution

Compounds are linked to likely origins such as industrial sectors, commercial activities, residential use, or environmental inputs. This allows utilities to characterize influent and collection systems with confidence and supports defensible pretreatment investigations.

Functional Use Classification

Each compound is grouped by functional role—surfactants, solvents, biocides, lubricants, polymers, pharmaceuticals—providing critical context for how chemicals behave in treatment systems.

Treatment Impact Analysis

NTA highlights compounds known to cause foaming, nitrification inhibition, oxygen transfer interference, sludge quality issues, toxicity, and organic shock loads. Operators see which compounds pose risk and how those risks change over time.

Management Insights

Results are summarized in a Water Intelligence Report (WIR) and an interactive dashboard that prioritize monitoring actions, source control opportunities, and treatment strategies—without overwhelming staff with chemistry.

​​Seeing the Drivers Behind Treatment Upsets

Most treatment upsets are not random events. They are driven by changes in influent chemistry that traditional monitoring cannot see.


NTA links specific compounds to known treatment impacts, allowing operators to understand why foaming events, biological inhibition, oxygen transfer problems, or overflows occur. By tracking relative abundance and trends, utilities gain early warning before conditions reach a tipping point.

Equally important, NTA connects upset-driving compounds back to their sources—supporting focused investigations rather than system-wide guesswork.

Modern wastewater treatment facility handling complex influent chemistry from industrial and municipal sources

👉  Trying to troubleshoot unexplained discharge variability or strengthen pretreatment? Call (844) 880-2469 or message us to explore non-targeted analysis for industrial discharge monitoring.

​​Quantifying What’s Really Driving BOD, COD, and Oxygen Demand

BOD and COD are essential metrics, but they do not explain what is creating the load. NTA calculates theoretical oxygen demand on a per-compound basis, showing which compounds contribute most to biological stress and where they originate.


This compound-level insight supports pretreatment optimization, evidence-based surcharge programs, and influent/effluent comparisons that reveal how treatment performance changes across the process.

​​PFAS, Source Protection, and Regulatory Readiness

PFAS compounds are persistent, mobile, and difficult to treat. For most utilities, source protection is the only viable long-term strategy.


NTA detects PFAS within the broader chemical fingerprint, applies industrial source categories, and supports early intervention before concentrations escalate. Sampling throughout the treatment train also reveals whether PFAS remains in the aqueous phase or partitions into sludge and biosolids—critical information for planning around current and upcoming regulations.

​​Odor, H₂S, and Localized Collection System Insights

Odor and hydrogen sulfide issues are among the most persistent challenges in collection systems—and among the hardest to diagnose with traditional tools.

NTA identifies odor-causing and sulfur-related compounds directly and supports localized sampling at lift stations, interceptors, and upstream nodes. This enables targeted, data-driven treatment strategies rather than blanket chemical dosing, reducing cost and improving effectiveness.

​​How NTA Works in Practice

NTA is designed to integrate easily into existing workflows.


Samples may be collected from influent, effluent, lift stations, upstream sources, or process basins. Analysis uses high-resolution mass spectrometry focused on organic compounds (not metals or complex hydrocarbons).

Results are delivered through a Water Intelligence Report and interactive dashboard with operator-friendly summaries and management guidance.

Most utilities start with a pilot program of 15–20 samples collected over several weeks. Basic analysis is $250 per sample and includes non-targeted analysis, the Water Intelligence Report (WIR), and dashboard access. A $275 per-sample option is also available and includes a complete sample kit with vial, ice pack, and return shipping in addition to the analysis and reporting.

Field technician setting up a portable automatic water sampler at a manhole for composite wastewater sampling as part of a non-targeted analysis program.
Field technician setting up an automatic water sampler at a manhole as part of a non-targeted analysis program.

​​Why Trend Data Matters More Than Single Samples

Single samples provide snapshots. Trend data provides understanding.


By analyzing trends over time, utilities can identify emerging risks, distinguish isolated anomalies from systemic issues, prepare for contamination spikes, and intervene before upsets or violations occur. Trend-based monitoring supports confident planning in systems where chemistry is constantly changing.

​​Who Benefits From Non-Targeted Analysis?

NTA has proven valuable across nearly every water-related vertical:

  • Municipal wastewater utilities
  • Industrial pretreatment programs
  • Industrial and commercial dischargers
  • Environmental and engineering consultants
  • Collection systems and decentralized or package treatment plants

The common thread is compound-level visibility. When operators can see what is driving their system, they can manage it more effectively.

​​Pairing NTA With Sampling & Instrumentation

NTA complements—rather than replaces—existing monitoring programs.


Automatic water samplers ensure representative data, while continuous analyzers provide real-time awareness. NTA explains why changes occur, enhancing the value of instrumentation by adding chemical context to alarms, trends, and performance shifts.

​​Supporting Modern Water Challenges With Modern Solutions

Modern water challenges demand modern solutions. As influent chemistry becomes more complex, utilities and industries need tools that provide clarity—not just compliance.

Non-targeted analysis delivers early warning, source intelligence, and actionable insight that supports proactive operation, regulatory readiness, and environmental protection.

​​How Clipper Controls Supports Advanced Water Intelligence

Clipper Controls helps utilities and industries bridge the gap between monitoring and understanding. By pairing advanced sampling strategies, instrumentation, and non-targeted analysis, Clipper Controls supports stronger pretreatment programs, improved response to treatment upsets, and smarter planning for emerging contaminants.

👉  Ready to start a NTA pilot program? We can help!


Message Clipper Controls or call (844) 880-2469 to put together a “sample + analysis” NTA program for influent, lift stations, effluent, or biosolids.

Clipper Controls technical specialist assisting customers with non-targeted analysis strategies

​​Frequently Asked Questions

What is the sample hold time?

There are no preservatives and no fixed hold time. Keep the sample on ice from collection through shipping (the sample kit includes ice packs). As long as the sample remains cold, it’s acceptable for analysis.

What is non-targeted analysis (NTA)?

A mass spectrometry-based method that captures a full chemical fingerprint of water or biosolids and turns it into operational insight.

How is NTA different from targeted testing?

Targeted testing looks for a set list of known compounds. NTA reveals thousands of compounds present—including unknown and emerging substances.

What’s the core differentiator of this service?

A specialized proprietary database that links identified compounds to likely product sources and expected treatment impacts.

How many compounds can one sample reveal?

Typically tens of thousands of organic compounds per sample.

Does NTA test metals or complex hydrocarbons?

No. It focuses on organic compounds.

Can NTA help identify where contaminants are coming from?

Yes. Results include source attribution (industrial, commercial, residential, environmental) based on detected compounds.

How does NTA help with treatment upsets?

It flags compound patterns associated with foaming, inhibition, toxicity, oxygen transfer issues, and other drivers of instability.

Can NTA help explain BOD/COD variability?

Yes. It can estimate theoretical oxygen demand per compound to clarify what’s driving load and from where.

Does NTA detect PFAS?

Yes. PFAS can appear within the fingerprint, supporting source protection and planning for regulations.

Where can you sample?

Influent, effluent, lift stations, interceptors, upstream collection nodes, industrial discharge points, and biosolids/sludge streams.

How many samples are recommended to start?

A common pilot is 15–20 samples over several weeks to capture trends, not just snapshots.

What does it cost?

$250 per sample, including the report and dashboard access.

Who uses NTA?

Municipal utilities, industrial pretreatment teams, industrial dischargers, consultants, and decentralized/package systems.

Does NTA replace online analyzers or instrumentation?

No. It complements them by explaining the “why” behind trends and alarms.

How does Clipper Controls support these programs?

By helping connect sampling strategy, monitoring tools, and actionable interpretation so teams can respond with confidence.

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