Environmental monitoring
PFAS testing in groundwater
BJL Laboratoires identifies and quantifies PFAS in groundwater, monitoring wells, boreholes and abstraction points as part of contamination assessments and environmental monitoring programmes.
Why test groundwater for PFAS?
The high persistence of PFAS enables them to migrate through soil and groundwater. Their presence may be associated with industrial activity, the use of firefighting foams, waste storage or diffuse contamination.
Groundwater testing helps assess the extent of contamination, monitor its development over time and compare concentrations between several monitoring points.
Types of samples
- water collected from monitoring wells or piezometers;
- borehole water;
- water from abstraction points;
- spring water;
- groundwater collected upgradient and down-gradient of a site;
- water collected during a contamination assessment;
- water monitored as part of a site management plan.
Applications of PFAS testing
Initial site assessment
Detection of PFAS in groundwater at or near a site.
Contamination plume delineation
Comparison of concentrations between several monitoring points.
Periodic monitoring
Monitoring changes in analytical results over time.
Information required before testing
- location and reference of each monitoring point;
- hydrogeological context;
- upgradient or down-gradient position;
- sampling depth;
- current or historical activities at the site;
- list of PFAS to be tested;
- purpose of the monitoring campaign;
- required level of analytical sensitivity.
Sampling from monitoring wells
Sampling must be carried out while limiting the use of materials that may contain PFAS. Equipment, tubing, pumps, seals and bottles must be checked before the campaign.
Appropriate quality controls are also recommended, particularly when several monitoring wells are sampled during the same site visit.
Read our guide to water sampling for PFAS testing.
Request PFAS testing of groundwater
To prepare a proposal, please provide the number of monitoring points and samples, the site context, the required list of compounds and the requested turnaround time.