Emerging contaminants are chemicals or materials that have been found in global drinking water supplies and are perceived as potential threats to human health. While these contaminants may have always been present in drinking water, advances in technology have only recently made it possible to detect them.

 

Contaminants are classified as “emerging” if a new source or direct pathway to humans has been determined. These compounds often include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, herbicides and endocrine disrupting compounds.

 

More recently the presence of these contaminants, even at trace levels, has raised questions and concerns about drinking water quality among consumers, regulators, governments, and suppliers.