Environmental Trends 2007

Fresh Water

Surface Water Quality in British Columbia

Water sampling stations with at least 10 years of records were classified according to the overall trend of ‘improving’, ‘stable’, ‘deteriorating.’ The environmental significance of each trend depends on the water quality objectives for each water body.

Most long term monitoring sites showed ‘stable’ or ‘improving’ water quality.

Source: B.C. Ministry of Environment.

• Results of trend assessments at 38 water quality sampling stations showed 13 with improving trends, 18 with stable trends, and four with deteriorating trends. Three other stations had mixed trends.

• Measures can be taken to improve water quality. For example, efforts to protect water quality in the lower Columbia River improved the WQI at the Waneta dam monitoring site from ‘poor’ in 1991 to ‘good’ by 2000.

For detailed information, including graph data, see In-Depth Report [pdf].

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