Health Canada

This Guideline Technical Document reviews the health risks associated with haloacetic acids in drinking water. It assesses all identified health risks, taking into account new studies and approaches, as well as treatment considerations. Exposure to haloacetic acids from drinking water through...

Although hardness may have significant aesthetic effects, a maximum acceptable level has not been established because public acceptance of hardness may vary considerably according to the local conditions. Water supplies with a hardness greater than 200 mg/L are considered poor but have been...

The aesthetic objective for iron in drinking water is ≤0.3 mg/L (≤300 µg/L).

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for glyphosate in drinking water is 0.28 mg/L (280 µg/L).

Health Canada recently completed its review of the health risks associated with enteric protozoa in drinking water. This Guideline Technical Document reviews and assesses identified health risks associated with enteric protozoa in drinking water. It evaluates new studies and approaches and takes...

Health Canada recently completed its review of the health risks associated with enteric viruses in drinking water. This guideline technical document reviews and assesses identified health risks associated with enteric viruses in drinking water. It evaluates new studies and approaches and takes...

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a species of bacteria that is naturally found in the intestinal system of humans and animals. It is present in feces in high numbers and can be easily measured in water, which makes it a useful indicator of fecal contamination for drinking water providers. E. coli is...

Health Canada recently completed its review of the health risks associated with fluoride in drinking water. This review assesses all identified human health risks, taking into account new studies and approaches. Based on this review, the guideline for fluoride in drinking water is a Maximum...

Available data on formaldehyde concentrations in drinking water indicate that intake of formaldehyde from this source is well below the level at which adverse health effects may occur. It is therefore not considered necessary to establish a maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for formaldehyde...

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for diclofop-methyl in drinking water is 0.009 mg/L (9 µ g/L).

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for dimethoate in drinking water is 0.02 mg/L (20 µg/L).

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for diquat in drinking water is 0.05 mg/L (50 µg/L) (measured as the cation).

A drinking water screening value of 0.03 mg/L (30 µg/L) is established for diuron.

This Guideline Technical Document reviews and assesses all identified health risks associated with dichloromethane in drinking water, incorporating all relevant routes of exposure from drinking water--namely, ingestion as well as inhalation and skin absorption from showering and bathing. It...

The maximum acceptable concentrations (MAC) and aesthetic objectives (AO) for 1,2- and 1,4-dichlorobenzene in drinking water are established.

Because cyanide is toxic to humans, a maximum acceptable concentration of 0.2 mg/L (200 µg/L) for free cyanide in drinking water has been set.

This guideline technical document reviews and assesses the identified health risks associated with cyanobacterial toxins in drinking water. It assesses new studies and approaches and takes into consideration limitations in analytical methods and treatment technologies. Based on this review, the...

This guideline technical document reviews and assesses all identified health risks associated with chromium in drinking water. It incorporates new studies and approaches and takes into consideration the availability of appropriate treatment technology. Based on this review, the drinking water...

An aesthetic objective of ≤ 15 true colour units (TCU) has been established for colour in drinking water.

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for chlorite in drinking water is 1 mg/L. The MAC for chlorate in drinking water is 1 mg/L. A guideline for chlorine dioxide is not required because of its rapid reduction to chlorite in drinking water.