Update on Health Canada s Water Quality Activities

Transcription

1 Update on Health Canada s Water Quality Activities Stéphanie McFadyen Head, Microbiological Assessment, Water Quality & Science Division Presented to: CWWA Window On Ottawa, June 9, 2016

2 Water Governance In Canada, water quality is primarily a responsibility under provincial and territorial jurisdiction. WAQB works with the provinces and territories, through the Federal-Provincial- Territorial Committee on Drinking Water, to develop the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality The Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality are developed through an ad-hoc working group Provinces and territories use these guidelines to establish their own regulations. This ensures national consistency and economies of scale, while avoiding duplication between jurisdictions 2

3 A collaborative approach The multi-jurisdictional development and approval process ensures the participation of all provinces and territories Promotes consensus by all Canadian jurisdictions Well documented, streamlined process in place to develop guidelines Access to multiple partners from many different fields of expertise (technical, scientific) relevant to drinking water Recognized expertise Contributions' to scientific publications Active participation on committees, research projects and in national and international science fora 3

4 Federal uptake Federal programs also use the Canadian drinking water guidelines as prescribed standards for: providing federal workers with safe water, including through the Canada Labour Code as well as department specific legislation (CSC, DND) Pre-packaged water and ice Water quality on First Nations lands Drinking water provided on common carriers (planes, trains, boats) 4

5 Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence (CNPHI) - Drinking Water Advisory Module Working with PHAC and our F/P/T partners, leading the Drinking Water Advisories application - an alerting, analytical and reporting application on the Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence (CNPHI) A secure, real-time, web-based system supporting improved response coordination within and across jurisdictions when drinking water safety is threatened Captures key information to identify the root causes and trends underlying drinking water advisories in Canada For example, the water quality reasons for Boil Water Advisories over the past three years can be explored 5

6 Water Quality Reasons for Boil Water Advisories 2013 May 2016 (by percent of total) Source: Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence Drinking Water Advisories Application 6

7 Counts (cumulative # of advisories) Boil Water Advisories by Size of Community Population served by drinking water system Source: Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence Drinking Water Advisories Application 7

8 Interdepartmental Working Group on Drinking Water Consists of federal departments with responsibilities for ensuring the safety of drinking water supplies on federal lands, in federal facilities, and in First Nations communities Principal federal interdepartmental forum for sharing information on drinking water related issues Develops and updates the document Guidance for providing safe drinking water in areas of federal jurisdiction Current edition: 8

9 Water Quality and Science Microbiological Assessment Chemical Assessment WAQB Materials and Treatment Water Quality Program FPT Liaison Water Policy and Outreach 9

10 Setting priorities for water quality guidelines 10

11 Criteria for guideline development Exposure to the contaminant could lead to adverse health effects in humans; The contaminant is frequently detected or could be expected to be found in a large number of drinking water supplies throughout Canada; and The contaminant is detected, or could be expected to be detected, in drinking water at a level that is of possible human health significance. 11

12 Guideline Development Framework Established Priority List (consultative process) Obtain Canadian exposure data Risk assessment: science assessment, analytical methods, treatment technology and quality control Peer review CDW discussion, including risk management, cost considerations and approval Public consultation Revised risk assessment: science assessment, analytical methods, treatment technology and quality control *Risk Management phase CDW discussion, including other considerations and approval* Often a 3-5 year process to develop/publish a drinking water guideline CHE approval and publication* 12

13 Microbiological Parameters Recently completed and available online Issuing and Rescinding Boil Water Advisories (posted in December 2015) Public Consultations planned for 2016 Enteric Protozoa and Enteric viruses Updates and new parameters in the works Total coliform, Enterocci, Guidance on Quantitative Microbiological Risk Assessment, Recreational Water Quality 13

14 Chemical parameters Recently completed and available online: Selenium (2014) ph (2015) Tetrachloroethylene (2015) Final and soon to be published: BaP Chromium Bromate Public Consultations planned for 2016 Manganese Lead Recently completed public consultation(s): Cyanobacterial toxins 14

15 Further into the future Copper Strontium Natural Organic Matter (NOM) 1,4 dioxane Atrazine 2,4-D Barium Cadmium Boron Aluminum 15

16 Canadian Partnerships Canadian non-government partners include: Canadian Water and Wastewater Association Canadian Water Network Canadian Association of Analytical Laboratories Universities from coast to coast,including NSERC Chairs in Water Treatment 16

17 International partnerships World Health Organization WAQB is a WHO Collaborating Centre on Water Quality U.S. Environmental Protection Agency AWWA, IWA Water Research Foundation On-going participation in standards development to ensure public health issues are addressed Canadian Standards Association American Society of Mechanical Engineers NSF International International Codes Council 17

18 International focus on cyanobacteria World Health Organization (WHO) Meeting on Cyanobacteria Toxins Discussions will include Health Canada s extensive work on the toxicological aspects and risk management of cyanobacteria which was recently conducted in collaboration with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Output: update to WHO Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water publication Dianchi Lake, Jiangsu Province, China 18

19 For more information, contact: WAQB : Michèle Giddings Manager, Tel: (613) michele.giddings@hc-sc.gc.ca Richard Carrier, Head, Chemical Assessment Section richard.carrier@hc-sc.gc.ca Stephanie McFadyen, Head, Microbiological Assessment Section Stephanie.mcFadyen@hc-sc.gc.ca ListServe: join at: inquiries: water_eau@hc-sc.gc.ca Website: 19

20 Any questions? 20