News/Media

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recently finalized regulations establishing an MCL for drinking water of 20 ppt for six PFAS compounds. All PWS in Massachusettsare now required to sample for PFAS.

CEI’s PFAS ApproachCEI works with PWS to protect and treat their drinking water. Our services include source protection, sampling, design and construction of new facilities, and treatment for specific contaminants including manganese, arsenic, and PFAS.

CEI has extensive experience using complex military and hazardous waste sampling protocols. We also work with PWS to protect and treat their drinking water. We have written PFAS protocols and experience collecting PFAS samples without contamination. Our protocols consider all potential sources of contamination including those from the sampler, sampling equipment and procedures, and PWS sample location infrastructure.

PFAS Monitoring Requirements - All PWS in Massachusetts must sample for PFAS by the dates shown in the table. Cost per sample is approximately $300 and samples must be sent to a MassDEP approved laboratory.

MassDEP isoffering to cover the cost of the initial PFAS laboratory analysis as part of the Free PFAS Lab Analyses Program, a voluntary statewide sampling program for PWS and private wells. This program will offset the cost of the initial sample and is available until June 30, 2021. Sign up for the free sampling program through this website: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S7QHNF2

If PFAS are detected in your sample, a confirmatory sample must be taken. If the level of PFAS in the sample is higher than the proposed MCL (20 ppt), the PWS would be required to do the following:

• Contact and inform the public health official in your community within 30 days.
• Notify the PWS consumers within 30 days.
• Certify to MassDEP and the local Board of Health that you have issued a health notice.
• Develop and implement a plan to reduce PFAS to a level below 10 ppt.
• Conduct additional monitoring, if required.

PFAS Sampling - Sampling for PFAS is a complex process that requires strict adherence to sampling protocols significantly more strict than a water systems standard sampling progams. Special handling and care must be taken to avoid false positives due to contamination as many everyday items, including common gear and equipment used in daily activities at a PWS, contain PFAS and are easily transferred to your sample. The risk of getting a false positive due to contamination of the sample is high.To mitigate this risk, PWS should either:

• Follow complex  MassDEP protocols for collection; or
• Have the sampling performed by someone familiar with PFAS protocols.

If you would like more information about PFAS or to discuss PFAS sampling, please contact Michael Ohl at 800-725-2550 x359 or [email protected] or Emily DiFranco at 800-725-2550 x 422 or [email protected].