Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are turning up across the Golden State. The State Water Board released preliminary data in March 2020 which suggests around half of the 600 public water supply wells near landfills, military installations, and airports have detections of PFOA, PFOS, or other PFAS.
Babcock Labs is DoD AND California Accredited: PFAS Determinations in Non-Potable Water & Solids
On December 2, 2019, Babcock Laboratories, Inc. joined an elite group of laboratories in California accredited to analyze all PFAs by Department of Defense Quality Systems Manual (DoD QSM - version 5.1 or newer). On January 9th the CA Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (CA ELAP) added PFAS to Babcock Labs’ accreditation for analysis of Semi-volatile Organic Constituents in non-potable water—Field of Testing (FOT) 111. Babcock became one of a handful of laboratories in the State with the proper CA ELAP accreditation for PFAS required for all State regulatory work.
EPA Announces New Method to Test for Additional PFAS in Drinking Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a new validated method for testing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Babcock Laboratories played a valuable role in the EPA’s validation study for Method 533 and is well-equipped to offer additional PFAS analyses to water agencies interested in a more comprehensive look into their source waters.
PFAS in CA: Phase I Results
This month the State Water Resources Control Board posted the first results of testing for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) for nearly 600 drinking water supply wells. This testing was performed as part of a comprehensive effort to assess the presence of harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—coined “forever chemicals—in water systems and groundwater statewide.
State and Federal PFAS Updates
Preparing for PFAS Phases II & III
This month Babcock Labs held a sold-out TEAM Event on PFAS regulatory updates and monitoring insights. Our guest speakers, Southern California Section Chief Jeff O’Keefe (Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board) and Drinking Water Practice Leader Rob Little (Woodard & Curran) shared their expertise and answered attendee questions. During his presentation, Mr. O’Keefe reminded attendees that Phases II and III of the State Board’s Phased Investigation Approach are forthcoming, planned for Summer and Fall of this year.