A Canada-wide framework for water quality monitoring

A Canada-wide Framework for Water Quality Monitoring Submitted by Water Quality Task Group July 2006 PN 1369 © Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment 2006 Executive Summary A Canada-wide Framework for Water Quality Monitoring is a follow-up to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Experts Workshop on Water Quality Monitoring hosted in October 2002 by the CCME Sub-G [...] The purpose of the Framework is to enhance water resource management by serving as a guide to jurisdictions in the development and implementation of water quality monitoring programs in Canada. [...] The key strengths identified were the high level of water quality expertise, a strong laboratory capacity and field methodology, the potential of watershed and multi-barrier approaches to improve the overall quality and safety of water in Canada, and the growing use of web-based and GIS technologies for improving access to and use of water quality data. [...] In summary, the Framework is intended to promote the transfer of data into information and ultimately to knowledge for the benefit of Canadians and policy makers. [...] These can be due to changes in land or water use; • To determine the effect of discharges on water quality compared with conditions prior to the discharges; • To describe the habitat and/or physical conditions in the water, and its associated biota and sediment, for use as a baseline, in impact assessment, in state of environment reporting, and for setting in-stream flow needs;.