Indicator 6.4.1 Water quality in Canadian rivers

Water quality in Canadian rivers

No specific target

These indicators provide a measure of the ability of river water across Canada to support plants and animals. At each monitoring site, specific water quality data are compared to water quality guidelines to create a rating for the site. If measured water quality remains within the guidelines, it can maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Water quality at a monitoring site is considered excellent when parameters in a river almost always meet their guidelines. Conversely, water quality is rated poor when parameters usually do not meet their guidelines, sometimes by a wide margin. (Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC))

Canada and regions

Percentage or Number of sites

Water quality is reported in these indicators by measuring a number of chemical and physical properties (parameters) in water. The results for each parameter are compared to its water quality guideline. (ECCC)

These indicators reflect the state of water quality in rivers in southern Canada. Northern Canada is under-represented.

The indicators only use data for a subset of variables where guidelines exist. They do not cover all potential water quality issues in Canada.

The indicators are based on the impacts of a number of parameters at each site. These concentrations do not show the effect of spills or other transient events unless samples were collected right after the spill happened or their effect on water quality is long-lasting. (ECCC)