An embodiment provides a method for measuring sulfate in an aqueous sample, including: introducing an aqueous sample containing an amount of sulfate to a barium dye complex, thereby creating a solution; adding a clarifying agent to the solution, thereby causing the solution to be clarified; and measuring the amount of sulfate in the aqueous sample by measuring a change in color of the solution, the change in color caused by the barium dye complex mixing with the sulfate. Other aspects are described and claimed.