Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) are chemical and biological substances that have been detected in water environments but are not yet routinely monitored or regulated under existing water quality frameworks. They include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, microplastics, pesticides, endocrine-disrupting compounds, and industrial chemicals – many of which enter water systems through wastewater effluent, agricultural runoff, and urban stormwater. While the full extent of their environmental and human health impacts is still being investigated, CECs are increasingly recognised as a significant and growing threat to water quality and aquatic ecosystems in South Africa and globally.

The Water Research Commission (WRC) is currently funding a project to enhance the Knowledge Hub for Contaminants of Emerging Concern, which serves as a central repository for CEC-related data, research, and resources relevant to the South African context. The resources below provide access to this and other tools for tracking and understanding CECs in water systems.