PFAS sampling and analysis, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

PFAS are a large group of synthetic chemicals used for decades in industrial processes and consumer products because of their resistance to heat, water, grease and stains. That same persistence is what makes them a drinking water concern. Certain PFAS remain in the environment for years, migrate into groundwater and public water supplies, and accumulate in the human body over time.

Olympian Water Testing provides professional PFAS water testing for homeowners, families, property buyers, building owners, property managers and other clients who want to better understand the quality of the water they use every day. Testing identifies whether targeted PFAS compounds are present and, where detected, measures their concentrations at extremely low levels.

PFAS contamination cannot be identified by the appearance, taste or smell of water. Clear water with no noticeable odor can still contain measurable concentrations. Laboratory analysis is therefore necessary to determine whether the PFAS compounds included in the selected analytical method are present.

Testing may be especially valuable for families concerned about long term drinking water exposure, homes served by private wells, properties near airports or industrial areas, locations near known or suspected contamination sites, and buyers who want additional information about a property’s water quality before making an important decision.

Private wells deserve particular attention because the property owner is generally responsible for evaluating the quality of the well water. A conventional well water analysis does not necessarily include PFAS. These compounds require specialized laboratory methods and must be specifically requested.

PFAS analysis is fundamentally different from many routine water tests because these compounds are measured at extraordinarily low concentrations, often in parts per trillion. Proper sample collection, handling, bottle selection, preservation, transportation and laboratory procedure are therefore essential.

Olympian Water Testing follows PFAS specific field protocols designed to reduce the possibility of introducing outside contamination during sampling. Samples are collected in appropriate containers and maintained under documented chain of custody from collection through analysis.

Depending on the testing objective, analytical options include EPA Method 537.1, EPA Method 533 or another appropriate validated method. The analytical scope is selected against the water source, the reason for testing, the compounds of concern and the applicable regulatory or advisory framework, and may be adjusted where doing so preserves holding times.

Our PFAS reporting provides considerably more than a simple positive or negative answer. Results identify the individual compounds analyzed, the concentrations detected, the applicable reporting limits, and the compounds that were not detected above those limits.

Olympian Water Testing assists clients in interpreting those findings in context. That matters because PFAS standards and guidance have evolved significantly as scientific knowledge and regulatory policy have developed, and because federal and state requirements may differ depending on the type of water supply and the jurisdiction.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established national drinking water standards for several PFAS, including individual maximum contaminant levels of 4.0 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS. Concentrations at that scale demonstrate why PFAS testing requires specialized analytical methods rather than ordinary drinking water screening.

For homeowners and families, the purpose of PFAS testing is straightforward: obtain reliable information about a potential contaminant that cannot otherwise be seen, smelled or tasted.

A properly designed PFAS analysis can establish a baseline for a home’s drinking water, investigate a suspected exposure concern, evaluate a private well, help determine whether additional treatment should be considered, or verify water quality following installation of a treatment system.

Olympian Water Testing provides independent professional water testing services throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, with NELAP accredited laboratory analysis. Our role is to help clients select meaningful testing, obtain properly collected samples, and receive clear data they can use to make informed decisions about their water, their property and their family’s drinking water environment.