Water Stewardship Information Sources

Citation Hii, B, Sylvestre, S, Tuominen, T, Sekela, M and Mazalek. 2004. Nutrients, metals, bacteria and organic compounds in groundwater exposed to agricultural activities in the lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia. Environment Canada, Pacific & Yukon Region, EC/GB/04/76.
Organization Environment Canada
URL https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi77eyjzLHJAhVYMIgKHTn6D7sQFgg5MAY&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cmnmaps.ca%2FCONTAMINANTS_SQL%2Fmfhandler.php%3Ffile%3DEC-GB-04-76r.pdf%26table%3Ddbo.PUBLICATIONS%26field%3DPDFFILE%26pageType%3Dlist%26key1%3D1011&usg=AFQjCNEjW5rlbWgwFfOwKBAPjzvcvbKfmA&sig2=9Gd6AcZNKEoR_PrelvfZBw&bvm=bv.108194040,d.cGU
Abstract/Description or Keywords As part of the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative, Environment Canada
conducted a survey of groundwater quality in 1998 at selected Lower Fraser
Valley (LFV) sites. The survey included areas of intensive agricultural use
(impacted sites) as well as those with no known agricultural activities (reference
sites). Twenty sites (16 impacted and 4 reference) in several LFV aquifers were
sampled for nutrients, bacteriological parameters, metals, organic contaminants,
and estrogen/androgen screening tests.
Nitrate + nitrite concentrations were elevated at four impacted sites; two were
over 3 milligrams nitrogen per litre (mg N/L) and another two also exceeded the
10 mg N/L Canadian Water Quality Guideline for Drinking Water. The nitrate +
nitrite concentrations at reference sites were all less than 1 mg N/L. Total and
fecal coliform and Escherichia coli counts were zero at reference sites and
positive at four impacted sites, with total coliform counts ranging from 2 to 1300
colonies per 100 mL. Many trace metals concentrations were within the
acceptable limits of the Canadian Council for Ministers of the Environment
(CCME) guidelines for drinking, irrigation, protection of fresh water aquatic life
and livestock watering. Other trace metals like copper, iron and manganese
exceeded some of these guidelines. Not all the organic compounds analyzed
were detected in the survey. All the detected organic compounds had
concentrations below CCME guidelines, where they have been established, for
drinking or protection of freshwater life. Few pesticides were detected in
groundwater however endosulphan was detected at several impacted sites but at
none of the reference sites. Organic compounds not necessarily associated with
agriculture such as PAHs and some sterols (cholesterol and β-sitosterol) were
detected at many of the impacted and reference sites. Two screening tests were
used to detect substances in the water that mimic estrogen or androgen
hormones. The results showed no significant estrogenic or androgenic activity.
This survey of groundwater quality in the Lower Fraser Valley showed that
agricultural activities can result in an increase in bacterial, nutrient, and pesticide
levels and possibly sterol levels (in shallow wells). However, groundwater in the
Lower Fraser Valley is affected by more than just agricultural land activity; it is
affected also by other activities and land uses related to general human
presence.
Information Type report
Regional Watershed Lower Fraser
Sub-watershed if known
Aquifer #
Comments
Project status complete
Contact Name
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