PerkinElmer Partners with Weld County to Optimize Their Water Testing to Include Over 60 Organic Contaminants and a New Method for Methane

Significance of the Topic

Safe drinking water analysis is crucial for public health, especially amid growing concerns over contamination from oil and gas development and hydraulic fracturing. Accurate detection of organic pollutants and dissolved gases such as methane underpins regulatory compliance and community confidence.

Objectives and Study Overview

The Weld County Public Health Laboratory in Colorado partnered with PerkinElmer to expand its water testing capabilities. The collaboration aimed to:

• Certify and implement EPA Method 524.2 for over 60 volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Develop a headspace-based procedure for dissolved hydrocarbon gases.
• Create a robust workflow for haloacetic acids in drinking water.

Methodology and Instrumentation

A three-phase program was executed:

• Phase 1 installed a PerkinElmer Clarus GC/MS with purge-and-trap for EPA Method 524.2, validated by Method Detection Limits study, Instrument Demonstration Study, and proficiency testing.
• Phase 2 adapted the same GC/MS to measure methane, ethane, ethylene and propane using headspace sampling derived from EPA RSK-175.
• Phase 3 will focus on haloacetic acids (HAA5) using liquid–liquid extraction and MS detection, replacing dual-column ECD methods.

Instrumentation Used

• PerkinElmer Clarus GC/MS system with triple-quadrupole mass analyzer
• Purge-and-trap sample concentrator
• Headspace autosampler module
• Liquid autosampler for derivatization and injection

Main Results and Discussion

The laboratory achieved full certification for EPA Method 524.2 in September 2012 and now routinely analyzes 59 VOCs, including 28 regulated compounds. Over 200 private wells were tested post-fracturing, with no contamination detected. Integrating multiple sampling techniques on a single platform reduced instrument footprint and capital expenditure. In-house testing cut turnaround times by half compared to external contract labs.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Affordable water testing for residents alleviates concerns over fracking impacts.
• Consolidation of three analytical methods on one instrument saves bench space and budget.
• Rapid, reliable results support regulatory compliance and public health decision-making.
• Enhanced laboratory self-sufficiency reduces reliance on external testing services.

Future Trends and Opportunities

The forthcoming haloacetic acid method will leverage MS detection for definitive compound identification, streamlining sample throughput. The integrated approach sets a model for other water authorities to invest in single-instrument multi-method workflows. Advances in high-resolution MS and automated sample prep may further expand target analyte lists and responsiveness.

Conclusion

The partnership between Weld County and PerkinElmer has successfully enhanced local water quality monitoring, enabling comprehensive screening of organic contaminants and dissolved gases. This collaboration delivers cost-effective, timely data to safeguard public health and provides a scalable blueprint for environmental laboratories.

References

1. Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment About the Health Department 2014
2. US Environmental Protection Agency EPA Method 524.2 Measurement of Purgeable Organic Compounds in Water Using Capillary Column GC/MS 2007
3. Kampbell DH Vandegrift SA Analysis of Dissolved Methane Ethane and Ethylene in Ground Water by Gas Chromatography Journal of Chromatographic Science 1998
4. Marotta L Determination of Low Level Benzene Toluene Ethyl Benzene and Xylenes in Drinking Water by Headspace Trap GC/MS PerkinElmer Application Note
5. Marotta L Yates D Methane Ethylene and Ethane in Water by Headspace GC with FID PerkinElmer Application Note
6. US Environmental Protection Agency EPA Method 552.3 Determination of Haloacetic Acids and Dalapon in Drinking Water by Liquid-Liquid Extraction GC with ECD 2000