In response to growing health concerns, ESS Laboratory recently announced that it has been certified by the Rhode Island Department of Health to begin offering comprehensive drinking water testing for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (Method 537.1) , commonly called "PFAS". Drinking water samples will now be extracted and analyzed in the ESS Cranston, RI laboratory. ESS Laboratory has since added Method 1633 for Aqueous samples (Wastewaters, Groundwaters, etc) and will soon be adding 1633 for soils.

PFAS are found in a wide range of consumer products such as cookware, pizza boxes, and stain. Due to their persistence in the environment and in the human body, they are often referred to as "forever chemicals." Many recent media stories have highlighted the possible risks of exposure to PFAS, and federal and state agencies are moving quickly to require testing and mitigation, particularly in water systems.

As concerns about PFAS contamination continue to gain attention, we're committed to providing our clients with access to timely and accurate testing services. Our Rhode Island drinking water approval is the first in a series of additional state and national certifications we are obtaining over the next several months to ensure we can offer comprehensive testing to our clients across additional matrices, including groundwater and soils.

ESS has deployed state-of-the-industry equipment that allows detection of PFAS compounds with exceptional sensitivity at the parts per trillion level. Because these forever chemicals may exist in drinking water supplies, detection at such minute levels is crucial to safeguard the well-being of communities. We are already seeing strong demand from our long-time engineering firm and government agency customer base, as well as requests for service from individual homeowners and buyers who seek access to this information.