The State Water Resources Control Board has established new drinking water guidelines for local water agencies in regard to two Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) substances: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).

The Board’s Division of Drinking Water (DDW) set interim Drinking Water Notification Levels of 14 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and 13 ppt for PFOS. Additionally, the DDW has established an interim Response Level of 70 ppt for the total combined concentration of PFOA and PFOS, consistent with the USEPA’s health advisory level established in 2016.

PFAS—also known as Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs)—are a diverse group of manufactured compounds frequently used as surfactants in industrial, consumer, military, and firefighting applications across the United States, such as Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) firefighting products, textiles, and pesticides. PFOA and PFOS are fully fluorinated organic compounds that are particularly resistant to degradation. What’s more, they are among the PFAS compounds identified as posing health risks to humans.    

Most California water systems serving more than 10,000 people have already tested their water for these contaminants under the third round of the USEPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 3). Under these new guidelines, if an agency tests and the results exceed the PFOA and PFOS levels, they are required to notify their governing boards and the State Water Board. The DDW also urges agencies to inform their customers.

Babcock Laboratories’ scope of testing services includes the analysis of PFOA and PFOS. We have over 10 years of LC/MS/MS analyses expertise, the leading technology for determination of PFAS compounds. We have even received industry commendation for our innovative and extensive LC/MS/MS research and method development. Our current capability allows us to detect PFAS at low nanogram-per-liter levels in water.

To inquire about PFOA and PFOS testing, contact us or call our Director of Client Services, Cathy Iijima, directly at 951-653-3351 x235. For more information about Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), such as PFOA and PFOS, click here.