Millis Board of Health adds EPA 537.1 as an acceptable PFAS testing method in well regulations

The Millis Board of Health voted on Feb. 9 to add EPA method 537.1 to section 7.4 of the town’s well regulations, a change intended to broaden the set of Massachusetts‑certified laboratories able to perform per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS/PAS) testing required for well transfers and other regulated activities.

John explained the change as a practical step to increase lab options: "We want to open up the requirements to add EPA method 537.1 because that will give us three laboratories certified by MassDEP to do [the testing]," he said, noting that including out‑of‑state certified labs further increases available capacity. Board members discussed lab quotes and testing costs provided by a Eurofins representative: combined panels for property transfer testing were quoted around $1,500 and the synthetic organic/pesticide panel was the most expensive single item.

Why it matters: Multiple board members said the existing method citations in the regulations (EPA methods 533 or 1633) are not widely available through Massachusetts‑certified labs, which can delay or raise the cost of required testing. Adding 537.1 is intended to preserve public‑health protections while making required testing more accessible and less likely to block real‑estate transactions.

Vote and implementation: The board moved and seconded language to add EPA 537.1 to section 7.4 and approved it by voice vote. Members agreed to update application forms to reflect that 537.1 is acceptable and to notify local testers and applicants. John and staff said they would inform laboratories and update the forms Heather maintains.

Details and context: Board members reviewed method scopes: 537.1 and 533/1633 measure overlapping PFAS analytes and 537.1 covers the key regulated compounds used by most certified labs. Members emphasized that retaining the more comprehensive methods preserves an option for owners or buyers who want expanded panels.