Indicators for water quality and quantity

The Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) program provides data and information to track Canada's performance on key environmental sustainability issues including climate change, water quality and availability, and protecting nature.

Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators: Water indicators

Led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, the CESI program regularly reports on Canadian freshwater quality, quantity, and availability, and pressures on water quality, such as nutrient, pesticide, and pollutant levels in freshwater bodies.

• Nutrient levels in Canada’s large freshwater bodies:
  • Phosphorus levels in the offshore waters of the Great Lakes
  • Phosphorus loading to Lake Erie
  • Nutrients in the St. Lawrence River
  • Nutrients in Lake Winnipeg
  • Reductions in phosphorus loads to Lake Winnipeg
• Pollutants in freshwater environments:
  • Releases of harmful substances to water
  • Bisphenol A in water and sediment
  • Perfluorooctane sulfonate in fish and water
  • Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in fish and sediment
  • Household use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers
  • Metal and diamond mining effluent quality
  • Pulp and paper effluent quality
• Water quality in Canadian rivers
• Water quantity in Canadian rivers
• Changes to water quantity: drivers and impacts