What is the Purpose of Drinking Water Quality Guidelines/Regulations?

What is the Purpose of Drinking Water Quality Guidelines/Regulations?

Water is essential to life and a nominal supply of clean-safe drinking water is required for the sustenance of life. Concern regarding safe-clean drinking water commenced at the turn of the 20th century, when science coupled with technology unraveled the implications associated with contaminated drinking water. Today, in developed nations, it is standard practice to provide the populace with safe-reliable drinking water, as safe drinking water in most industrialized countries is recognized as a basic human right and a cost effective measure of reducing disease (i.e., preventative medicine). In developed countries, drinking water quality guidelines and regulations are based on current, published-scientific research related to health effects, aesthetic effects, and operational considerations. All these important parameters aim at providing potable and palatable drinking water to reduce water borne diseases and foster healthy living.

Briefly, the purpose of having drinking water quality guidelines and regulations is to ensure that all human beings within a country have access to safe drinking water. In developing countries, it is estimated that over 80% of disease is caused by contaminated drinking water and as a consequence, over 30% of work productivity is lost. Meaning, water is largely the cause of most disease and a considerable amount of work potential is compromised because of this.

Guideline vs. Regulation – What’s the difference?

First off, it’s important to understand the discrepancy between the terms “guideline” and “regulation”, as this difference is critically important. The term guideline, can be defined as follows: “a line by which one is guided: an indication or outline of policy or conduct” (Merriam- Webster, 2008). Meaning, a guideline is often a benchmark that should be followed, but technically, isn’t lawfully required to be followed. Conversely, the term regulation can be defined as: “an authoritative rule dealing with details or procedures <safety regulations>; a rule or order issued by an executive authority or regulatory agency of a government and having the force of law” (Merriam-Webster, 2008). Therefore, a regulation is similar to a guideline, in that, benchmarks are established, but in contrast to a guideline, regulations are enforceable by law. Regulations, in the context of drinking water, are clearly preferred, because any deviation from the benchmark can result in legal contravention against the negligent body; thus, ensuring safe drinking water. In Canada, we have drinking water quality guidelines, whereas the United States (U.S) and the European Union (EU) have drinking water quality regulations. Further, Canada is amongst one of the few developed countries that has guidelines in lieu of regulations and, has no national regulatory body for enforcing drinking water quality standards. The ensuing paragraphs will explain the differences in Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines to the U.S and the EU regulations, as well as the WHO’s guidelines.

Drinking water quality standards describes the quality parameters set for drinking water . Despite the truism that every human on this planet needs drinking water to survive and that water can contain many harmful constituents, there are no universally recognised and accepted international standards for drinking water. Even where standards do exist, and are applied, the permitted concentration of individual constituents may vary by as much as ten times from one set of standards to another.

European Union standards

The following parametric standards are included in the Drinking Water directive and are expected to be enforced by appropriate legislation in every country in the European Union. Simple parametric values are reproduced here but in many cases the original directive also provides caveats and notes about many of the values given.

• Acrylamide 0.10 μg/l
• Antimony 5.0 μg/l
• Arsenic 10 μg/l
• Benzene 1.0 μg/l
• Benzo(a)pyrene 0.010 μg/l
• Boron 1.0 mg/l
• Bromate 10 μg/l
• Cadmium 5.0 μg/l
• Chromium 50 μg/l
• Copper 2.0 mg/l
• Cyanide 50 μg/l
• 1,2-dichloroethane 3.0 μg/l
• Epichlorohydrin 0.10 μg/l
• Fluoride 1.5 mg/l
• Lead 10 μg/l
• Mercury 1.0 μg/l
• Nickel 20 μg/l
• Nitrate 50 mg/l
• Nitrite 0.50 mg/l
• Pesticides 0.10 μg/l
• Pesticides - Total 0.50 μg/l
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 0.10 μg/l Sum of concentrations of specified compounds;
• Selenium 10 μg/l
• Tetrachloroethene and Trichloroethene 10 μg/l Sum of concentrations of specified parameters
• Trihalomethanes — Total 100 μg/l Sum of concentrations of specified compounds
• Vinyl chloride 0.50 μg/l

World Health Organisation guidelines

These guidelines include the following recommended limits on naturally occurring constituents that may have direct adverse health impact:

• Arsenic 10μg/l
• Barium 700μg/l
• Boron 2400μg/l
• Chromium 50μg/l
• Fluoride 1500μg/l
• Selenium 40μg/l
• Uranium 30μg/l

For man-made pollutants potentially occurring in drinking water the following standards are proposed.

• Cadmium 3μg/l
• Mercury 6μg/l For inorganic mercury

Organic species:

• Benzene 10μg/l
• Carbon tetrachloride 4μg/l
• 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 1000μg/l
• 1,4-Dichlorobenzene 300μg/l
• 1,2-Dichloroethane 30μg/l
• 1,2-Dichloroethene 50μg/l
• Dichloromethane 20μg/l
• Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate 8 μg/l
• 1,4-Dioxane 50μg/l
• Edetic acid 600μg/l
• Ethylbenzene 300 μg/l
• Hexachlorobutadiene 0.6 μg/l
• Nitrilotriacetic acid 200μg/l
• Pentachlorophenol 9μg/l
• Styrene 20μg/l
• Tetrachloroethene 40μg/l
• Toluene 700μg/l
• Trichloroethene 20μg/l
• Xylenes 500μg/l

Comparison of parametric values

" indicates that no standard has been identified by editors of this article and ns indicates that no standard exists.

Parameter	World Health Organization	European Union	United States
Acrylamide	“	0.10 μg/	“
Arsenic	10μg/l	0.1 μg/l	10μg/l
Antimony	ns	5.0 μg/l	“
Barium	700μg/l	ns	“
Benzene	10μg/l	1.0 μg/l	“
Benzo(a)pyrene	“	0.010 μg/l	“
Boron	2.4mg/l	1,0 mg/l	“
Bromate	“	10 μg/l	“
Cadmium	3μg/l	5,0 μg/l	“
Chromium	50μg/l	50 μg/l	“
Copper	“	2.0 mg/l	“
Cyanide	“	50 μg/l	“
1,2-dichloroethane	“	3.0 μg/l	“
Epichlorohydrin	“	0.10 μg/l	“
Fluoride	1.5 mg/l	1.5 mg/l	4 mg/l
Lead	“	10 μg/l	15 μg/l
Mercury	6μg/l	1.0 μg/l	“
Nickel	“	20 μg/l	“
Nitrate	“	50 mg/l	“
Nitrite	“	0.50 mg/l	“
Pesticides (individual)	“	0.10 μg/ l	“
Pesticides — Total	“	0.50 μg/l	“
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons l	“	0.10 μg/	“
Selenium	40μg/l	10 μg/l	“
Tetrachloroethene and Trichloroethene	40μg/l	10 μg/l	“