The Community Water Testing Program supports the work of local groups in sampling and testing for PFAS in surface waters and biosolids. 

Because regulatory agencies have been slow to take action on PFAS, communities have organized to identify the sources of contamination and call for their governments to require treatment.  This community action is an essential strategy for putting pressure on government to stop releases of PFAS chemicals into our environment and products.

After the PFAS Subteam announced its interest in helping Sierra Club members with local concerns about PFAS contamination some Chapter volunteers asked for help with water testing. The Subteam provides activists with commercial test kits and works with them in designing projects to test water for PFAS chemicals. Collection events are scheduled to meet the needs of the activists.  After testing the activists mail the completed test kits back to the lab.  Results are usually sent to them in a couple of weeks. The activists share their test results with their communities, identifying local areas that may be affected by PFAS releases.    The intent is to encourage similar testing by government agencies. 

After their testing projects are completed the activists send the Subteam a report explaining what they did, what the results were, any follow up that occurred, and what actions are still needed.

Testing for PFAS has centered on accessible waters where firefighting foams have been spilled and on other surface waters thought to be at risk.  Rivers and streams have been contaminated with PFAS from wastewater treatment plants which concentrate PFAS compounds in their effluents and sludges, known as "biosolids".  Both can pollute waters and soils. 

Most of our testing is done with Cyclopure tests that are available to the general public: 

https://cyclopure.com/product/water-test-kit-pfas/

Using them anyone can test the water in their kitchen taps, their wells and publicly accessible surface waters they are concerned about.

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