Health Canada Drinking Water Guidelines: Public Consultations

There are several ongoing consultations on proposed guidelines for drinking water quality. CWWA’s Drinking Water Quality Committee regularly reviews the consultations for public comment and submits comments when there is concern about the proposed guideline of the background information provided.

• Waterborne pathogens – this document is guidance on understanding of the different types of waterborne pathogens—their sources, the measures that are important for their control and the people that are most at risk for becoming sick. It covers pathogens for which there is no separate guideline document for. There are no MACs proposed in this document. Comments due to Health Canada: February 3.
  www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/programs/consultation-proposed-guidance-waterborne-pathogens.html
• Bromoxynil - developed in 1987 (edited in 1989), recommended a maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) of 0.005 mg/L (5 µg/L) for bromoxynil in drinking water, based on reduced liver/body weight ratios observed in rats. This document proposes a MAC of 0.03 mg/L (30 µg/L). This means they are actually raising the MAC. Also of note, it seems the guideline primarily exists to protect pet health. Comments due to Health Canada: January 29.
  https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/programs/consultation-guidance-bromoxynil-drinking-water/document.html
• DiCamba – proposes a MAC of 0.11 mg/L (110 µg/L). Comments seem to indicate that there is no concern, and no utilities are finding Dicamba above the MAC. Comments due to Health Canada: December 21
  https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/programs/consultation-proposed-guideline-dicamba-drinking-water.html

Canadian Water and Wastewater Association