Municipal wastewater treatment plants allow trace elements of household pharmaceutical products such as ibuprofen to enter lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. Scientific studies generally indicate that the concentration levels of these chemicals are too small to cause real harm to humans and local wildlife but there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding long-term effects and potential risk of bioaccumulation (i.e. persistent concentration in one organism over time).
The precautionary principle present in international and Canadian law acknowledges that “where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, the lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation” (Nova Scotia’s Environment Act). In other words, if a given activity poses a significant threat to the health of the environment, uncertainty surrounding the exact consequences of that activity should not be used as an excuse to stall preventative measures.
The challenge for policy-makers with respect to effluent management and similar emerging issues is to determine (1) when threats of environmental harm are significant enough to justify action, and (2) how to interpret and apply existing legal principles in light of new scientific findings. Sarah will be addressing these issues today in a presentation at the Coastal Zone Canada conference in Halifax, NS.
To accompany Sarah’s presentation, we have compiled a quick reference guide to Canadian wastewater laws and regulations. You can find it below, with links to free resources on CanLII.
Table of Canadian Wastewater Legislation – Shiels
Contact Sarah at 902.209.6537 or by e-mail at sarah@cslegal.ca