1. Turtle Lake Water Quality Index
Turtle Lake Watershed Inc.
June 13, 2005

2. Water Quality Monitoring
Gathers and collects data
Provides information on current conditions
Can show trends in water quality over time
Provides information on which to make decisions

3. Water Quality Monitoring
Monitoring programs can be established for a variety of different reasons
The parameters monitored can tell us different things about the water quality
Parameters can be related to one another
Each piece of information can be used to provide an overall assessment of the water quality

4. Water Quality Data
Individual parameters are compared to some form of standard/objective (Saskatchewan Surface Water Quality Objectives)
Usually based on intended use of the water (protection of aquatic life, irrigation, recreation, livestock watering)

5. Water Quality Data
Parameters that are within the Surface Water Quality Objectives would be considered suitable for a particular intended use.

6. Monitoring data

7. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) All Aquatic organisms require oxygen to live
Fish, invertebrates, plants, and aerobic bacteria
Objectives set DO levels at 5 mg/L for the protection of fish and aquatic life
Levels below 3 mg/L can be stressful for most aquatic organisms;
Levels below 1 mg/L are considered to be anoxic (no oxygen present)

8. Total Phosphorous Is an essential nutrient for plant and animal growth
Occurs naturally in the environment
Enters water bodies as a result of surface run-off, soil erosion, decay of organic matter, and waste
High phosphorous levels can stimulate algal and weed growth (TP greater than 0.1 mg/L)

9. Nitrogen Occurs in several forms in water
Ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and organically bound
It is an important plant nutrient
Ammonia nitrogen is used as an indicator of the quality of the water for aquatic life
High ammonia concentrations can be toxic to fish
Nitrate levels are typically less that 1 mg/L in healthy surface water systems

10. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Is a measure of the amount of dissolved material in water
Bicarbonate, sulphate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium
Concentration of TDS depends on:
The amount of precipitation a water body receives
The type of solid and rock the water passes over
Human activities
TDS levels for irrigation should not exceed 700 mg/L
Turtle Lake TDS values range between mg/L

11. Turbidity Indicates the amount of suspended material in water
Soil particles, algae, or other microscopic organisms
High turbidity reduces light penetration, productivity and habitat quality
Suspended sediment can carry nutrients, metals, and pesticides

12. Heavy Metals
Can be toxic to the aquatic environment at elevated levels
Some metals can bio-accumulate, e.g. mercury
Occurs naturally in the environment
Enters water bodies as a result of surface run-off, soil erosion, or improper waste disposal
Can restrict water use

13. Algal Blooms Common in nutrient-rich surface waters
Main types include:
Green algae, diatoms, and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)
Green algae and diatoms = nuisance organisms
Plug irrigation equipment, affect recreation, treatment plant operations, and can produce taste and odour compounds
Blue-green algae = toxic organisms
Produce neuro- and hepato-toxins

14. Fecal Coliforms Used as an indicator of the sanitary quality of water
Found in the intestinal tract of human and other warm blooded animals
A high fecal coliform count indicates water contamination
For recreational use of a water body, levels should not exceed mean density of 200 organisms per 100 mL, must be absent in drinking water

15. Water Quality Index

16. Water Quality Index
The WQI is a simple tool that can be used to summarize and report on complex water quality monitoring data

17. What is the Water Quality Index?
It is a mathematically calculation that combines a number of water quality factors and then ranks the water quality in a simple and easily understood way
It can be used to report on the overall and on-going condition of a water body in a way that can be used by technical and non technical people

18. Development of the Water Quality Index
The Canadian Water Quality Index was developed by a Federal/Provincial Taskforce for the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
It was based on an index developed by British Columbia - Ministry Environment, Land and Parks

19. CWQI
The Water Quality Index is based on a combination of three factors:
the number of variables whose objectives are not met (scope)
The frequency with which the objectives are not met (frequency) and
The amount by which the objective is not met (amplitude)

20. Water Quality Index
Combining all water quality parameters the water quality index produces a number between 0 and 100, where 0 represents the “worst” water quality and 100 represents the “best” water quality.

21. CWQI Excellent: (CWQI Value 95-100)
– water quality is protected with a virtual absence of threat or impairment; conditions very close to natural or pristine levels.
Good: (CWQI Value 80-94)
– water quality is protected with only a minor degree of threat or impairment; conditions rarely depart from natural or desirable levels.

22. CWQI Fair: (CWQI Value 65-79)
– water quality is usually protected but occasionally threatened or impaired; conditions sometimes depart from natural or desirable levels.
Marginal: (CWQI Value 45-64)
– water quality is frequently threatened or impaired; conditions often depart from natural or desirable levels.

23. CWQI
Poor: (CWQI Value 0-44) – water quality is usually threatened or impaired; conditions usually depart from natural or desirable levels.

24. Saskatchewan Water Quality Index for use in Watershed Protection
Parameters used in the SWA Water Quality Index
Total Dissolved Solids
Sulphate
Chloride
Sodium
Nitrate/nitrite
Ammonia
Total Phosphorous
Chromium
Mercury
Aluminum
Arsenic pH
Dissolved oxygen
Chlorophyll a
MCPA
2, 4-D
Fecal coliforms

26. Turtle Lake Water Quality Index

27. Water Quality Index Turtle Lake
Turtle Lake water quality rated as Good (WQI value 90.1)
– water quality is protected with only a minor degree of threat or impairment; conditions rarely depart from natural or desirable levels.

28. Turtle Lake Summary Water Quality Index rating was good
Parameters that exceeded the WQI objectives the most were pH and TDS
In 2004:
pH 8.83 – 9.38
TDS , 750

29. WQI Summary
Provides a simple ranking system to evaluate water quality - although some interpretation is still required.
Can be used to assess overall watershed health and assess changes in water quality over time

30. Questions?