Managing PFAS contamination in water: Canada's evolving approach
Cleanup and remediation initiatives
The federal government manages a portfolio of over 20,000 contaminated sites across Canada, many of which are located at military bases, airports, and firefighting training facilities where PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) were historically used.
Through the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP), renewed in 2020, Canada has prioritized PFAS remediation projects. As of 2025, over 130 federal sites have confirmed or suspected PFAS contamination. Cleanup efforts focus on containing PFAS plumes, installing groundwater extraction and treatment systems, and isolating contaminated soils.
Biosolids, often applied to agricultural land, contained total PFAS concentrations ranging from 200 to 900 µg/kg (dry weight)
Where groundwater contamination threatens public water supplies, local authorities have installed point-of-entry filtration systems, provided alternative drinking water supplies, or initiated full-scale remediation projects. In some Indigenous communities affected by PFAS-contaminated firefighting foam releases, temporary bottled water supplies have been provided while long-term treatment solutions are implemented.
Some larger WWTPs in Canada have initiated pilot projects to explore PFAS removal technologies, including advanced oxidation, foam fractionation, and electrochemical destruction. However, these technologies remain expensive and are not yet widely deployed. At present, most wastewater systems lack full-scale PFAS treatment, allowing continuous low-level discharge into receiving waters. Recognising this issue, ECCC and several provinces are evaluating the feasibility of requiring PFAS pretreatment from industrial dischargers, tighter biosolids management controls, and eventual PFAS removal requirements for municipal WWTPs.
