Muni Lab is an automated water testing laboratory using fluorescence microscopy, computer vision, and robotics to analyze water samples at a fraction of traditional lab costs.
Our proprietary process detects and counts microplastic particles down to 0.22 microns — at roughly 10x cheaper than conventional certified labs.
Samples arrive
Intake & logging
H₂O₂ digestion
Remove organic matter
Nile Red staining
Bind plastic polymers
Fluorescence microscopy
Capture particle data
CV classification
Count & classify
Results delivered
Within days
One centralized lab. Fully automated pipeline. Thousands of samples per month.
We partnered with TheWaterMap.com to build the first neighborhood-level drinking water quality map in the United States.
Every sample we process adds a data point. Over 50 homes tested across Los Angeles so far — with results already revealing significant variation between neighborhoods, buildings, and plumbing systems.
The map is free, open, and growing.
Visit TheWaterMap.comNeighborhood-level contamination data for your jurisdiction. We present findings, you get actionable intelligence.
Plumbers, home inspectors, water treatment companies. Add water testing to your service menu. We handle the lab work.
Access to the largest consumer-sourced microplastics dataset in the country.
Muni Lab was founded in Los Angeles by Andrew Pierno, a software engineer with a background in computer vision and a simple question: what's actually in my tap water?
The answer cost $600–$800 from a traditional lab.
So we built our own.