Water Stewardship Information Sources
| ID | 1443 |
|---|---|
| Citation | Phippen, B. 2002. Water quality assessment of Similkameen River at US Border (1976-2000). Environment Canada. |
| Organization | Environment Canada |
| URL | http://waterquality.ec.gc.ca/WaterQualityWeb/PDFDocs/BC08NL0005A.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | There have been three long-term water quality monitoring stations on the Similkameen River: near the US Border, at Princeton, and at Hedley (Figure 1). This report focuses on the water quality at the site on the Similkameen River near the US Border. The Similkameen River water is used for irrigation, livestock watering, drinking, primary and secondary-contact recreation, and industrial use, and sustains aquatic life and wildlife. Values in excess of water quality guidelines for metals such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc were likely a result of occasional high concentrations of particulate matter (as evidenced by high turbidity levels). This means that these metals were probably not bio-available and would be removed by the treatment needed before use as drinking water. ﾕ The Similkameen River had a low sensitivity to acid inputs (was relatively wellbuffered), as evidenced by relatively high calcium concentrations. True colour values frequently exceeded the drinking water guideline at this site ﾕ Detection limits used to analyze metals such as cadmium and silver were too high to accurately assess these metals in comparison to the appropriate water quality guideline. In addition, laboratory problems with cadmium prior to August 2000 render data collected before this time unreliable. Different methods should be employed in the future to allow these data to be compared to water quality guidelines. ﾕ Weak-acid dissociable cyanide concentrations exceeded the average aquatic life guideline on only one occasion, and did not exceed the maximum guideline. Strong-acid dissociable cyanide concentrations were well below guideline levels. ﾕ Fluoride concentrations occasionally exceeded the aquatic life guidelines. ﾕ The Similkameen River had moderate hardness, with concentrations generally within the optimum drinking water range. Water temperatures exceeded the aesthetic drinking water guideline and the general fisheries guideline most years. ﾕ Turbidity values were frequently above guideline levels for drinking water (both aesthetic and health). MONITORING RECOMMENDATIONS: Monitoring should continue at the Similkameen River near the US Border, and at the upstream control station, Princeton. The site near the US Border is both a trans-border station and is downstream of the largest number of industrial waste discharges to the Similkameen River. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Similkameen |
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| Comments | |
| Project status | complete |
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