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Document ID ca-doppscdwr-2023-02-10 Title Draft objective for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Canadian drinking water: Rationale URL https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/programs/consultation-draft-objective-per-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-canadian-drinking-water/rationale.html Jurisdiction /ca Subdomain(s) Drinking water, Analytical & measurement methods, Water treatment processes Language en Status completed Analyzed at 2026-03-19 09:40:30.090394+00:00 Relevance Proposed numeric limits and analytical methods for PFAS in drinking water.

Q Qualitative Requirements (4)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Context Conditions Confidence
#Q001reportingreportingrecommendedTotal PFAS Calculation Methoddrinking waterTotal PFAS should be calculated using the full list of substances in EPA Method 533 or EPA Method 537.1 (or both) (see Appendix A) or using a method validated by another jurisdiction that measures a minimum of 18 PFAS, such that the sum of their concentrations does not exceed 30 ng/L.When calculating Total PFAS to compare against the proposed objectivehigh
#Q002reportingreportingguidelineNon-detect Value Assignmentdrinking waterFor the purposes of this proposed objective, a result of non-detect is considered to have a value of zero.When calculating totals for the proposed objectivehigh
#Q003treatmenthealthrecommendedALARA Principle for Treatment Plantsdrinking waterFor the reasons noted above, it is also recommended that treatment plants strive to maintain PFAS concentrations in drinking water as low as reasonably achievable (or ALARA).high
#Q004monitoringtreatmentrecommendedExtended PFAS Analysisdrinking waterWhere possible, utilities should strive to analyze as many PFAS as possible using validated methods to better understand the PFAS in the drinking water and better inform treatment selection.Where possiblehigh

P Quantitative Requirements (7)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Limit Type Limit Value Context Conditions Confidence
#P001chemicalhealthguidelineTotal PFASdrinking watertreatment_goal<= 30 ng/LProposed objective based on the total PFAS detected in drinking water.A result of non-detect is considered to have a value of zero.high
#P002chemicalhealthmandatorySum of 20 PFASdrinking waterrequirement100 ng/LDirective adopted by the council of the European Union (EU, 2020).medium
#P003chemicalhealthmandatorySum of all PFASdrinking waterrequirement500 ng/LDirective adopted by the council of the European Union (EU, 2020).medium
#P004chemicalhealthguidelinePFOAdrinking waterunknown100 ng/LWorld Health Organization proposed individual provisional guideline value (WHO, 2022).medium
#P005chemicalhealthguidelinePFOSdrinking waterunknown100 ng/LWorld Health Organization proposed individual provisional guideline value (WHO, 2022).medium
#P006chemicalhealthguidelineTotal PFAS (WHO)drinking waterunknown500 ng/LWorld Health Organization combined provisional guideline value (WHO, 2022).medium
#P007operationaloperationalmandatoryMinimum PFAS Analytes for Alternative Methodsdrinking waterrequirement>= 18 substancesRequirement for using analytical methods validated by other jurisdictions for Total PFAS calculation.Applies when EPA Method 533 or EPA Method 537.1 are not utilized.high

D Definitions (5)

Req ID Category Name Context Confidence
#D001PFASper- and polyfluoroalkyl substanceshigh
#D002ALARAas low as reasonably achievablehigh
#D003TRVstoxicological references valueshigh
#D004non-detectconsidered to have a value of zerohigh
#D005total PFAScalculated using the full list of substances in EPA Method 533 or EPA Method 537.1 (or both) (see Appendix A) or using a method validated by another jurisdiction that measures a minimum of 18 PFAS, such that the sum of their concentrations does not exceed 30 ng/Lhigh