Should Canada Set Guidelines for Asbestos in Drinking Water?
Official title: Consultation: Guidance on asbestos in drinking water
Health Canada is developing guidance on asbestos in drinking water. They want feedback on how they assessed the health risks and what it might cost to implement these guidelines. This isn't a binding regulation yet—it's guidance that provinces and territories could choose to follow.
Why This Matters
Asbestos fibres can get into drinking water through old cement pipes. If you live in an older neighbourhood with aging infrastructure, this could affect your tap water. The guidance could push municipalities to test more often or replace old pipes.
What Could Change
Health Canada may publish new guidance on acceptable asbestos levels in drinking water. Provinces and territories could adopt these as standards. Water utilities might need to increase testing or upgrade aging pipes—costs that could show up on your water bill.
Key Issues
- Is the proposed approach to setting asbestos guidelines appropriate?
- Does the health risk assessment accurately reflect the dangers of asbestos in drinking water?
- What would it cost to implement these guidelines?
How to Participate
- Review the Guidance on asbestos in drinking water to understand what's being proposed.
- Send your feedback by email to water-consultations-eau@hc-sc.gc.ca by the deadline.
- Or mail your comments to the Water and Air Quality Bureau at the address provided.
Submit Your Input
Questions Being Asked (3)
- What are your views on the proposed approach to developing the guidelines?
- Do you have feedback on the health risk assessment for asbestos in drinking water?
- What are the potential costs of implementing these guidelines?