Stay in the know on all things drinking water
Dr. William B. Anderson retired on January 1, 2025. He maintains a connection to the Water Science, Technology & Policy Group through an adjunct professorship to guide his remaining graduate students through to their degree completion. He was previously a Research Associate Professor and the Associate Director of the group. He has been active in drinking water quality and treatment research for over 45 years, more recently focusing on contaminant adsorption to microplastics, microplastic removal through chemically assisted filtration, pathogen removal, perfluorinated compounds, cyanobacteria and their toxins, and biological filtration. He has served on the Boards of Directors of the Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA) and the Walkerton Clean Water Centre and currently serves on the OWWA Advocacy Steering Committee and the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association Drinking Water Quality Committee. Please note that Dr. Anderson is no longer accepting graduate students.
The past 15 years, Bill has maintained an email service drawing attention to items of interest to drinking water professionals including, for example, the latest research articles, regulatory updates, outbreak reports, topical issues, and media stories. Bill’s email service has expanded over time to include all interested individuals. These emails are now also archived here in a blog format as they are released, which can be explored by category or simply by scrolling through the posts below.
If you would like to join Bill’s email list for updates straight to your inbox, you can send an email to Bill to be added to the list.
Revised background documents are ready for review for the cyanotoxins anatoxin-a, cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin-WHO Guidelines for drinking water quality GalleryRevised background documents are ready for review for the cyanotoxins anatoxin-a, cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin-WHO Guidelines for drinking water quality
Revised background documents are ready for review for the cyanotoxins anatoxin-a, cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin-WHO Guidelines for drinking water quality
The World Health Agency (WHO) has developed some background documents for cyanotoxins which will be included in the second addendum to the fourth edition of the WHO’s Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality and is looking for comments by Jan 12, 2020.
Understanding lead in water and avoidance strategies: a United States perspective for informed decision-making
In this article, the authors indicate that they have developed an “oversimplified ‘lead in water equation’ to explain key variables controlling the presence of lead in drinking water to better inform public health practitioners, government officials, utility personnel, and concerned residents.”
For Public Review and Comment: Canadian Groundwater Quality Guidelines–101 contaminants
The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) is looking for input into the draft Canadian Groundwater Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health for 101 contaminants of concern. It is available for public review and comment until January 10, 2020.
USEPA Continues Progress Under PFAS Action Plan
The USEPA has come out with a news release on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Among other things is the announcement of five IRIS assessments (compounds named below) and the timing of the drinking water regulatory determination for PFOA and PFOS (by the end of this year).
Is Canada’s tap water safe? Thousands of test results show high lead levels across the country
A story on lead in drinking water appeared in the Toronto Star today and from what I understand has appeared or will appear on Global News TV outlets across the country as well.
‘So much is at stake’: Academics call for release of data behind controversial Canadian fluoride study
Hi all…a story on fluoride in today’s National Post may lead to inquires for drinking water providers. It is entitled “A study linking fluoride exposure in pregnancy to lower IQ scores in boys is unnecessarily frightening people into avoiding fluoridated water, researchers say.”