CWQA Position Statement
Point of Use (POU)/Point of Entry (POE) Water Treatment

CWQA Position:

CWQA supports administration of the Canadian Safe Drinking Water Act, in such a way to minimize both federal involvement and costs. CWQA believes that maximum of the Statute: "means feasible with the use of best technology, treatment techniques and other means, which the Administration finds after examination for efficiency under field conditions not solely under laboratory conditions, are available (taking cost into consideration)". CWQA is dedicated to this simple, yet complex legislative scheme while urging avoidance of single-method, single-minded regulation in the goal attainment mechanism. CWQA supports federal inclusion of point-of-use/point-of-entry water treatment as an available alternative to central treatment of water to drinking water quality standards at the central level is not the only way. CWQA defines a point-of-use water treatment device as a device or equipment used for the purpose of reducing contaminants in water at a single tap (or ancillary taps) served by the device or equipment. Point-of-entry treatment devices consist of equipment applied to water entering the house or building for the purpose of reducing contaminants in the water distributed throughout the house or building with the possible exception of water used in toilets or outside spigots.

Summary:

Because of the wide array of contaminants found in drinking water which may pose a health risk from dermal or inhalation exposure, it is essential that a differential be made when point-of-entry devices are appropriate. CWQA maintains that the appropriate in-home-treatment method for any and all contaminants is the point-of-use treatment devices should be the in-home treatment application of first choice in reducing contaminant levels in drinking water. Point-of-entry devices should only be required in situations where government agencies have determined based upon proven, scientific experimental evidence, that dermal or inhalation routes of exposure pose a significant health risk.

In most situations, point-of-use applications constitute both an effective and economical alternative. Water used for human consumption, i.e., drinking and cooking accounts for only 1/2 of 1% of the total community water use of 175 gallons per capita per day. Ninety-nine and one-half percent of water supplied by public water systems is used for purposes such as sprinkling lawns, flushing toilets, irrigation, fighting fires, cleaning streets, washing cars, laundry, bathing and industrial use. There is no logical or economic basis for a requirement that 100% of water from public water systems be treated to drinking water quality unless, a significant health risk can be demonstrated to emanate from dermal or inhalation exposure. In such cases, CWQA recommends the utilization of point-of-entry devices. Point-of-use/point-of-entry water treatment technology exists right now in amounts actually needed for the particular requirements.