What Actions Should Canada Take to Address the Issue of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water?

Abstract

Meeting the growing demand for access to clean, safe, and reliable water in Canada requires addressing not just traditional water contaminants, but also contaminants of emerging concern (CEC). CECs cause deleterious effects on human health, and yet Canadian drinking water standards currently exclude a majority of them from regulatory control. To ensure long-lasting access to safe drinking water, this paper aims to present policy recommendations for the Canadian legislature including a detailed analysis of the cost implications, feasibility, and ease of implementation of each option using the EHER (environment, health, economy, and reputation) criteria. We recommend a collaborative solution to CECs management which involves academic research funding to comprehensively analyze the risks of CECs and strategies for their removal as well as regulations controlling CECs levels in water streams through reviewed standards and guidelines.