Environment Environnement Canada Rob Kent National Water Quality Monitoring Office National Water...

Environment EnvironnementCanada Canada

Rob KentNational Water Quality Monitoring OfficeNational Water Research InstituteEnvironment Canada

Rob KentNational Water Quality Monitoring OfficeNational Water Research InstituteEnvironment Canada

National Water Quality

Indicator for Canada

National Water Quality

Indicator for Canada

UN International Work Session on Water StatisticsVienna, Austria

June 20-22, 2005


Outline:Outline:

• Background, context• Data generation - monitoring• Canadian Water Quality

Index and Reporting out• Benefits and challenges• Conclusions

• Background, context• Data generation - monitoring• Canadian Water Quality

Index and Reporting out• Benefits and challenges• Conclusions


BackgroundBackground Consistent a top priority for

Canadians Increased public concern and

decreased confidence in water safety External criticism of current status Commitment to better inform

Canadians on national water quality Respond to Canadian values on

water: drinkable, swimmable, fishable, available

Consistent a top priority for Canadians

Increased public concern and decreased confidence in water safety

External criticism of current status Commitment to better inform

Canadians on national water quality Respond to Canadian values on

water: drinkable, swimmable, fishable, available

1. Program Design - objectives2. Methods development, Lab support3. Research support4. Data management5. Interpretive tools/guidance6. Reporting, indicators and information systems7. Partnerships / Outreach8. National co-ordination

1. Program Design - objectives2. Methods development, Lab support3. Research support4. Data management5. Interpretive tools/guidance6. Reporting, indicators and information systems7. Partnerships / Outreach8. National co-ordination

A modern integrated approach …moving beyond “taking the sample”A modern integrated approach …moving beyond “taking the sample”

Functional Elements:Functional Elements:



Water Quantity MonitoringWater Quantity Monitoring

Water Quality MonitoringWater Quality Monitoring

• Understandable indicators to track whether Canada's current economic activities threaten the way of life for future generations

• Track natural assets - including the ecosystem services that are crucial to sustaining the economy in the long term

• Water Quality: Canadian WQI as the Freshwater Quality Indicator

• Understandable indicators to track whether Canada's current economic activities threaten the way of life for future generations

• Track natural assets - including the ecosystem services that are crucial to sustaining the economy in the long term

• Water Quality: Canadian WQI as the Freshwater Quality Indicator

National Roundtable on the Environment and Economy Environment and Sustainable

Development Indicators

National Roundtable on the Environment and Economy Environment and Sustainable

Development Indicators



The CWQI and

Reporting Out

The CWQI and

Reporting Out

CCME WQI: An overviewCCME WQI: An overview

Rob Kent, Janine Murray, Don Andersenand Chris Lochner

Water Quality Monitoring BranchNational Water Research Institute

Joint CWRA - Government of Canada Workshop: Building Relationships for Integrated Water Resource

ManagementOttawa, February 6, 2004

Vision: Canadians will recognize and use the WQ Indicator as a trusted source of information on national water quality

Vision: Canadians will recognize and use the WQ Indicator as a trusted source of information on national water quality Sustainability of major water uses: Sustainability of major water uses:

National Water Quality Indicator Initiative

National Water Quality Indicator Initiative

1.Source water for drinking2.Water for recreation3.Water for agriculture (livestock, irrigation)4.Water for aquatic life 5.Water for industrial uses

1.Source water for drinking2.Water for recreation3.Water for agriculture (livestock, irrigation)4.Water for aquatic life 5.Water for industrial uses







Human HealthHuman Health

Natural EnvironmentNatural Environment

CompetitivenessCompetitivenessCompetitivenessCompetitiveness

a. Protected areas (e.g., National Parks)b. Areas impacted by human activitya. Protected areas (e.g., National Parks)b. Areas impacted by human activity

Water Quality and Aquatic EcosystemsWater Quality and Aquatic Ecosystems

Water Quality and Human ExposureWater Quality and Human Exposure

Water Use and AvailabilityWater Use and Availability

a. Consumption - Source waters for drinkingb. Recreation - beach closures, aestheticsa. Consumption - Source waters for drinkingb. Recreation - beach closures, aesthetics

a. Industrial usesb. Agriculture usesa. Industrial usesb. Agriculture uses

National Water Quality Indicator FrameworkNational Water Quality Indicator Framework


Canadian WQICanadian WQICanadian WQICanadian WQI

Scope (F1) - number of variables not meeting water quality objectives

Frequency (F2) - the number of times the objectives are not met

Amplitude (F3) - the extent to which objectives exceeded.

Scope (F1) - number of variables not meeting water quality objectives

Frequency (F2) - the number of times the objectives are not met

Amplitude (F3) - the extent to which objectives exceeded.

732.1100

2

3

2

2

2

1 FFFWQI


CWQI rating systemCWQI rating system


F1 ScopeF1 Scope• Scope assesses the extent of

compliance with water quality guidelines over the time period of interest.

• F1 indicates the percentage of parameters, whose guidelines are not met.

F1 = Number of Failed Variables

Total Number of Variables

• Scope assesses the extent of compliance with water quality guidelines over the time period of interest.

• F1 indicates the percentage of parameters, whose guidelines are not met.

F1 = Number of Failed Variables

Total Number of Variables

X 100


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tistic

s…

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tistic

s…

F2 FrequencyF2 Frequency

• Assesses the frequency with which guidelines are not met.

• F2 indicates the percentage of individual tests which do not meet guidelines (i.e. “failed tests”)

F2 = Number of Failed Tests

Total Number of Tests

• Assesses the frequency with which guidelines are not met.

• F2 indicates the percentage of individual tests which do not meet guidelines (i.e. “failed tests”)

F2 = Number of Failed Tests

Total Number of TestsX 100


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tistic

s…

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tistic

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- 1{ }excursioni =

When the test value must not fall below the guideline:

Guidelinej

Failed Test Valuei{ - 1 }excursioni =

Failed Test Valuei

Guidelinej

When the test value must not exceed the guideline:

F3 AmplitudeF3 Amplitude• Amplitude assesses the amount by which guidelines are

not met.

• F3 indicates the amount by which failed test values do not meet their guidelines, and is calculated in 3 steps.

• The number of times an individual concentration exceeds a guideline is termed an excursion.

• Amplitude assesses the amount by which guidelines are not met.

• F3 indicates the amount by which failed test values do not meet their guidelines, and is calculated in 3 steps.

• The number of times an individual concentration exceeds a guideline is termed an excursion.


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tistic

s…

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tistic

s…

F3 Amplitude (cont.)F3 Amplitude (cont.)

• The collective amount by which individual tests are out of compliance with guidelines is calculated by summing the excursions of individual tests, and dividing by the total number of tests which failed guidelines.

• This variable is referred to as the normalized sum of excursions, or nse.

• The collective amount by which individual tests are out of compliance with guidelines is calculated by summing the excursions of individual tests, and dividing by the total number of tests which failed guidelines.

• This variable is referred to as the normalized sum of excursions, or nse.

∑ excursionsi

n

i=1

# of testsnse =

nse

0.01 nse + 0.01{ }F3 =

F3 is then calculated to yield a value between 0 and 100


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tistic

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Typical ApplicationsTypical ApplicationsTypical ApplicationsTypical Applications Selected parameters (~10) related to water

use at monitoring site Most appropriate ambient WQ guidelines or

objectives (site-specific) 3yr average values from at least 9 periods;

or stratified use of CWQI over specific periods (freshet, recession and base flow)

Selected parameters (~10) related to water use at monitoring site

Most appropriate ambient WQ guidelines or objectives (site-specific)

3yr average values from at least 9 periods; or stratified use of CWQI over specific periods (freshet, recession and base flow)



Benefits and

Challenges

Benefits and

Challenges

CWQI – What does it do?CWQI – What does it do? Communication tool – transforms complex water

quality data into understandable descriptions (e.g., good, fair, poor)

Scientific rigor - maximum use of monitoring data Consistent use and interpretation across distributed

jurisdictions Applies to all beneficial water uses i.e., socio-

economically relevant Amenable to multiple reporting scales - local,

regional and national scales of reporting

Communication tool – transforms complex water quality data into understandable descriptions (e.g., good, fair, poor)

Scientific rigor - maximum use of monitoring data Consistent use and interpretation across distributed

jurisdictions Applies to all beneficial water uses i.e., socio-

economically relevant Amenable to multiple reporting scales - local,

regional and national scales of reporting


CWQI – From data to knowledgeCWQI – From data to knowledge

SampleSample CuCu HgHg NO3NO3 PP NH4NH4 DOCDOC ClCl CdCd ZnZn

11 0.30.3 0.40.4 3.23.2 6.36.3 0.30.3 0.40.4 8.58.5 6.36.3 5.35.3

22 0.50.5 5.25.2 0.70.7 8.58.5 0.50.5 5.25.2 0.70.7 8.58.5 8.48.4

33 0.90.9 4.64.6 4.54.5 4.64.6 0.90.9 4.64.6 4.54.5 4.64.6 6.36.3

44 1.21.2 2.32.3 0.30.3 1.31.3 1.21.2 2.32.3 0.30.3 1.31.3 9.49.4

55 4.54.5 5.65.6 8.58.5 2.52.5 4.54.5 5.65.6 8.58.5 2.52.5 1.51.5

66 0.80.8 4.84.8 0.60.6 7.47.4 0.80.8 4.84.8 0.60.6 7.47.4 4.34.3

77 0.60.6 3.13.1 0.40.4 9.19.1 0.60.6 3.13.1 0.40.4 9.19.1 7.67.6

88 0.80.8 8.78.7 0.10.1 7.57.5 0.80.8 8.78.7 0.10.1 7.47.4 3.53.5

Status of freshwater quality in Canada

020406080

100120

Excell

ent

Good

Fair

Mar

ginal

PoorN

um

be

r o

f sta

tion

s


22226

Environmental Sustainability Index 2005Environmental Sustainability Index 2005

Environmental

Systems

4 / 146

Environmental

Stresses

104/ 146

Human

Vulnerability

2/ 146

Social and

Institutional

Capacity

14 / 146

Global

Stewardship

133/ 146

Air Quality

Water Quantity

Water Quality

Biodiversity

Terrestrial Systems

Reducing Air Pollution

Reducing Water Stress

Reducing Ecosystem

Stresses

Reducing Waste

and Consumption

Pressures

Reducing Population

Pressure

Natural Resource

Management

Basic Human Sustenance

Environment-related

Natural Disaster

Exposure

Environmental Health

Science/Technology

Private Sector

Responsiveness

Environmental

Governance

Eco-Efficiency

Participation in

International

Collaborative Efforts

Greenhouse Gas

Emissions

Reducing Trans-

boundary

Environmental

Pressures

Canada- Overall rank 6th out of 146 countries

(World Economic Forum; Yale/Columbia University research)

CCME WQI: An overviewCCME WQI: An overviewEnvironment EnvironnementCanada Canada






Expressing Results Nationally

(NRTEE Report 2003)

Expressing Results Nationally

(NRTEE Report 2003)



Spatial FrameworkSpatial Framework







Other ChallengesOther Challenges Integrating physical, chemical and

biological measurements and processes

Spatial scale; aggregating results

Weighting of F1,2,3

Natural phenomena vs human impacts

Best scientific judgement

Integrating physical, chemical and biological measurements and processes

Spatial scale; aggregating results

Weighting of F1,2,3

Natural phenomena vs human impacts

Best scientific judgement







ConclusionConclusion Water quality indicator integrating all data into

socially relevant “report card” – within distributed multijurisdictional model

Continuous improvement Credibility through expert judgement Start at integrating water quality and quantity

measures into natural capital accounting Key to behavioural change, strengthened

measurement capacity and enhanced resource management performance

Water quality indicator integrating all data into socially relevant “report card” – within distributed multijurisdictional model

Continuous improvement Credibility through expert judgement Start at integrating water quality and quantity

measures into natural capital accounting Key to behavioural change, strengthened

measurement capacity and enhanced resource management performance

Environment Environnement Canada Rob Kent National Water Quality Monitoring Office National Water...

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