Environmental monitoring

Environmental monitoring provides important data that can be used in a variety of applications. Downstream Strategies offers a diverse range of technical field services for assessing air, soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater quality, as well as the health of ecological populations.

We are experienced in sample collection, interpretation and communication of analytical results, and designing and adhering to defensible sampling protocols.

Our professional and trained field staff utilize established standard operating procedures and quality assurance/quality control programs to collect and provide reliable and representative data.

Water

Water quality monitoring can be used to establish a baseline prior to disturbance, ensure that water quality is protected during industrial development, provide information for watershed planning, and demonstrate compliance with NPDES permits. We offer services for chemical, physical, and biological monitoring, including fish and benthic macroinvertebrate assessments.
Our projects range from single-event sample collection to long-term, recurring sampling projects. We have extensive experience conducting baseline and ongoing monitoring related to surface and underground coal mines as well as shale gas development.

Surface water testing
Groundwater testing
Private well testing
Biological assessment
Stormwater sampling
NPDES permit compliance monitoring

Air

We offer air quality data collection services for citizens, local governments, and community groups concerned about air quality near industrial developments. We also measure and remediate mold inside of buildings. Downstream Strategies personnel hold certifications as Certified Indoor Environmentalists (CIEs) and Certified Microbial Remediators (CMRs) from the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC), the only independently-accredited certification body in the indoor air quality industry.

Indoor air quality monitoring
Outdoor air quality testing
Mold assessment and remediation

Soil

Contaminated soils have the potential to leach pollutants to groundwater and surface waters. It is therefore imperative to assess soil quality prior to redevelopment or any activity that will disturb soils. We offer soil quality analysis related to redevelopment activities, site characterization, and remediation of contaminated soils.

Environmental Monitoring Contact

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Projects

Risk-based Corrective Actions and Voluntary Cleanup Projects

We have provided private, commercial, and municipal clients with West Virginia Licensed Remediation Specialist (LRS) services under the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s risk-based Voluntary Remediation Program. This work has included risk assessments, site characterizations, environmental sampling, remedial action work planning, and site closures.

PFAS: Enforcing Regulation on Forever Chemicals in Our Drinking Water

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are a group of man-made chemicals that have been used in a variety of consumer products and industrial applications since the 1940s. These chemicals are known for their resistance to heat, water, and oil, making them valuable in popular products like non-stick cookware, food packaging, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foams. These chemicals also take a long time to break down.

Given their durability and historic use, they are pervasive in the environment and in the human body, which is why they are known as ‘forever chemicals’. PFAS can accumulate over time in the environment, wildlife, and humans, posing potential health risks. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to various health effects, including reproductive and developmental problems, liver and kidney damage, immune system disorders, and an increased risk of certain cancers.

Because of these concerns, there has been growing attention from regulatory agencies and the public to monitor and regulate PFAS contamination in water, soil, air, and consumer products. On April 10, 2024, the U.S. EPA announced the final Primary National Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) to enforce drinking water concentrations for six PFAS compounds. This establishes Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for the following PFAS chemicals: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and mixtures containing two or more of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS.

The following chart breaks down MCL concentrations that will be enforced for public drinking water sources:

Source: https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas
*The Hazard Index is a numeric system that the EPA regularly uses to assess the risk of health effects from exposure to chemical mixtures.

Public water systems (PWS) will now be required to monitor for these chemicals over the next three years to establish baseline concentrations of these chemicals in their drinking water sources. These analytical results will be public information in 2027. If elevated levels are detected for these analytes during the initial monitoring, public water service providers will have until 2029 to implement reduction strategies.

If you represent a PWS or are interested in learning more about monitoring for PFAS chemicals in your drinking water supplies, Downstream Strategies provides environmental monitoring services for drinking, surface, and groundwater sources, as well as source water protection and planning services. For more information, contact Kendra Hatcher at 304-292-2450 or email her at khatcher@downstreamstrategies.com.

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