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Appendix 1: The water quality guidelines used in each jurisdiction
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Table A1: The water quality guidelines used in each jurisdiction
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Nova Scotia
Ontario (rivers)
Ontario (Great Lakes)
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon
Standard symbols
Parameter |
Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum2 | Dissolved | 5 at pH <6.5; 100 at pH >6.5 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Ammonia | Un-ionized | 0.019 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Arsenic | Total | 5 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Cadmium2 | Total | e^(1.0166*ln[hardness]–3.924) | µg/L | USEPA, 2005 |
| Chloride | Dissolved | 150 | mg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Copper2 | Total | 7 | µg/L | Alberta Environment, 1999 |
| Copper3 | Total | 2, for hardness 0–90 mg/L; e^(0.8545*ln[hardness)]–1.465)* 0.2, for hardness >90 mg/L | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Dissolved oxygen | ... | 6.5 | mg/L | Alberta Environment, 1999 |
| Lead | Total | e^(1.273*ln[hardness]–4.705) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Mercury2 | (Total) inorganic | 0.026 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Nickel | Total | e^(0.76[ln(hardness)]+1.06) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Nitrogen | Total | 1 | mg/L | Alberta Environment, 1999 |
| Pesticides | 2,4-D | 4 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Pesticides | MCPA | 2.6 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| pH3 | ... | 6.5–9.0 | n/a | CCME, 2005b |
| Phosphorus | Total | 0.05 | mg/L | Alberta Environment, 1999 |
| Selenium2 | Total | 2 | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Zinc | Total | 7.5, for hardness≤90 mg/L; 7.5 + 0.75*(hardness–90), for hardness >90 mg/L CaCO3 | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
| 2. Applies to sites monitored by provincial monitoring programs. | ||||
| 3. Applies to sites monitored under federal monitoring programs and the Prairie Provinces Water Board. | ||||
Parameter |
Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alkalinity | ... | 20 | mg/L (CaCO3) | BCMOE, 2001 |
| Antimony | Total | 20 | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001 |
| Arsenic | Total | 5 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Cadmium | Total | ≤10^0.86[log(hardness)]–3.2, when > 50mg/L CaCO3; ≤0.019, when <50 mg/L CaCO3 | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Cadmium | extractable | SSG | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Chloride | Dissolved | 150 | mg/L | Levy et al., 1981 |
| Chromium | Total or dissolved | SSG | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Copper | Total or dissolved | SSG | µg/L | Singleton, 1987 |
| Cyanide | Total | SSG | µg/L | Singleton, 1986 |
| Cyanide | Weak acid dissociable | 5 | µg/L | Singleton, 1986 |
| Dissolved oxygen | … | SSG | mg/L | BCMELP, 1997 |
| Fluoride | Dissolved | 0.38 | mg/L | Warrington, 1995 |
| Fluoride | Total | 0.30 | mg/L | Warrington, 1995 |
| Iron | Total | 300 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Lead | Total or extractable | SSG | µg/L | Nagpal, 1987 |
| Manganese | Total | SSG | µg/L | Reimer, 1999 |
| Molybdenum | Total | SSG | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Nickel | Total | e^(0.76*ln[hardness]+1.06) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nitrate | Total as N | 2.93 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nitrite | Not available | 0.02 | mg/L | Nordin and Pommen, 1986 |
| Nitrogen | Total and total dissolved | SSG | mg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Ph | ... | SSG | n/a | McKean and Nagpal, 1991; BCMOE, 2001 |
| Phosphorus | Total or total dissolved | SSG | mg/L | Nordin, 2001 |
| Selenium | Total | 2 | µg/L | Howell and Nagpal, 2001 |
| Silver | Total | SSG | µg/L | Warrington, 1995; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Sulphate | Dissolved | SSG | mg/L | Singleton, 2000 |
| Temperature | ... | SSG | °C | Fidler and Oliver, 2001 |
| Thallium | Extractable | 0.8 | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Zinc | Total or total dissolved | SSG | µg/L | Nagpal, 1981 |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
| 2. British Columbia and Yukon parameter selections were site-specific. | ||||
Parameter |
Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia2 | Total as nitrogen | Calculation based on pH and temperature | mg/L | USEPA, 2005 |
| Ammonia3 | Un-ionized | 0.019 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Arsenic2 | Total or extractable | 0.15 | mg/L | USEPA, 2005 |
| Arsenic3 | Total | 150 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Cadmium2 | Total or extractable | e^(0.7852*ln[hardness]–2.715) where hardness = mg/L as CaCO3 | µg/L | USEPA, 2005 |
| Chloride3 | Dissolved | 150 | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Copper2 | Total or extractable | e^(0.8545*ln[hardness]–1.702) where hardness = mg/L as CaCO3 | µg/L | USEPA, 2005 |
| Copper3 | Total | 2, for hardness 0–90 mg/L; e^(0.8545*ln[hardness]–1.465)* 0.2, for hardness >90 mg/L | µg/L | CCME, 2005c; USEPA, 2005 |
| Dissolved oxygen2 | ... | 5 | mg/L | USEPA, 2005 |
| Dissolved oxygen3 | ... | 6.5 | mg/L | PPWB, 1992; Alberta Environment, 1999 |
| Iron2 | Total or extractable | 0.3 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Lead | Total (or extractable) | e^(1.273*ln[hardness]–4.705) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nickel3 | Total | e^(0.76*ln[hardness]+1.06) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nickel2 | Total or extractable | e^(0.8460*ln[hardness]+0.0584), where hardness = mg/L CaCO3 | µg/L | USEPA, 2005 |
| Nitrate2 | Total (as N) | 2.9 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nitrogen3 | Total | 1 | mg/L | Alberta Environment, 1999 |
| Pesticides | MCPA | 2.6 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Pesticides | 2,4-D | 4 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| pH | ... | 6.5–9.0 | n/a | CCME, 2005b |
| Phosphorus | Total | 0.05 (rivers); 0.025 (lakes) | mg/L | PPWB, 1992; Alberta Environment, 1999; Manitoba Conservation, 2002 |
| Total suspended solids2 | ... | 25 | mg/L | Manitoba Conservation, 2002 |
| Zinc3 | Total | 7.5, for hardness ≤90 mg/L; 7.5 + 0.75*(hardness–90), for hardness >90 mg/L CaCO3 | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Zinc2 | Total or extractable | e^(0.8473*ln[hardness]+0.884), where hardness = mg/L as CaCO3 | µg/L | USEPA, 2005 |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
| 2. Applies to sites monitored by provincial monitoring programs. | ||||
| 3. Applies to sites monitored under federal monitoring programs and the Prairie Provinces Water Board. | ||||
Parameter |
Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | Un-ionized | 0.019 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Chloride | Dissolved | 150 | mg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Copper | Total | 2, for hardness <60 mg/L CaCO3; e^(0.8545*ln[hardness]–1.465)*0.2, for hardness >60 mg/L | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001 |
| Iron | Dissolved | 300 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nickel | Total | e^(0.76*ln[hardness]+1.06) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nitrate | Total | 2.9 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Oxygen | Dissolved | 6.5 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| pH | ... | 6.5–9.0 | n/a | CCME, 2005b |
| Phosphorus | Total | 0.03 (rivers); 0.02 (lakes) | mg/L | Dodds et al., 1998 |
| Turbidity | ... | 10 (SSG) | NTU | Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Zinc | Total | 7.5 for hardness <90 mg/L; 7.5 + 0.75*(hardness–90) for hardness >90 mg/L | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
Parameter |
Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic2 | Total | 5 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Chromium2 | Total | 1 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Copper2 | Total | 2, for [CaCO3] = 0–120 mg/L | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| 3, for [CaCO3] = 120–180 mg/L | ||||
| 4, for [CaCO3] >180 mg/L | ||||
| Iron2 | Total | 300 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Lead2 | Total | 1, for [CaCO3] = 0–60 mg/L | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| 2, for [CaCO3] = 60–120 mg/L | ||||
| 4, for [CaCO3] = 120–180 mg/L | ||||
| 7, for [CaCO3] >180 mg/L | ||||
| Molybdenum2 | Total | 73 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Nickel2 | Total | 25, for [CaCO3] = 0–60 mg/L | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| 65, for [CaCO3] = 60–120 mg/L | ||||
| 110, for [CaCO3] = 120–180 mg/L | ||||
| 150, for [CaCO3] = >180 mg/L | ||||
| pH | ... | 6.5–9.0 | n/a | CCME, 2005b |
| Phosphorus | Total | 0.03 (rivers) | mg/L | Dodds et al., 1998 |
| Selenium2 | Total | 1 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Zinc2 | Total | 30 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
| 2. Sites in Labrador had either total or extractable metals used in calculation of the WQI due to modification in sampling program. | ||||
| Parameter | Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | Dissolved | SSG (lotic sites) and 0.019 (lentic-lotic sites) | mg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Chloride | Dissolved | SSG (lotic sites) and 150 (lentic-lotic sites) | mg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Copper | Total | SSG (lotic sites) and for lentic-lotic sites: | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| 2, for [CaCO3] = 0–120 mg/L | ||||
| 3, for [CaCO3] = 120–180 mg/L | ||||
| 4, for [CaCO3] >180 mg/L | ||||
| Iron | Total | SSG (lotic sites) and 300 (lentic-lotic sites) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Lead | Total | SSG (lotic sites) and for lentic-lotic sites: | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| 1, for [CaCO3] = 0–60 mg/L | ||||
| 2, for [CaCO3] = 60–120 mg/L | ||||
| 4, for [CaCO3] = 120–180 mg/L | ||||
| 7, for [CaCO3] >180 mg/L | ||||
| Nitrite-nitrate | Dissolved | SSG (lotic sites) and 2.93 (lentic-lotic sites) | mg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Oxygen | Dissolved | 5 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| pH | … | SSG (lotic sites) and 6.5–9.0 (lentic-lotic sites) | pH units | CCME, 2005b |
| Phosphorus | Total | SSG (lotic sites) and 0.03 (lentic-lotic sites) | mg/L | Dodds et al., 1998 |
| Zinc | Total | SSG (lotic sites) and 30 (lentic-lotic sites) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
Parameter |
Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloride | Dissolved | 150 | mg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Copper | Total | 2, for hardness <60 mg/L CaCO3; e^(0.8545*ln[hardness]–1.465)*0.2, for hardness >60 mg/L | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Iron | Dissolved | 300 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Lead | Total | e^(1.273*ln[hardness]–4.705) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nickel | Total | e^(0.76*ln[hardness]+1.06) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nitrate | Total (as N) | 2.9 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| pH | ... | 6.5–9.0 | n/a | CCME, 2005b |
| Phosphorus | Total | 0.03 (rivers); 0.02 (lakes) | mg/L | Dodds et al., 1998 |
| Zinc | Total | 7.5 for hardness <90 mg/L; 7.5 + 0.75*(hardness–90) for hardness >90 mg/L | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
Parameter |
Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | Un-ionized | 0.019 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Chloride | Dissolved | 150 | mg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Chromium | Total | 2 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b (guideline for Cr(VI) adjusted to total chromium) |
| Nickel | Total | e^(0.76*ln[hardness]+1.06) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nitrate | Total (as N) | 2.93 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Phosphorus | Total | 0.03 | mg/L | OMOE, 1994 |
| Zinc | Total | 7.5, for hardness <90 mg/L; 7.5 + 0.75*(hardness–90), for hardness >90 mg/L CaCO3 | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
Parameter |
Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | Un-ionized | 0.019 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Cadmium | Total | ≤10^0.86[log(hardness)]–3.2, when >50mg/L CaCO3; ≤0.019, when <50 mg/L CaCO3 | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Copper | Total | 2, for hardness <60 mg/L CaCO3; e^(0.8545*ln[hardness]–1.465)*0.2, for hardness >60 mg/L | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Chromium | Total | 2 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Lead | Total | e^(1.273*ln[hardness]–4.705) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nickel | Total | e^(0.76*ln[hardness]+1.06) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Zinc | Total | 7.5 for hardness <90 mg/L; 7.5 + 0.75*(hardness–90) for hardness >90 mg/L | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nitrate | Total | 2.93 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Phosphorus | Total | 0.01 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Arsenic | Total | 5 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Iron | Total | 300 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Molybdenum | Total | 73 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Aluminum | Total | 100 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Silver | Total | 0.1 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Selenium | Total | 1 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Fluorene | Dissolved | 3 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Naphthalene | Dissolved | 1.1 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Phenanthrene | Dissolved | 0.4 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| DDD | sediment | 3.54 | µg/kg | CCME Interim Sediment Quality Guideline |
| DDE | sediment | 1.42 | µg/kg | CCME Interim Sediment Quality Guideline |
| PCBs | sediment | 34.1 | µg/kg | CCME Interim Sediment Quality Guideline |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
Parameter |
Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | Un-ionized | 0.019 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nitrate | Dissolved (as N) | 2.93 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| pH | ... | 6.5–9.0 | n/a | CCME, 2005b |
| Phosphorus | Total | 0.03 | mg/L | Dodds et al., 1998 |
| Suspended sediments | Total | 29 (SSG) | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
Parameter |
Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | Total (as N) | 0.05, at pH 8.2 and 20ºC | mg/L | MDDEP, 2006 |
| Chlorophyll a | ... | 8 | mg/m3 | OECD, 1982 |
| Nitrite+nitrate | Total (as N) | 2.93 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| pH | ... | >6.5; <9.0 | n/a | MDDEP, 2006 |
| Phosphorus | Total | 0.03 | mg/L | MDDEP, 2006 |
| Turbidity | ... | 10 | NTU | MDDEP, 2006 |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
Parameter |
Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | Un-ionized | 0.019 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Arsenic | Total | 5 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Chloride | Dissolved | 150 | mg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Copper | Total | 2, for hardness 0–90 mg/L; e^(0.8545*ln[hardness]–1.465)* 0.2, for hardness >90 mg/L | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Oxygen | Dissolved | 6.5 | mg/L | , 1992; Alberta Environment, 1999 |
| Lead | Total | e^(1.273*ln[hardness]–4.705) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nickel | Total | e^(0.76*ln[hardness]+1.06) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nitrogen | Total | 1 | mg/L | Alberta Environment, 1999 |
| Pesticides | MCPA | 2.6 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Pesticides | 2,4-D | 4 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| pH | ... | 6.5–9.0 | n/a | CCME, 2005b |
| Phosphorus | Total | 0.05 | mg/L | PPWB, 1992; Alberta Environment, 1999 |
| Zinc | Total | 7.5, for hardness ≤90 mg/L; 7.5 + 0.75*(hardness–90), for hardness >90 mg/L CaCO3 | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
Parameter |
Form |
Guideline description1 |
Unit |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | Total | 5 | µg/L | CCME, 2005b |
| Cadmium | Total | 0.026 | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Chromium | Total | SSG | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Copper | Total | SSG | µg/L | Singleton, 1987 |
| Lead | Total | e(1.273[ln*(hardness)]–4.705) | µg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nitrate | Total as N | 2.93 | mg/L | CCME, 2005b; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Nitrite | Not available | 0.02 | mg/L | Nordin and Pommen, 1986 |
| pH | ... | SSG | ... | CCME, 2005b |
| Phosphorus | Total | 0.03 | mg/L | Dodds et al., 1998 |
| Silver | Total | SSG | µg/L | Warrington, 1995; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| Sulphate | Dissolved | 50 | mg/L | ... |
| Temperature | ... | SSG | ˚C | Fidler and Oliver, 2001 |
| Zinc | Total | SSG | µg/L | BCMOE, 2001; Environment Canada, 2005c |
| 1. SSG means that different site-specific guidelines or formulas were used at different sites (specific site information available on request). | ||||
| 2. British Columbia and Yukon parameter selections were site-specific. | ||||
