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.
Updated Sample Receiving and Sample Collection Policy in Response to COVID-19
Babcock Laboratories’ testing services are essential to continuing to protect public health during this unprecedented time. We have never wavered from our commitment to safeguarding our community, and as such the safety of our clients and our dedicated employee-owners is of the utmost importance. To continue critical testing operations while ensuring the safety of our clients and staff, we have implemented new protocol in response to COVID-19.
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.
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.