The NucleoMag DNA/RNA Water kit enables rapid manual or automated isolation of DNA and RNA from diverse water and air samples in a scalable, magnetic bead-based format. The kit is compatible with a variety of filters and filtration systems and can be used to process salty or fresh water samples ranging from turbid to clear. The kit protocol avoids the use of reducing agents while enabling efficient removal of inhibitors. Purified nucleic acids are suitable for downstream applications such as qPCR and NGS.