industry news

Babcock Face Mask & Social Distancing Policy

On Friday the Riverside Board of Supervisors voted to rescind all of the county-wide stay-at-home orders that went into effect in early April and were in addition to Governor Newsom’s restrictions. This decision, which includes relaxing the County Health Officer’s required use of face coverings, will in no way change the requirements for proper PPE, facemasks, and social distancing at Babcock Labs.

Changes to Sample Receiving Protocol & Cyanide Preservation Requirements Reminder

In light of the COVID-19 precautions and social distancing requirements, effective Monday March 30th Babcock Labs will be operating an outdoor sample drop-off arrangement.

DDW Sets New Response Levels for PFOA and PFOS

Yesterday, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Division of Drinking Water (DDW) issued a press release regarding new Response Levels (RL) for PFOA and PFOS.

The RL for Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is now set at 10 parts per trillion (ppt)

The RL for Perfluorooctanoic sulfonate (PFOS) is now set at 40 ppt.

Previously California RL’s were set at the federal level of 70 ppt for PFOA and PFOS combined.

New Service Center: Babcock Labs Opens Satellite Facility in Imperial Valley

Babcock Laboratories, Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of its new service center in the Imperial Valley. The satellite facility will serve as a drop-off location for all analyses in Imperial County. Samples will be conveyed to the main laboratory in Riverside for analysis and reporting.

In order to meet all method regulatory holding times the new service center will operate on a limited basis, accepting bacteriological, nitrate-nitrite, and General Physical (COT) samples on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays before noon and, for analyses with longer holding times, Monday through Thursday. The service center is located at 104 S. 8th St., Brawley, CA 92227 and the hours are M-Thurs. 8am-2pm. Babcock Field Department services are also be available on a limited basis and must be pre-arranged.

Year in Review: Key Issues of 2018

As we prepare to welcome 2019, I find it important to reflect on some of the key industry issues of 2018 as they provide a prelude to the focal-points and challenges our industry is sure to experience in the New Year.