Map 2.3
Median values of monthly maximum turbidity in raw surface water sources by drainage region, 2013

Map 2.3 Median values of monthly maximum turbidity in raw surface water sources by drainage region, 2013

Description for Map 2.3

The title of this map is "Median values of monthly maximum turbidity in raw surface water sources by drainage region, 2013." On this map, the darker the colour the higher the median monthly turbidity value (in nephelometric turbidity units) for each drainage region. Category 1 (dark brown) is 11.0 to less than 21.0 NTUs, Category 2 (medium brown) is 7.0 to less than 11.0 NTUs, Category 3 (brown) is 4.0 to less than 7.0 NTUs, Category 4 (light brown) is 2.0 to less 4.0 NTUs, Category 5 (cream) is 0.6 to less than 2.0 NTUs while Category 6 (white) represent regions where data are not available.

In 2013, monthly maximum turbidity values for surface water sources were highest in the Lower Saskatchewan–Nelson, North Saskatchewan and Assiniboine–Red drainage regions in the Prairies and in the St. Lawrence drainage region, while the lowest levels were seen in drainage regions in British Columbia and the Atlantic provinces.

Each drainage region boundary is outlined in black and labeled with a number to identify the area. A table is included which provides the full name of each drainage region, grouped by ocean drainage areas. The locations and names of some major cities in each province and territory are included on the map. Land areas outside of Canada are coloured light grey. Water is pale blue and major bodies, like oceans and bays, are named.

Note: Data are for raw surface water sources from facilities that reported turbidity data for at least 10 months in 2013. These facilities served 24 million people and produced 4,091 million cubic metres of potable water from surface water sources in 2013. Source water turbidity was monitored continuously at 42% of these drinking water plants in 2013, was monitored at least daily at 34% of plants and was monitored less frequently at the rest.

Source: Statistics Canada, 2015, "Source water quality, 2013," Environment Fact Sheets, Catalogue no. 17-508-X.

Data table for Map 2.3 Legend
Median monthly maximum turbidity, 2013, classification showing category colour
Table summary
This table displays the results of Median monthly maximum turbidity. The information is grouped by Category (appearing as row headers), Nephelometric turbidity units and Colour (appearing as column headers).
Category Nephelometric turbidity units Colour
1 11.0 to < 21.0 Dark brown
2 7.0 to < 11.0 Medium brown
3 4.0 to < 7.0 Brown
4 2.0 to < 4.0 Light brown
5 0.6 to < 2.0 Cream
6 Data not available White
Data table for Map 2.3 Data
Median monthly maximum turbidity, 2013, by drainage region
Table summary
This table displays the results of Median monthly maximum turbidity. The information is grouped by Ocean drainage areas and drainage regions (appearing as row headers), Code and Median monthly maximum turbidity, 2013, calculated using number and nephelometric turbidity units units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Ocean drainage areas and drainage regions Code Median monthly maximum turbidity, 2013
number nephelometric turbidity units
Pacific Ocean    
Pacific Coastal 1 0.9
Fraser–Lower Mainland 2 1.4
Okanagan–Similkameen 3 1.4
Columbia 4 0.7
Yukon 5 Note ..: not available for a specific reference period
Arctic Ocean    
Peace–Athabasca 6 5.0
Lower Mackenzie 7 4.6
Arctic Coast–Islands 8 Note F: too unreliable to be published
Gulf of Mexico    
Missouri 9 Note F: too unreliable to be published
Hudson Bay    
North Saskatchewan 10 9.0
South Saskatchewan 11 6.3
Assiniboine–Red 12 7.7
Winnipeg 13 2.4
Lower Saskatchewan–Nelson 14 20.9
Churchill 15 4.5
Keewatin–Southern Baffin Island 16 Note F: too unreliable to be published
Northern Ontario 17 4.9
Northern Quebec 18 Note F: too unreliable to be published
Atlantic Ocean    
Great Lakes 19 5.0
Ottawa 20 4.1
St. Lawrence 21 9.8
North Shore–Gaspé 22 1.5
Saint John–St. Croix 23 1.1
Maritime Coastal 24 1.4
Newfoundland–Labrador 25 0.7
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