Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water Fortieth Meeting May 2 - 4, 2007 Toronto, Ontario

4.0 Parameters: Chemical & Radiological

4.01 Chlorite-Chlorate

The Secretariat gave a presentation on the status of the Chlorite-Chlorate document. Members discussed monitoring frequencies. The Chair asked whether the Committee is in agreement on the document. No objections were noted.

Decision/Action:

• Members approved the chlorite-chlorate guideline technical document
• Secretariat to draft a briefing document by June 2007 for CHE

4.02 Chloral Hydrate

The guideline technical document has been reviewed by four external reviewers, who did not raise any significant concerns. Quebec noted some minor concerns with the document.

Decision/Action:

• Members other than Quebec and Nunavut approved the guideline technical document; the Secretary will follow up with these two jurisdictions by June 2007 to solicit their written approval, giving them a two-week turn around time

4.03 HAAs

The Secretariat gave a presentation on the status of the HAAs guideline technical document, which has gone through a public consultation period. More than 100 comments were received. A new study on DBA was recently completed. The Secretariat will revise the document for CDW review. Members discussed the process for reviewing comments received, management decisions, the allocation factor used in the derivation of the guideline, the differences between having a guideline for total HAAs versus a guideline based on DCA, sampling locations, and implementation.

Decision/Action:

• Secretariat to provide members with a copy of the detailed response to Dr. Hrudey by June 2007
• Secretariat to review and incorporate changes identified by members
• Majority of members expressed that they are still comfortable with the approach of setting a guideline value for total HAAs
• Secretariat to revise the document by June 2007 for distribution to members for their review and comment

4.04 Radiological

The Secretariat gave a presentation on the status of the radiological guidelines document and the need to include information on radon within the document. Members discussed the screening numbers and what they are based on. Information on screening has been requested from the World Health Organization.

Decision/Action:

• Secretariat to send members the rationale used by Health Canada, WHO and the US EPA to establish screening methodology by July 2007
• Secretariat to provide members with a post consultation document, consultation comments and responses, by July 2007

4.05 MCPA

The Secretariat gave a presentation on the status of the guideline. Five submissions were received during the public consultation process and none raised significant concerns. BC's CHE representative is not in agreement with the way the guideline value was calculated, especially given that MCPA is a commonly used herbicide. Members asked for clarification on sampling frequencies.

Decision/Action:

• All members except BC and Nunavut approved the guideline technical document for MCPA
• Secretariat to send an email by June 2007 to BC and Nunavut asking for their written approval of the final document or their rationale for not approving it

4.06 Corrosion Control

The Secretariat gave a status report on the corrosion control document. The consultation period ends July 20, 2007. Members discussed the need to add dealing with lead service lines to the residential sampling protocol, problems with doing sampling in people's homes, the implementation of lead service loops to replicate what is happening in the home, the impact of temperature variations on corrosion, sampling locations, municipal inventories of homes, and whether to develop a guideline technical document for corrosion control or a guidance document.

Decision/Action:

• Members agreed to change the document from a guideline technical document to a guidance document
• Members requested that several options be presented rather than one recommended control method
• Members agreed that ranges of values be used where possible
• Secretariat asked members to provide their comments before the end of the consultation period

4.07 Benzene

The Secretariat gave an update on the status of the guideline technical document. Members discussed the need for the guideline and what it is based on, detection limits, exposure pathways, health risks, health risks from short term exposure, contaminated water in distribution systems, and risk management.

Decision/Action:

• Members agreed a guideline is required
• Members agreed that a value for benzene will need to be risk managed to consider all media and routes of exposure
• Members to provide comments to the Secretariat

4.08 Carbon Tetrachloride

The guideline technical document has been sent out for external review.

Decision/Action:

• For information

4.09 Fluoride

In January 2007, the Expert Panel provided consensus recommendations to guide the development of the guideline technical document for fluoride in drinking water. Recommendations were made regarding total daily intake; dental fluorosis; other health effects; risk assessment; and the risks and benefits of water fluoridation. The next steps will be to finalize the "Findings and Recommendations of the Expert Panel Meeting," finalize the preparation of a scientific publication and draft a fluoride drinking water guideline technical document for discussion, likely at fall 2007 meeting. Members discussed the various media that contribute to fluoride intake, the forms of fluoride used for fluoridation, certification of drinking water fluoride additives and the CCME aquatic life guideline for fluoride.

Decision/Action:

• Secretariat to draft a revised fluoride guideline technical document consultation package by late fall 2007 for CDW review