Journal of Science Policy & Governance
Volume 24, Issue 01 | April 30, 2024

Policy Analysis: What Actions Should Canada Take to Address the Issue of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water?

Samson Oluwafemi Abioye 
  • Toronto Metropolitan University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Toronto, Canada
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​Corresponding author:  [email protected] ​​
Keywords: contaminants of emerging concern (CECs); policy; sustainable development goals (SDGs); water 
https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG240101 ​

Executive Summary

Meeting the growing demand for access to clean, safe, and reliable water in Canada requires addressing not just traditional water contaminants, but also contaminants of emerging concern (CEC). CECs cause deleterious effects on human health, and yet Canadian drinking water standards currently exclude a majority of them from regulatory control. To ensure long-lasting access to safe drinking water, this paper aims to present policy recommendations for the Canadian legislature including a detailed analysis of the cost implications, feasibility, and ease of implementation of each option using the EHER (environment, health, economy, and reputation) criteria. We recommend a collaborative solution to CECs management which involves academic research funding to comprehensively analyze the risks of CECs and strategies for their removal as well as regulations controlling CECs levels in water streams through reviewed standards and guidelines.

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Samson Abioye is a Ph.D. candidate at the Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. His research on the removal of contaminants of emerging concern from water is supported by the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and the Geoffrey F. Bruce Fellowship. He graduated with a Master of Engineering and Public Policy degree from McMaster University, and with sponsorship from Global Affairs Canada and MasterCard Foundation. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria. For almost a decade, prior to the commencement of his Ph.D. studies, Samson worked as a petroleum production regulator with the Department of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria. 
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Acknowledgments 
My profound appreciation goes to the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and the Geoffrey F. Bruce Fellowship for supporting my Ph.D. studies. I wish to acknowledge the support received from Dr. Christopher Gore in making this analysis paper, and the supervision and scientific support provided by Dr. Nariman Yousefi.

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