Health Canada PFAS Drinking Water Guidelines
Health Canada develops Maximum Acceptable Concentrations (MACs) for drinking water contaminants used as national reference standards. The MAC for PFOA was set at 0.2 micrograms per liter (200 ppt), and for PFOS at 0.6 micrograms per liter (600 ppt) — significantly less stringent than EPA’s 2024 standards of 4 ppt, reflecting different risk assessment approaches and timelines for guideline revision.
Canada’s guidelines are advisory rather than mandatory enforceable standards, as drinking water regulation is primarily provincial jurisdiction. Provinces including Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta have adopted or referenced Health Canada guidelines in their provincial drinking water programs, while others are developing province-specific standards.
Federal Contaminated Sites and Military Bases
The federal government manages PFAS contamination at Department of National Defence (DND) bases where AFFF was historically used. Dozens of Canadian Forces bases have documented PFAS groundwater contamination. The Contaminated Sites Program provides funding for site assessment and remediation, with DND responsible for legacy contamination on federal property.
Communities near affected bases — including those surrounding CFB Borden in Ontario and CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick — have received bottled water and filtration systems while long-term remediation and alternative water source development proceeds. Community monitoring programs provide regular water quality updates to affected residents.
Regulatory Development and Future Direction
Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan is reviewing PFAS under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), which could result in risk assessments and management measures for specific PFAS compounds. The 2023 PFAS Challenge under CEPA requested information from industry on PFAS uses, production volumes, and release data to inform risk assessment.
Advocacy from environmental groups and affected communities is pushing for faster updating of Health Canada guidelines toward levels consistent with U.S. EPA and EU approaches. The recognition that Canadian standards lag behind major trading partners is creating political pressure for accelerated guideline revision.