Rob Kent and Rob PhillipsNational Water Quality Monitoring OfficeNational Water Research InstituteEnvironment Canada

Rob Kent and Rob PhillipsNational Water Quality Monitoring OfficeNational Water Research InstituteEnvironment Canada

National Water Quality Monitoring Office & WQ

Indicator: Canadian Approach

National Water Quality Monitoring Office & WQ

Indicator: Canadian Approach

National Water Quality Monitoring ConferenceSan Jose, California

May 10, 2006

1. Program Design & Monitoring Objectives2. Methods Development & Lab support3. Research support4. Data management5. Interpretive tools/guidance6. Reporting, Indicators and information systems7. Partnerships / Outreach8. National co-ordination

1. Program Design & Monitoring Objectives2. Methods Development & Lab support3. Research support4. Data management5. Interpretive tools/guidance6. Reporting, Indicators and information systems7. Partnerships / Outreach8. National co-ordination

National WQ Monitoring Office.…moving beyond “taking the sample’”

National WQ Monitoring Office.…moving beyond “taking the sample’”

National WQ Monitoring Office.…activities (cont)

National WQ Monitoring Office.…activities (cont)

Other Lead and Supportive Activities

•Confirm gaps & target priority effort areas•Capital plan and acquisition (lab & field monitoring)•Partnership Fund•Dedicated monitoring team (staffing FTEs)•Fed-Prov network plans (SK, NS, QC, North)•Federal collaboration plans (INAC, Parks)•Bilateral Agreements (Drafts)

National WQ Monitoring Office.…moving beyond “taking the sample’” (cont)

National WQ Monitoring Office.…moving beyond “taking the sample’” (cont)

• Program integrates biological & phys/chem information to assess aquatic ecosystem health status and trends

• Provide national forum for biomonitoring experts

• Expansion of network: Collection of reference sites (Parks; historic sites) Pilot network of test sites (10-15/region) Northern sites – IPY project (Wrona et al.)

- Training for community biomonitoring

• Status: Establishing national pilot network team Site selection with Parks

• Verification of WQI Aq.Ecosystem Health findings?

National Aquatic Biomonitoring Program

National Aquatic Biomonitoring Program

• Water Quality Monitoring Networks – Retention and Expansion

• WQI Expansion Priorities: North (YK, NWT, NU), SK, QC, NS

• Retention: taking stock of existing agreements and work; national consistency, existing capacity and gaps; current geo-referenced metadata inventory

• In situ automated network, national data analysis

• Annual national meeting (AQUA)

• Water Quality Monitoring Networks – Retention and Expansion

• WQI Expansion Priorities: North (YK, NWT, NU), SK, QC, NS

• Retention: taking stock of existing agreements and work; national consistency, existing capacity and gaps; current geo-referenced metadata inventory

• In situ automated network, national data analysis

• Annual national meeting (AQUA)

National WQ Monitoring Office.…moving beyond “taking the sample’” (cont)

National WQ Monitoring Office.…moving beyond “taking the sample’” (cont)

WQI: Approach outlineWQI: Approach outline

• Background, context• Current Monitoring & Expansion• Water Quality Index?• Challenges• Summary & Conclusions

• Background, context• Current Monitoring & Expansion• Water Quality Index?• Challenges• Summary & Conclusions

76

Environmental Sustainability Index 2005Environmental Sustainability Index 2005

Environmental

Systems

4 / 146

Environmental

Stresses

104/ 146

Human

Vulnerability

2/ 146

Social and

Institutional

Capacity

14 / 146

Global

Stewardship

133/ 146

Air Quality

Water Quantity

Water Quality

Biodiversity

Terrestrial Systems

Reducing Air Pollution

Reducing Water Stress

Reducing Ecosystem

Stresses

Reducing Waste

and Consumption

Pressures

Reducing Population

Pressure

Natural Resource

Management

Basic Human Sustenance

Environment-related

Natural Disaster

Exposure

Environmental Health

Science/Technology

Private Sector

Responsiveness

Environmental

Governance

Eco-Efficiency

Participation in

International

Collaborative Efforts

Greenhouse Gas

Emissions

Reducing Trans-

boundary

Environmental

Pressures

Canada- Overall rank 6th out of 146 countries

(World Economic Forum; Yale/Columbia University research)

Background Background

• WQ consistently top priority for Canadians

• Increased public concern and decreased confidence in water safety

• External criticism of current status (DRIPS!)

• Commitment to better inform Canadians on national water quality

• Respond to Canadian values on water: drinkable, swimmable, fishable, available

• Understandable indicators to track whether Canada's current economic activities threaten the way of life for future generations

• Track natural assets - including the ecosystem services that are crucial to sustaining the economy in the long term

• Water Quality: Canadian WQI as the Freshwater Quality Indicator

• Understandable indicators to track whether Canada's current economic activities threaten the way of life for future generations

• Track natural assets - including the ecosystem services that are crucial to sustaining the economy in the long term

• Water Quality: Canadian WQI as the Freshwater Quality Indicator

National Roundtable on the Environment and Economy Environment and Sustainable

Development Indicators

National Roundtable on the Environment and Economy Environment and Sustainable

Development Indicators

Environment EnvironnementCanada Canada

Environment EnvironnementCanada Canada

Water Quantity Monitoring

Existing EC and Provincial Networks (2005)• Current long-term, systematic WQ

monitoring programs• All require annual funding campaigns• Many networks (~20) designed and

operated for a range of assessment and management purposes; None explicitly for reporting under the WQ Indicator

NoteNote: Grey Jurisdictions have no Fed-Prov Agreement: Grey Jurisdictions have no Fed-Prov Agreement

WQI Monitoring Expansion SaskatchewanWQI Monitoring Expansion Saskatchewan

Existing EC and Provincial Networks (2005)

NoteNote: Grey Jurisdictions have no Fed-Prov Agreement: Grey Jurisdictions have no Fed-Prov Agreement

WQI Monitoring Expansion YukonWQI Monitoring Expansion Yukon

Existing EC and Provincial Networks (2005)

NoteNote: Grey Jurisdictions have no Fed-Prov Agreement: Grey Jurisdictions have no Fed-Prov Agreement

WQI Monitoring Expansion Nunavut/NWTWQI Monitoring Expansion Nunavut/NWT

WQI: Typical ApplicationsWQI: Typical Applications

• Selected parameters (~10) related to water use at monitoring site

• Most appropriate ambient WQ guidelines or objectives (site-specific)

• 3yr average values from at least 9 periods; or stratified use of CWQI over specific periods (freshet, recession and base flow)

• Selected parameters (~10) related to water use at monitoring site

• Most appropriate ambient WQ guidelines or objectives (site-specific)

• 3yr average values from at least 9 periods; or stratified use of CWQI over specific periods (freshet, recession and base flow)

Environment EnvironnementCanada Canada

Canadian WQICanadian WQI

Scope (F1) - number of variables not meeting water quality objectives

Frequency (F2) - the number of times the objectives are not met

Amplitude (F3) - the extent to which objectives are exceeded

Scope (F1) - number of variables not meeting water quality objectives

Frequency (F2) - the number of times the objectives are not met

Amplitude (F3) - the extent to which objectives are exceeded

732.1100

2

3

2

2

2

1 FFFWQI

Environment EnvironnementCanada Canada

European exampleEuropean example

Environment EnvironnementCanada Canada

Other Modes?Other Modes?

Cdn WQI ChallengesCdn WQI Challenges

• Complexity of “Weather Report” for water • Multiplicity of partners means time required• “Boom or Bust” cycles wrst. monitoring

means rapid action required when funds available

• Climate, vastness of country, many partners• Politics and changing government/ministers• Quantum leaps in tech’y demand attention

and take time to verify/implement

• Complexity of “Weather Report” for water • Multiplicity of partners means time required• “Boom or Bust” cycles wrst. monitoring

means rapid action required when funds available

• Climate, vastness of country, many partners• Politics and changing government/ministers• Quantum leaps in tech’y demand attention

and take time to verify/implement

Environment EnvironnementCanada Canada

Summary & ConclusionsSummary & Conclusions

• Expansion Opportunity• Recoup of Monitoring Network cuts of 90’s• Equation allows flexibility in reporting

among Partners• Opportunity to incorporate new technologies

including in-situ, real-time, BioMonitoring• Opportunity to strengthen existing

partnerships and networks• WQI may help solve DRIPS!

• Expansion Opportunity• Recoup of Monitoring Network cuts of 90’s• Equation allows flexibility in reporting

among Partners• Opportunity to incorporate new technologies

including in-situ, real-time, BioMonitoring• Opportunity to strengthen existing

partnerships and networks• WQI may help solve DRIPS!

Environment EnvironnementCanada Canada