Vulnerability of Quebec drinking-water treatment plants to cyanotoxins in a climate change context.
Cyanobacteria are a growing concern in the province of Quebec due to recent highly publicised bloom episodes. The health risk associated with the consumption of drinking water coming from contaminated sources was unknown. A study was undertaken to evaluate treatment plants' capacity to treat cyanotoxins below the maximum recommended concentrations of 1.5 microg/L microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and the provisional concentration of 3.7 microg/L anatoxin-a, respectively. The results showed that close to 80% of the water treatment plants are presently able to treat the maximum historical concentration measured in Quebec (5.35 microg/L MC-LR equ.). An increase, due to climate change or other factors, would not represent a serious threat because chlorine, the most popular disinfectant, is effective in treating MC-LR under standard disinfection conditions. The highest concentration of anatoxin-a (2.3 microg/L) measured in natural water thus far in source water is below the current guideline for treated waters. However, higher concentrations of anatoxin-a would represent a significant challenge for the water industry as chlorine is not an efficient treatment option. The use of ozone, potassium permanganate or powder activated carbon would have to be considered.
Carrière
Annie
A
Département des Génies Civil, Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal, Géologique et des Mines, C.P.6079, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3A7, Canada. annie.carriere@polymtl.ca
Prévost
Michèle
M
Zamyadi
Arash
A
Chevalier
Pierre
P
Barbeau
Benoit
B
D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000737:chemistry*; D057231:Climate Change; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D011634:Public Health; D011792:Quebec; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D014881:Water Supply
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins