California Laboratory

To Grab or to Composite...That is the PFAS Question!

The debate regarding the most appropriate method to collect non-potable liquids—specifically POTW influents and effluents—continues. Last month California State Water Quality Control Board (SWQCB) staff appeared to walk back parts of the original Phase III PFAS monitoring orders, directing the responsibility for making decisions regarding sampling techniques back to the agency and their laboratory. October is upon us and water treatment professionals are wondering…

From the Ashes: Wildfire Effects on Water Quality

Once again, lower than average winter rainfall has paired with exceptionally hot summer months and set California up for a disastrous wildfire season with the potential to surpass that of the historic 2018 fire season. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Monday that fires had burned through more than 1.4 million acres burned so far in 2020. That’s already well ahead of this time in 2019, when Cal Fire reports just shy of 28,060 acres burned.

And the 2020 Survey Says…

Results are in from the 2020 client satisfaction survey, and Babcock Labs is proud to report an overall service rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. We are pleased and grateful for the client participation, thoughtful feedback, and vote of confidence in our services.

Going Back to School or the Office? Maybe Time for a Different Type of Test

After months of lockdown, some Californians are returning to their offices, restaurants, and gyms. But as we reach to turn on the tap or the shower, a new hazard may be lurking in the stagnant water of our abandoned plumbing—Legionella.

PFAS: It’s Not Just In The Water

In response to widespread contamination, the EPA and FDA have released testing methods that identify 29 PFAS compounds in water and 16 PFAS compounds in food. The EPA also released a 2020 update of its PFAS Action Plan that details the guidelines for testing PFAS in drinking water, recommendations for cleaning up contaminated groundwater, and the allocation of around 14.9 million dollars towards researching PFAS in agriculture, waste, and the environment.