Health Canada

As taste cannot be measured objectively, and because there is considerable variation among consumers as to which tastes are acceptable, a maximum acceptable limit for drinking water has not been specified.

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for terbufos in drinking water is 0.001 mg/L (1 µg/L).

The aesthetic objective for sulphate in drinking water is ≤500 mg/L, based on taste considerations. Because of the possibility of adverse physiological effects at higher concentrations, it is also recommended that health authorities be notified of sources of drinking water that contain sulphate...

The presence of sulphide (as hydrogen sulphide) in drinking water results in disagreeable taste and odour; an aesthetic objective of ≤0.05 mg/L (≤50 µg/L) (expressed as hydrogen sulphide) has therefore been established.

The aesthetic objective for sodium in drinking water is ≤200 mg/L. The taste of drinking water is generally considered offensive at sodium concentrations above the aesthetic objective. Sodium is not considered a toxic element; up to 5 g/day of sodium is consumed by normal adults.

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for simazine in drinking water is 0.01 mg/L (10 µg/L).

Silver, a white, lustrous, malleable metal, has the highest known electrical and thermal conductivities of all metals. Silver occurs in nature in elemental form and in ores such as argentite (Ag2S), horn silver (AgCl), proustite (Ag3AsS3), and pyrargyrite (Ag3SbS3). In the Earth's crust, it is...

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

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for picloram in drinking water is 0.19 mg/L (190 µg/L).

Maximum acceptable concentrations (MACs) have been established for the most commonly detected natural and artificial radionuclides in Canadian drinking water sources and are listed in the table below. A guideline for radon in drinking water is not deemed necessary and has not been established.

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

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

Health Canada recently completed its review of the considerations associated with the pH of drinking water. Based on this review, the operational guideline for the pH of finished drinking water is an acceptable range of 7.0 to 10.5.

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for phorate in drinking water is 0.002 mg/L (2 µ g/L).

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for paraquat as the dichloride in drinking water is 0.01 mg/L (10 µg/L), or 0.007 mg/L (7 µg/L) expressed as the paraquat ion

Based on this review, the drinking water guideline for nitrate is a maximum acceptable concentration of 45 mg/L (equivalent to 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen); the drinking water guideline for nitrite is a maximum acceptable concentration of 3 mg/L (equivalent to 1 mg/L nitrite-nitrogen).

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) in drinking water is 0.4 mg/L (400 µg/L).

As odour cannot be measured objectively, a maximum acceptable limit for drinking water has not been specified.

Mercury is a toxic element and serves no beneficial physiological function in man; a maximum acceptable concentration of 0.001 mg/L (1 µg/L) in drinking water has therefore been established.

Health Canada recently completed its review of MTBE in drinking water. Based on this review, it was concluded that the odour of MTBE would make drinking water unacceptable to Canadians at concentrations much lower than those that may pose a health risk. An aesthetic objective of 0.015 mg/L is...