PFAS Testing: Laboratories and Sample Bottles

Maine Department of Health & Human Services sent this bulletin at 05/10/2022 12:08 PM EDT

This update is coming to you from the Maine CDC Drinking Water Program.

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PFAS Testing: Laboratories and Sample Bottles  

As Public Water Systems (PWS) begin sampling drinking water for PFAS, the Maine CDC Drinking Water Program (DWP) is highlighting some important information regarding laboratories and sampling bottles:

  • All Maine Community water systems and Non-community schools and childcare facilities must sample for PFAS before December 31, 2022. The DWP encourages these systems to sample over the summer and early fall to avoid laboratory capacity issues that may occur near the deadline.

  • Only DWP-accredited laboratories using EPA methods 533, 537 and 537.1 may be used to test for PFAS in water. The current list of Maine-accredited labs for PFAS testing can be found on DWP website: Testing for PFAS in Drinking Water (jump to Additional Resources).

  • In certain instances, PWS may coordinate sample collection and submittal with a Maine laboratory that is not accredited for PFAS analysis. In these cases,

    1. The PWS must work with a Maine-accredited lab;

    2. Analysis may only be subcontracted to laboratories that are Maine-accredited for PFAS (i.e., on the Maine laboratory accreditation list);

    3. Tests that were subcontracted must be identified as such; and

    4. The lab issuing the report must be accredited by the Maine Laboratory Accreditation Program (MLAP).
  • Once the PWS chooses a lab to work with, it is the PWS’s responsibility to request a sampling kit or sample bottles. PWS should refer to their Required Testing Sheet (RTS) for more information regarding this.

  • It is preferred that the analyzing laboratory submit the results directly to the DWP. Results can be sent to dwplabsubmit@maine.gov.

  • If your PWS has already sampled for PFAS, the results must be submitted to the DWP as soon as possible in order to demonstrate compliance with the regulations.

For more information regarding the required testing, the legislation, and related matters, please visit our Testing for PFAS in Drinking Water webpage.  For assistance with PFAS sampling, you may contact Maine Rural Water Association at pfasassistance@mainerwa.org.

 

URLS