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 a few commercial test kits and works with the volunteers in designing projects to test water for PFAS chemicals. They share information to identify areas that may be affected by PFAS releases and the best locations for collecting water samples.  Collection events are scheduled to meet the needs of the volunteers. Volunteers mail the completed testing kits back to the lab.  Results are usually sent to them in a couple of weeks.   After projects are completed volunteers provide the Subteam with a report explaining what they did and why, what the results were, and what actions are needed.

Testing for PFAS has centered on places where firefighting foams have been spilled, as well as on drinking water and 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 sludge, known as "biosolids".  Both can pollute waters and soils.