Environmental Policy and Governance of Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water: A Comparative Analysis of Global Regulations and Remediation Strategies

Emerging contaminants (ECs) in drinking water — such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and microplastics — pose growing challenges to environmental health and water governance. Despite increasing scientific attention to their occurrence and potential health risks, regulatory frameworks remain inconsistent across countries, with significant disparities in detection limits, priority substances, and remediation strategies. This review comprehensively analyses environmental policies and governance approaches addressing ECs in drinking water across major global regions. Drawing from peer-reviewed literature and international regulatory documents, we compare how entities such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the European Union, Canada, China, Australia, and several developing nations approach risk assessment, monitoring, and remediation of ECs. We also evaluate the effectiveness of current strategies, identify policy gaps, and examine the influence of socioeconomic, political, and technological factors on regulatory development. Furthermore, we explore adaptive governance models, public engagement, and cross-border cooperation as essential for advancing policy effectiveness. The review concludes with recommendations for harmonising global policy efforts and strengthening local governance structures to ensure safer drinking water systems in the face of evolving chemical threats.