The Washington State Board of Health, in conjunction with the Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water (ODW), developed drinking water standards for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).  These new regulations will require all Group A Community (COMM) and Non-transient, Non-Community (NTNC) water systems to conduct PFAS sampling.

To help water systems comply with the initial monitoring requirements of the new rule, and to better understand PFAS occurrence in our state, ODW is offering all Group A COMM and NTNC public water systems (PWS) a no-cost opportunity to test their sources for PFAS. Funding is limited to the cost of sample analysis, including shipping and is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The ODW will approach systems who are required to sample for PFAS and offer them the opportunity to participate in this program to analyze their drinking water for PFAS.  ODW will supply a list of PWS that would like to test their drinking water to participating certified laboratories.  The laboratories will ship a sampling kit to PWS’s participating in the voluntary sample analysis program.  The PWS will collect drinking water samples as directed in the lab’s sampling guidance and ship the samples back to the laboratories.  The laboratories will analyze samples using EPA Method 533.  The laboratories will report analytical results to ODW and the water system on ODW reporting templates (see Appendix A) and a standard level II report with QC data for each analysis completed.