Joint Committee on Drinking Water Treatment Units

FYI: Draft objective for PFAS in Canadian drinking water

  • 1.  FYI: Draft objective for PFAS in Canadian drinking water

    Posted 02-08-2023 07:58 PM
    Bob Powitz wanted to forward this email which provides details on Canada’s proposed PFAS objectives. The public consultation period is open through April 12. Forwarded message from former JC member below: From: Bill Anderson Sent: February 8, 2023 9:00 AM Subject: Draft objective for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Canadian drinking water Hi all…Health Canada has been busy lately releasing new guidelines and guidance. The latest will, I’m sure, generate a lot of discussion. In a release dated February 7, Health Canada is proposing an objective of 30 ng/L for the sum of total per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ( PFAS) detected in drinking water. Total is defined by a couple of USEPA methods or a method that can detect at least 18 PFAS. Also of note is that they state “For the purposes of this proposed objective, a result of non-detect is considered to have a value of zero.” The consultation period ends April 12. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/programs/consultation-draft-objective-per-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-canadian-drinking-water/overview.html The existing guidelines are 0.2 µg/L for PFOA and 0.6 µg/L for PFOS . A full list of current screening values is available .  Bill ___________________________________________________ Draft objective for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Canadian drinking water Objective for Public Consultation Download in PDF format   (390 KB, 25 pages) Proposed objective value : To reduce exposure from drinking water, an objective of 30 ng/L is proposed for the sum of total per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) detected in drinking water. Total PFAS should be calculated using the full list of substances in either the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Method 533 or U.S. EPA Method 537.1, or both (see Appendix A). A jurisdiction could also validate and apply an alternate analytical method that quantifies a minimum of 18 PFAS. For the purposes of this proposed objective, a result of non-detect is considered to have a value of zero. It is recommended that treatment plants strive to maintain PFAS concentrations in drinking water as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). __________________________________________________ William (Bill) B. Anderson, Ph.D. Research Associate Professor Associate Director, Water Science, Technology & Policy Group Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering University of Waterloo NSF Confidential