Historical water quality data measured on a continuous basis at over 23 locations across Canada is included in this dataset. Most locations include hourly temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance and turbidity. Data are collected by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and in partnership with other federal departments and provinces and territories to enable the detection of short-term water quality events, and to determine trends in water quality, especially at transboundary sites (or Federal waters) in support of Federal legislation and international agreements, or to report on the status of Government of Canada priority aquatic ecosystems.

Long-term freshwater quality monitoring data for over 10 sites in the Pacific Coastal Basin for the past 15 years or longer for nutrients, metals, major ions, and other physical-chemical variables are included in this dataset. Monitoring is conducted by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and under the Canada-British Columbia Water Quality Monitoring Agreement to assess water quality status and long-term trends, detect emerging issues, establish water quality guidelines and track the effectiveness of remedial measures and regulatory decisions. Supplemental Information http://www.ec.gc.ca/eaudouce-freshwater/default.asp?lang=En&n=50947E1B-1

The Nova Scotia Automated Surface Water Quality Monitoring Network was established in 2002 to assess water quality in surface waters across the province at five stations. In 2019 the station list was modified to reduce overlap with Environment and Climate Change Canada surface water quality monitoring stations. The results are used to help manage water resources, determine baseline water quality in lakes and watercourses throughout the province, evaluate the impact of human activities on surface water, and assess long term trends in water quality. The following weblink connects to a Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change web map that includes the five monitoring station locations within the province and an alternative method for downloading the same datasets: http://nse.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=7ded7a30bef44f848e8a4fc8672c89bd

This dataset is a simplified version of water quality measurements taken in Tuktut Nogait National Park. It is a collection of measurements which make up two water quality indexes: Nutrients and Major Ions (NMI) Index and Metals Index. The measurements are taken along the Hornaday River annually in early-July. The chemical composition of water influences the biological productivity and species composition of rivers. Changes in the water quality in the rivers and creeks in the Western Arctic can act as early indicators of ecosystem change. The presence of contaminants, such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, and radionuclides are a concern because they can have negative effects on Arctic ecosystems and human health. Furthermore, a changing climate in the Arctic can influence the nutrient levels in the streams and rivers as more nutrients will be released from thawing permafrost. As the expected effects of climate change on Arctic ecosystems are still unknown, continuous monitoring is paramount.

Water quality is a globally accepted and widely used measure for assessing and monitoring the condition of freshwater ecosystems. It has a pivotal affect on the integrity of aquatic ecosystems. The physical and chemical characteristics of water have a strong influence on aquatic biota and freshwater ecosystem processes. As a result, changes in water quality may provide an early warning of environmental stress to aquatic ecosystems. The water quality index (WQI) is a tool that was developed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) to summarize complex water chemistry data to a single index in order to simplify and standardize water quality assessment and reporting across the country. Water samples are taken twice a year at the same location from 18 lakes during June and August.

The Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) program provides data and information to track Canada's performance on key environmental sustainability issues. The Water quality in Canadian rivers indicator provide a measure of the ability of river water across Canada to support plants and animals. These indicators provide information about the state of surface water quality and its change through time, to support water resource management. Information is provided to Canadians in a number of formats including: static and interactive maps, charts and graphs, HTML and CSV data tables and downloadable reports. See the supplementary documentation for the data sources and details on how the data were collected and how the indicator was calculated. Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators: https://www.canada.ca/environmental-indicators

These data are water quality parameters sampled by Environment Canada via a Memorandom of Understanding. The individual parameters were used to calculate results for the Canadian Council of Environment Ministers (CCME) water quality index (WQI).

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) uses satellite remote sensing to monitor lake-wide water quality indicators across Canadian inland waters. Remote sensing provides a cost-effective solution to obtain frequent lake-wide water quality observations in support of lake science and inland water quality management on an on-going basis. The datasets presented in this collection provide long-term satellite-derived monitoring of water quality indicators, contributing to programs such as the Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative and Great Lakes Nutrient Initiative. These data include imagery and summary statistics in support of ECCC’s EOLakeWatch interactive data portal including daily algal bloom indices and imagery, historical algal bloom indices and imagery, and annual algal bloom reports. Citation: Binding, C.E., Pizzolato, L., & Zeng, C. (2021). EOLakeWatch; delivering a comprehensive suite of remote sensing algal bloom indices for enhanced monitoring of Canadian eutrophic lakes. Ecological Indicators, 121, 106999. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106999

This Data set provides detailed information about the quality of drinking water.

One component of this initiative aims to improve current understanding of nutrient dynamics and cyanobacterial and harmful bloom (cHAB) occurrences on Lake of the Woods. Research will focus on investigating the sources of nutrients and additional mechanisms influencing cHAB development and transport on the lake, determining cHAB composition and toxicity, and improving lake-wide monitoring capabilities through remote sensing observations. Results will document the status, trends, and drivers of blooms, and the risk they may pose, in order to inform on appropriate management and mitigation strategies. Here, as part of this effort, phosphorus concentrations are being provided. It is anticipated that other water quality data will be provided once available and quality assured.

Water Quality is measured annually in both streams and lakes in Gwaii Haanas. Many water quality parameters are collected and they can be grouped into three categories: (1) Physical (e.g. temperature, depth); (2) Chemical (e.g. pH, nutrients) and (3) Biological (chlorophyll a). Water quality is a key component of aquatic habitat and changes to any parameters can be caused by the surrounding landscape, climate, in-stream processes, and natural and human impacts. Depending on the parameter, significant changes can impact biota from algae to fish and birds. This data is also posted to, and available from ECCC's CABIN database.

Water quality and ecosystem health data collected in the Great Lakes and priority tributaries to determine baseline water quality status, long term trends and spatial distributions, the effectiveness of management actions, determine compliance with water quality objectives and identify emerging issues are included in this dataset.

The Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) program provides data and information to track Canada's performance on key environmental sustainability issues. The Risk to soil and water quality from agriculture indicator is comprised of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Soil and Water Quality Agri-Environmental Performance Indices which aggregate multiple indicators related to soil and water quality. They are derived from models and formulae that integrate data for soil, climate and landscape with data about crops, land use and land management. Calculated for agricultural land in Canada, the indicators use a five-class rating system, which ranges from very low to very high risk. A performance index is calculated for each reporting year, based on a weighted share of land in each indicator class. Multi-indicator aggregations result in unit-less agri-environmental performance indices ranging from undesirable performance (index value 0–20) to desired performance (index values of 81 or greater). Information is provided to Canadians in a number of formats including: static and interactive maps, charts and graphs, HTML and CSV data tables and downloadable reports. See the supplementary documentation for data sources and details on how those data were collected and how the indicator was calculated. Supplemental Information Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators – Home page: https://www.canada.ca/environmental-indicators

The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) has designed a Water Quality Index (WQI) to translate complex water quality data into an overall integrated score from 0-100. This score is based on the number of measured variables, which have observations exceeding water quality thresholds (i.e., scope); the number of these exceedances in the dataset (i.e., frequency); and the magnitude by which the observations exceed the guidelines (i.e., amplitude). These water quality parameters are crucial indicators of the physical, chemical or biological conditions in aquatic systems and processes. The purpose of the water quality monitoring program at Kouchibouguac National Park is to use this index to calculate a score and evaluate the status of our freshwater ecosystems. The methods for this measure involve a once-a-month sampling, from May to November, of permanent stations in five tributaries: Kouchibouguacis River, Tweedie Brook, Black River, Rankin Brook, and Portage River. At each station, a number of water quality parameters are measured in situ as well as the collection of samples that are sent for laboratory analysis of chemical content three times a year in the Spring, Summer, and Fall to capture seasonal variation. In addition, ten key variables (i.e., total phosphorus, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, pH, total alkalinity, aluminium, calcium, total suspended solids, turbidity, total organic carbon) were selected to include in the WQI calculation in order to reflect the regional situation and account for possible natural or anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., eutrophication or oxygen deficits, acidification, land-use changes) related to deforestation, agriculture, and urbanization activities.

Long-term freshwater quality monitoring data for over six sites in the Yukon River Basin for the past 15 years or longer for nutrients, metals, major ions, and other physical-chemical variables are included in this dataset. Monitoring is conducted by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and in partnership with Environment Yukon to assess water quality status and long-term trends, detect emerging issues, establish water quality guidelines and track the effectiveness of remedial measures and regulatory decisions. Supplemental Information. http://www.ec.gc.ca/eaudouce-freshwater/default.asp?lang=En&n=50947E1B-1

Water quality data is based around two of the largest lakes in Prince Albert National Park – Kingsmere and Waskesiu. Data is collected monthly from May through September each year, with additional water chemistry sampling in March. Water chemistry and Secchi disk depths are sampled by boat at three open water locations, and E.coli levels are tested from three high use beach locations. Discharge measurements are taken for Waskesiu Lake inflow (Kingsmere River, Mud Creek) and outflow (Waskesiu River). Kingsmere and Waskesiu Lakes are representative examples of PANP’s natural aquatic ecosystems, and Waskesiu is a popular recreation location. Monitoring water quality in these lakes is a high priority because of their ecological importance to the overall ecological integrity of the park.

Oceanographic data from stationary moorings deployed as part of the Centre for Marine Applied Research's (CMAR) Coastal Monitoring Program.

Water quality affects everyone. Find out more about water pollution and your health. What the flood? Recreational water safety.

The Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) program provides data and information to track Canada's performance on key environmental sustainability issues. These indicators track facility-based releases to water of 3 substances that are defined as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999: mercury, lead and cadmium and their compounds. For each substance, data are provided at the national, regional (provincial and territorial) and facility level, as well as by source. The indicators inform Canadians about releases to water of these 3 substances from facilities in Canada. The Releases of harmful substances to water indicators also help the government to identify priorities and develop or revise strategies to inform further risk management and to track progress on policies put in place to reduce or control these 3 substances and water pollution in general. Information is provided to Canadians in a number of formats including: static and interactive maps, charts and graphs, HTML and CSV data tables and downloadable reports. See the supplementary documentation for the data sources and details on how the data were collected and how the indicator was calculated. Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators: https://www.canada.ca/environmental-indicators

Digitization of long-term water chemistry data collected between 1920's - 1990's from lakes across Saskatchewan by the Saskatchewan Fisheries Research Laboratory. Samples were collected using methods from the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (APHA, AWWA and WPCF). This data serves as a baseline for water quality. This dataset is a digitization from paper records of water chemistry data across Saskatchewan collected by the Saskatchewan Fisheries Research Laboratory. Data ranges from the 1920's to the 1990's and were sampled using methodes from the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association and Water Pollution Control Facility) This long-term water chemistry data serves as a baseline for water quality. Different variables of water chemistry are organized into individual fields. The units of measurement appear at the end of each field name. Due to the historical nature of the data some uncertainty exist in values. Additonal notes on data: ND: no detection Trace: trace amounts Nil: zero NA: no data