Drinking water

Safe drinking water is a fundamental public health necessity. Contamination incidents — whether microbial, chemical, or physical — can rapidly undermine community trust and cause acute or long-term health harms. Challenges range from aging infrastructure and source water contamination to emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and microplastics. Climate change further stresses water systems by intensifying droughts, floods, and extreme weather events.

Managing drinking water safety requires coordination across multiple levels of government, utilities, industry, and communities. Regulators establish health-based standards, operators must maintain treatment and distribution systems, and the public expects transparency and reliability. Vulnerable populations, including rural and Indigenous communities, often face heightened risks due to limited infrastructure and resources.

Risk sciences provide the evidence base to assess hazards, evaluate treatment effectiveness, and guide decision-making under uncertainty. They also support risk communication strategies that help utilities and governments maintain public confidence during incidents or advisories. By integrating health data, exposure assessments, and environmental monitoring, risk sciences enable more resilient and equitable water systems.

RSI is dedicated to advancing safe drinking water management, bringing expertise and experience that help protect communities and strengthen trust in this essential service.