Water quality in Canadian Rivers

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Along the east coast of Canada, all rivers drain into the Atlantic Ocean. This region includes Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, along with part of eastern Quebec. It is home to approximately 2.7 million people, or nearly 7% of Canada's population. The main pressure on water quality in this region comes from agriculture which is largely found in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley and New Brunswick, as well as from forestry, the largest industry in New Brunswick. In Newfoundland and Labrador, mining and forestry are 2 of the region's largest pressures of water pollution.

Key results

For the 2022 to 2024 period:

• more than half of the monitored sites in the Atlantic region had excellent or good water quality
• 47% of monitored sites with fair or marginal water quality were in forestry zones mostly in New Brunswick

Water quality category by land use, Atlantic Ocean region, 2022 to 2024 period

Navigate data using the interactive map
How this indicator was calculated

Note: Water quality was assessed at 46 sites on rivers draining into the Atlantic Ocean using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment's water quality index. For more information, consult the Data sources and methods section.
Source: Water quality data were assembled by Environment and Climate Change Canada from existing federal, provincial and joint water quality monitoring programs. Population, forestry, mining and land cover statistics for each site's drainage area were provided by Statistics Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Government of Alberta and the University of Maryland.

This region includes rivers that drain into the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, all located in western Quebec, southern Ontario and the section of northern Ontario bordering Lake Superior. It is the most populous region, home to more than 25 million people making up 60% of the Canadian population. Most human activity in this region is associated with urbanization and agriculture thanks to the fertile soils and a relatively mild climate. Mining dominated by feldspar and quartz mines as well as pulp and paper mills are also important human activities in this region. These facilities are mainly located on the shores of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River and their tributaries. 

Key results

For the 2022 to 2024 period:

• water quality was excellent or good for 25% of the monitored sites
• 9% of the monitored sites were rated as poor, all of which were in populated or agricultural zones

Water quality category by land use, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region, 2022 to 2024 period

Navigate data using the interactive map
How this indicator was calculated

Note: Water quality was assessed at 53 sites on rivers draining into the Great Lakes or St. Lawrence River using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment's water quality index. For more information, consult the Data sources and methods section.
Source: Water quality data were assembled by Environment and Climate Change Canada from existing federal, provincial and joint water quality monitoring programs. Population, forestry, mining and land cover statistics for each site's drainage area were provided by Statistics Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Government of Alberta and the University of Maryland.

This region covers most of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the southern half of Alberta and parts of northwestern Ontario. It is home of 13.2% of Canada’s population (5.5 million people). The Nelson River, the largest in this region, originates at the northern tip of Lake Winnipeg and flows into the south-western corner of the Hudson Bay. Its tributaries drain over 1 million km² of land starting in the Rocky Mountains running through the Prairies and into Lake Winnipeg. Agriculture covers a large part of the land in this region; mining is also an important economic sector. Moreover, many of Manitoba’s rivers have extensive hydroelectric power generation infrastructure.

Key results

For the 2022 to 2024 period:

• water quality was rated excellent or good for 52% of the sites
• 48% had fair or marginal water quality
• no sites had water quality rated as poor

Water quality category by land-use, Hudson Bay region, 2022 to 2024 period

Navigate data using the interactive map
How is this indicator calculated

Note: Water quality was assessed at 44 sites on rivers draining into the Hudson Bay using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment's water quality index. For more information, consult the Data sources and methods section.
Source: Water quality data were assembled by Environment and Climate Change Canada from existing federal, provincial and joint water quality monitoring programs. Population, forestry, mining and land cover statistics for each site's drainage area were provided by Statistics Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Government of Alberta and the University of Maryland.

The Mackenzie River watershed is the largest in Canada. Consisting of vast stretches of pristine wilderness, it covers nearly 20% of the country and is the least developed area compared to the other regions. Its 2 largest tributaries, the Peace River and the Athabasca River, drain much of north-central Alberta and the Rocky Mountains in northern British Columbia. The most intensive land-use in the region is oil and gas extraction in central Alberta. The majority of the people (nearly 1% of Canada’s population) living in the watershed reside in its southern region.

Key results

For the 2022 to 2024 period:

• water quality was excellent or good in 47% of sites monitored
• 53% had fair or marginal water quality
• no site had water quality rated as poor

Water quality category by land use, Mackenzie River region, 2022 to 2024 period

Navigate data using the interactive map
How this indicator was calculated

Note: Water quality was assessed at 19 sites on rivers draining into the Mackenzie River using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment's water quality index. For more information, consult the Data sources and methods section.
Source: Water quality data were assembled by Environment and Climate Change Canada from existing federal, provincial, territorial and joint water quality monitoring programs. Population, forestry, mining and land cover statistics for each site's drainage area were provided by Statistics Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Government of Alberta and the University of Maryland.

Along the west coast of Canada, rivers draining into the Pacific Ocean flow through varied landscapes, from large areas with little development to highly urbanized areas, accounting for 11% of Canada’s population (4.4 million people). Mining, forestry, pulp and paper and wood product manufacturing are the most important industries in this region. In the Okanagan Valley and Fraser Valley, soil conditions and climate are favourable for orchards, vineyards and cash crops. Cattle ranching is dominant throughout much of the other interior plateau and valley lands.

Key results

For the 2022 to 2024 period:

• 2 sites (22%) in the Pacific Ocean region were rated good
• 6 sites (66%) were rated fair or marginal
• 1 site (11%) had poor water quality.

Water quality category by land use, Pacific Ocean region, 2022 to 2024 period

Navigate data using the interactive map
How this indicator was calculated

Note: Water quality was assessed at 9 sites on rivers draining into the Pacific Ocean using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment's water quality index. For more information, consult the Data sources and methods section.
Source: Water quality data were assembled by Environment and Climate Change Canada from existing federal, provincial, territorial and joint water quality monitoring programs. Population, forestry, mining and land cover statistics for each site's drainage area were provided by Statistics Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Government of Alberta and the University of Maryland.

For the 2022 to 2024 period, water quality data from 157 sites were used to compile the national indicator. These data were drawn from monitoring sites in Canada's 16 southern most drainage regions. The 16 regions were selected based on population and land-use to create the water quality indicator core network for national water quality reporting.

Geographic extent of the 16 drainage regions selected for the national network of water quality indicators

The regional indicator groups these 16 drainage regions into 5 larger drainage regions, based on the water body into which these rivers ultimately drain:

• Atlantic Ocean region (22, 23, 24, 25)
• Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region (19, 20, 21)
• Hudson Bay region (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
• Mackenzie River region (6, 7)
• Pacific Ocean region (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Parts of the Mackenzie River region fall outside of the 16 drainage regions. In order to ensure proper coverage in the regional indicator, 14 sites were added: 4 sites in Alberta, 1 site in Saskatchewan and 9 sites in the Northwest Territories. These additional sites were not included in the national indicator analysis. In the Atlantic Ocean region, the North Shore-Gaspé drainage region is not included in the Freshwater Quality Monitoring and Surveillance program.

Water quality is evaluated at an additional 147 monitoring sites across Canada. Although these additional sites were not used to calculate the indicators, water quality results for all 318 sites can be explored using the interactive water quality map. These additional sites are not included in the calculations because they do not meet the minimum data requirements detailed in the section below, or because including them would over-represent the region.

Data used to calculate the indicator includes a selection from a total of around 40 water quality parameters, such as major ions, physical parameters, trace metals, nutrients and pesticides, as well as pH, temperature and hardness, required to calculate certain guidelines. Sample timing and frequency are set by monitoring programs and vary among sites.

Each data record is tagged with the site name, the date the sample was collected, the name and the chemical form of the parameter. Land-use and ecological information are also collected for each site. Water quality data, along with water quality indicator scores and site information from the monitoring programs, are stored in a central water quality indicator dictionary housed within a larger database at Environment and Climate Change Canada.Land-use characterization for all monitoring sites was updated in 2019. Land-use at each site was determined using:

• population density from Statistics Canada, Population 2016 by dissemination block level
• mine locations using Natural Resources Canada's 2018 Map 900A: Principal Mineral Areas, Producing Mines, and Oil and Gas fields in Canada, Sixty-Eight Edition
• advanced mineral projects locations using Natural Resources Canada’s Advances mineral project's inventory released in February 2019
• oil sand's locations using data provided by Alberta Energy, Government of Alberta 2011
• pulp and paper locations using the Environment and Climate Change Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI): Geographic Distribution of NPRI-Reporting Facilities
• forest loss estimated by time-series analysis of 654 178 Landsat 7 ETM+ images in characterizing global forest extent and change from Global Forest Change 2000 to 2012
• agricultural activity locations using Natural Resources Canada's Land Cover 2010, Cropland class
• estimation of livestock using the "Agri-Environmental Indicator (AEI): Livestock Emissions from Agriculture" dataset estimating net emissions produced by livestock from Soil Landscapes of Canada agricultural areas for census years from 1981 to 2011
• land cover using Natural Resources Canada's Land Cover 2010

Data quality assurance and quality control

Data quality assurance/quality control is performed by each monitoring program that provides the data used to calculate the water quality indicators. Each monitoring program follows standardized methods for sample collection in the field. Chemical analyses are performed in Canadian laboratories accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation or the Standards Council of Canada.

Environment and Climate Change Canada perform further quality assurance/quality control to ensure datasets meet minimum data requirements for the analysis and that calculation standards are respected. This process verifies the number of samples, sample timing, location of monitoring sites and calculations. It can lead to the removal of water quality data due to low sampling frequencies, erroneous measurements or where analytical detection limits are higher than the guidelines used in the calculation of the scores. Unusually high or low values in the monitoring datasets are double-checked and confirmed through consultation with the data provider.

Minimum data requirements

Calculating the water quality status for most sites requires a minimum of 4 samples per year collected over 3 years. A minimum of 3 samples per year is permitted for northern and remote sites, as access during winter months can be difficult, dangerous and costly. A sensitivity analysis found that there was no significant difference in the water quality index score when mid-winter samples were excluded.

Parameter selection

Federal, provincial and territorial water quality experts select the parameters to be assessed at each site based on their knowledge of local water quality stressors. Selected parameters typically include at least one form of the following parameter groups: nutrients (for example, phosphorus, nitrate, nitrite, total nitrogen), metals (for example, zinc, copper, lead), and physico-chemical parameters (for example, pH, turbidity), as well as 2 to 4 regionally specific parameters (for example, chloride, ammonia, dissolved oxygen, pesticides). The water quality index score is based on these selected parameters.

Water quality guideline selection

Water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life are recommended limits or statements for a variety of chemical substances and physical parameters, which, if exceeded, may impair aquatic life. These guidelines are based on existing knowledge of a substance's environmental fate, behaviour and chronic or, in a few cases, acute toxicity.

Federal, provincial or territorial water quality experts select the guidelines to use in the calculation of the water quality indicator based on their local relevance. The Canadian Freshwater Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life are recommended if locally relevant. Annex B provides a complete list of guidelines used by provinces and territories and their source.

Background concentrations of naturally occurring substances and other local river characteristics can impact the measured concentration and toxicity of some substances. In these cases, site-specific guidelines may be developed using procedures based on background concentrations^{Footnote 5} or a rapid assessment approach. The rapid assessment approach uses long-term monitoring data and adjusts for natural events, such as high flows, which may influence results.^{Footnote 6}

Selection of core sites used at national indicator

Among Canada's 25 drainage regions, 16 were selected based on population and land use to create the water quality indicator core network for national water quality reporting. Within the 16 selected drainage regions, core sites were selected to ensure site drainage areas do not overlap and are independent of one another. The upstream drainage area of each monitoring site was delineated by Statistics Canada using the National Hydro Network.^{Footnote 7} Where the upstream drainage areas of monitoring sites overlapped, the site furthest downstream was retained for the core network, as the downstream site is impacted by the maximum area in the river basin and, to some degree, reflects the cumulative impact of all upstream stresses. For 14 large rivers, core sites were chosen in the upper, mid and lower portions of the main river and at the most downstream sites on each tributary, when available. Additional core sites were included on these rivers, because water travels thousands of kilometres from the source to the mouth of these rivers. Water quality changes along the way and cannot be summarized by a single downstream monitoring site. The final selection of core sites ensures monitoring sites are well distributed among provinces and drainage regions.

The number of core sites changes from year to year due to samples being missed or lost, which can lead to the site not having the minimum data required to be reported.

Classification of sites

Land-use was assessed in the drainage area of core sites and classified according to the criteria presented in Table 1 using the drainage area of each monitoring site.^{Footnote 8} Even if a site’s land-use classification is Agriculture, Forestry, Mining or Populated, it does not mean that these are the only activities taking place at that site. These land-use classifications were determined to be the most representative of the environmental pressures on each site's drainage area based on the data available at the time the analysis was done.

Note: ^[A] Criteria must be met. ^[B] Livestock intensity was calculated by proxy by dividing the total estimated emissions of greenhouse gas by the basin area. The lower value was attributed an intensity value of 0 and the highest value, an intensity value of 1. ^[C] Mines includes metal mines and mills, non-metal mines, quarries, coal mines, oil sands, oil and gas.

Calculating water quality status

The water quality indicators are calculated using the water quality index, as endorsed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. The water quality index calculation considers 3 factors to summarize water quality at a site: scope, frequency and amplitude (Equation 1):

• Scope (F₁) is the percentage of parameters for which the water quality guidelines are not met.
• Frequency (F₂) is the percentage of samples for which the water quality guidelines are not met.
• Amplitude (F₃) refers to the amount by which the water quality guidelines are not met.

The score is normalized to yield a score between 1 and 100. The full set of equations for the water quality index is described in the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2017) CCME Water Quality Index 2.0 User’s Manual (PDF; 1.60 MB).

Equation 1.

Water quality scores are grouped into 5 categories following the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment's water quality index (Table 2).

Three (3) years of data are used to calculate the indicator. This is to dampen temporal variability in the results caused by annual fluctuations in weather and hydrology, to make the water quality indicators more representative of how humans are impacting water quality in rivers.^{Footnote 6}

Water quality guidelines are derived from laboratory studies that do not consider, among other things, the impact of flow on sediment loads in a river. Although site-specific guidelines try to consider the impact of elevated flows on parameter concentrations, elevated levels of naturally occurring substances, such as minerals, nutrients, glacier deposits and soils, can lower water quality ratings.

The water quality indicators do not directly measure biological integrity; they measure whether physical and chemical characteristics of freshwater bodies are acceptable for aquatic life. Although physical and chemical measurements provide good proxies for biological integrity, only biological information provides a direct measurement of conditions for aquatic life.

The water quality indicators only assess the quality of surface waters. Groundwater is not considered in these indicators.

It can be difficult to compare water quality index scores among sites due to variations in the selection of parameters and guidelines to reflect local and regional water quality concerns. The water quality categories assigned based on the scores, however, are comparable. A site classified as marginal has water quality guidelines that are being exceeded frequently and/or by a considerable margin, even if the parameters and guidelines used to make that classification are not exactly the same at all sites.

Only parameters for which water quality guidelines exist can be included in the indicators. The absence of a water quality guideline for a parameter does not mean the parameter is unimportant.

The water quality indicator scores are sensitive to the number of parameters and samples used in their calculation. The number of parameters used in the indicators varies from 5 to 15 depending on the monitoring site, and between 9 and 36 samples can be used for a given parameter. In general, as the number of parameters, or samples, used to calculate the index increases, the score decreases because there is a greater chance of a guideline exceedance.^{Footnote 9}

Water quality varies naturally with weather and hydrological cycles. Although the Water quality in Canadian rivers indicators use a 3-year average to dampen the influence of these variations on the data such as rain fall and snow melt events, care must be taken in comparing one period to another.

Note: n/a = not applicable.
^[A] Applies to sites monitored under provincial monitoring programs.
^[B] Applies to sites monitored under federal monitoring programs, including the Prairie Provinces Water Board.
SSG denotes that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at sites. Specific site information is available upon request.

Alberta Water Quality Guideline Sources:

1. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2026) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life. Summary Table. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
2. United States Environmental Protection Agency (2001) 2001 Update of Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Cadmium. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
3. Alberta Environment (2018) Environmental Quality Guidelines for Alberta Surface Waters (PDF; 703 kB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
4. Government of Canada (2008) Technical Guidance Document for Water Quality Index Practitioners Reporting Under the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) Initiative 2008. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
5. Prairie Provinces Water Board (1992) Schedule E: Agreement on Water Quality. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.

Note: n/a = not applicable.
SSG denotes that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at sites. For details on the derivation of site-specific guidelines, consult BCMOE (1997).

British Columbia Water Quality Guideline Sources:

1. British Columbia Ministry of Environment (2025) British Columbia Working Water Quality Guidelines: Aquatic Life, Wildlife & Agriculture . (PDF; 667 kB) Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
2. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2026) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life Summary Table. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
3. Butcher, GA. (1992) Lower Columbia River, Hugh Keeleyside dam to Birchbank, Water Quality Assessment and Objectives. (PDF; 9.9 MB). British Columbia Ministry of the Environment, Lands and Parks.  Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
4. British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (2000) Ambient Water Quality Assessment and Objectives for the Lower Columbia River Birchbank to the US border (PDF; 230 kB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
5. Environment and Climate Change Canada (2005) Site-specific Water Quality Guidelines for the Liard River at Upper Crossing for the Purpose of National Reporting. Tri-Star Environmental Consulting.
6. Environment and Climate Change Canada (2009) Site-specific Water Quality Guidelines for the Skeena River at Usk for the Purpose of National Reporting. Tri-Star Environmental Consulting.
7. Environment and Climate Change Canada (2009) Site-specific Water Quality Guidelines for the Kootenay River at Kootenay Crossing for the Purpose of National Reporting. Tri-Star Environmental Consulting.
8. British Columbia Ministry of Environment (2019) Copper Water Quality Guideline for the Protection of Marine Aquatic Life (PDF; 591 kB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
9. Government of Canada (2013) Technical Guidance Document for Water Quality Index Practitioners Reporting Under the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) Initiative 2008. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
10. Obee, N. (2011) Water Quality Assessment and Objectives for the Cowichan and Koksilah Rivers: First Update. British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Division and Environmental Sustainability and Strategic Policy Division. Victoria, BC. (PDF; 4.52 MB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
11. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (2026) British Columbia Approved Water Quality Guidelines: Aquatic Life, Wildlife & Agriculture - Guideline Summary. Water Quality Guideline Series, WQG-20. Prov. B.C., Victoria B.C. (PDF; 1.16 MB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
12. Swain, LG. (1990) Ambient Water Quality Objectives for the Similkameen River Okanagan Area Overview Report. British Columbia Ministry of Environment (PDF; 245 kB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
13. Nordin, RN. and Pommen, LW. (2009) Water Quality Criteria for Nitrogen (Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia): Overview Report. British Columbia Ministry of Environment(PDF; 565 kB).Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
14. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (1998) Water Quality Assessment and Recommended Objectives for the Salmon River (PDF; 275 kB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
15. Swain, LG. (1987) Takla-Nechako Areas, Nechako River Water Quality Assessment and Objectives. British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Parks. (PDF; 1.15 MB) Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
16. Environment and Climate Change Canada (2005) Site-specific Water Quality Guidelines for the Sumas River at the International Boundary for the Purpose of National Reporting. Tri-Star Environmental Consulting.
17. Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Energy (2021) Water Management Policies, Guidelines, Provincial Water Quality Objectives. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
18. British Columbia Ministry of Environment (2001) Water Quality Guidelines for Temperature: Overview Report (PDF; 221 kB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.

Note: n/a = not applicable.
^[A] Applies to sites monitored under provincial monitoring programs.
^[B] Applies to sites monitored under federal monitoring programs (Prairie Provinces Water Board).
SSG denotes that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at sites. Specific site information is available upon request.

Manitoba Water Quality Guideline Sources:

1. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2026) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life Summary Table. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
2. Manitoba Water Stewardship (2011) Manitoba Water Quality Standards, Objectives, and Guidelines (PDF; 912 kB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
3. Government of Canada (2013) Technical Guidance Document for Water Quality Index Practitioners Reporting Under the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) Initiative 2008. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
4. United States Environmental Protection Agency (2026) National Recommended Water Quality Criteria – Aquatic Life Criteria Table. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
5. United States Environmental Protection Agency (2001) 2001 Update of Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Cadmium. (PDF; 10.4 MB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
6. Prairie Provinces Water Board (1992) Schedule E: Agreement on Water Quality. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.

Note: n/a = not applicable.
^[A] In New Brunswick, the CCME guideline recommended by Environment and Climate Change Canada is adjusted to address the ammonia form measured by the provincial laboratories (Ammonia as N).

New Brunswick Water Quality Guideline Sources:

1. Government of Canada (2013) Technical Guidance Document for Water Quality Index Practitioners Reporting Under the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) Initiative 2008. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
2. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2026) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life Summary Table.Retrieved on January 5, 2026.

Note: n/a = not applicable.
SSG different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at sites. Specific site information is available upon request.

Newfoundland and Labrador Water Quality Guideline Sources:

1. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2026) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life Summary Table. Retrieved on January 5, 2026. 
2. Government of Canada (2013) Technical Guidance Document for Water Quality Index Practitioners Reporting Under the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) Initiative 2008. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada. Retrieved on January 5, 2026. 
3. Khan, AA. et al. (2005) Application of CCME Procedures for Deriving Site-specific Water Quality Guidelines for the CCME Water Quality Index (PDF; 688 kB). Water Quality Research Journal 40(4):448-456. Retrieved on January 5, 2026. 

Note: n/a = not applicable.
SSG denotes that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at sites. Specific site information is available upon request.

Northwest Territories Water Quality Guideline Sources:

1. Lumb, A., and al. (2006) Application of CCME Water Quality Index to Monitor Water Quality: A Case Study of the Mackenzie River Basin, Canada. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 113:411-429 (PDF; 287 kB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
   
2. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2026) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life Summary Table. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
3. Government of Canada (2013) Technical Guidance Document for Water Quality Index Practitioners Reporting Under the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) Initiative 2008. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.

Note: n/a = not applicable.

Nova Scotia Water Quality Guideline Sources:

1. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2026) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life Summary Table. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
2. Government of Canada (2013) Technical Guidance Document for Water Quality Index Practitioners Reporting Under the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) Initiative 2008. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.

Ontario Water Quality Guideline Sources:

1. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2026) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life Summary Table. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
2. Government of Canada (2013) Technical Guidance Document for Water Quality Index Practitioners Reporting Under the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) Initiative 2008. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
3. Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Energy (2021) Water management policies, guidelines, provincial water quality objectives. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.

Note: n/a = not applicable.
SSG denotes that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at sites. Specific site information is available upon request.

Prince Edward Island Water Quality Guideline Sources:

1. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2026) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life Summary Table. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
2. Bugden, G., Jiang, Y., van den Heuvel, MR., Vandermeulen, H., MacQuarrie, KTB., Crane, CJ. and Raymond, BG. (2014) Nitrogen Loading Criteria For Estuaries In Prince Edward Island. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3066 Fisheries and Oceans Canada (PDF; 1.10 MB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
3. Van den Heuvel MR (2009) Site Specific Guidelines for Phosphorus in relation to the Water Quality Index Calculations for Prince Edward Island. Canadian Rivers Institute, University of Prince Edward Island. 35p. (PDF; 1.49 MB) Retrieved on January 5, 2026.

Note: n/a = not applicable.
^[A] Only applies to sites monitored under provincial monitoring programs.
^[B] Only applies to sites monitored under federal monitoring programs.
SSG denotes that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at sites. Specific site information is available upon request

Quebec Water Quality Guideline Sources:

1. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2026) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life Summary Table Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
2. Ministère du Développement durable, Environnement et Lutte contre les changements climatiques (2025) Critères de la qualité de l'eau de surface (in French only). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
3. Government of Canada (2013) Technical Guidance Document for Water Quality Index Practitioners Reporting Under the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) Initiative 2008. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
4. Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (2022) Guide d'interprétation de l'indice de la qualité bactériologique et physicochimique de l'eau (IQBP5 et IQBP6), (PDF; 1.02MB) 21p. (in French only). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
5. Hébert, S., (1997). Développement d’un indice de la qualité bactoriologique et physico-chimique de l’eau pour les rivières du Québec (PDF; 1.02MB). Québec, Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Faune, Direction des écosystèmes auqatiques, envirodoq n*EN/970102, 20p., 4 annexes. (in French only). Retrieved on January 5, 2026

Note: n/a = not applicable.

^[A] Applies to sites monitored under provincial monitoring programs.
^[B] Applies to sites monitored under federal monitoring programs (Prairie Provinces Water Board).
SSG denotes that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at sites. Specific site information is available upon request.

Saskatchewan Water Quality Guideline Sources:

1. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2026) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life Summary Table. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
2. Government of Canada (2013) Technical Guidance Document for Water Quality Index Practitioners Reporting Under the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) Initiative 2008. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
3. Prairie Provinces Water Board (2015). Review of the 1992 Interprovincial Water Quality Objectives and Recommendations for Change. Technical Report to the PPWB Committee on Water Quality, Report #174, Regina (PDF; 16.4 MB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
4. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2004). Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life: Phosphorus (PDF; 542 kB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.

Note: n/a = not applicable.
SSG denotes that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at sites. Specific site information is available upon request.

Yukon Water Quality Guideline Sources:

1. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2026) Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life Summary Table. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
2. Environment and Climate Change Canada (2005) Site-specific Water Quality Guidelines for the Liard River at Upper Crossing for the Purpose of National Reporting. Tri-Star Environmental Consulting.
3. Government of Canada (2013) Technical Guidance Document for Water Quality Index Practitioners Reporting Under the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) Initiative 2008. Environment and Climate Change Canada and Statistics Canada. Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
4. Nordin RN and Pommen LW (2009) Water Quality Guidelines for Nitrogen (Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia): Overview Report Update. British Columbia Ministry of Environment (PDF; 565 kB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.
5. British Columbia Ministry of Environment (1997) Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen (PDF; 126 kB). British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Water Protection and Sustainability Branch. Victoria, BC. Retrieved on January 5, 2026. 
6. British Columbia Ministry of Environment (2025) British Columbia Working Water Quality Guidelines: Aquatic Life, Wildlife & Agriculture (PDF; 897 kB). Retrieved on January 5, 2026.