Should Canada Set Limits for Asbestos in Drinking Water?
Official title: Draft Guidance on Asbestos in Drinking Water
Health Canada is asking whether new guidance is needed for asbestos in drinking water. The draft says there's no convincing evidence that swallowing asbestos causes health problems—unlike breathing it. Still, many older water pipes contain asbestos-cement, and as they age, fibres can break loose. The proposal focuses on monitoring and good practices rather than setting a maximum limit.
Why This Matters
Ever wonder what's in your tap water? Many Canadian communities still have aging asbestos-cement pipes underground. While breathing asbestos is dangerous, the science on drinking it is less clear. This guidance could affect how your municipality monitors and replaces old pipes.
What Could Change
Health Canada isn't proposing a maximum limit for asbestos in drinking water. Instead, municipalities would be encouraged to monitor asbestos-cement pipes and plan replacements. Water utilities might need to test more often and prioritize infrastructure upgrades for aging pipe networks.
Key Issues
- Should Canada set a maximum acceptable concentration for asbestos in drinking water?
- What monitoring practices should be recommended for aging asbestos-cement pipes?
- Are the proposed good practices sufficient to minimize asbestos fibres in drinking water?
How to Participate
- Review the draft guidance on the Environment and workplace health consultations web page to understand the proposed approach.
- Submit your written comments by email to water-consultations-eau@hc-sc.gc.ca by the deadline.