National Long-term Water Quality Monitoring Data

Long-term freshwater quality data from federal and federal-provincial sampling sites throughout Canada's aquatic ecosystems are included in this dataset. Measurements regularly include physical-chemical parameters such as temperature, pH, alkalinity, major ions, nutrients and metals. Collection includes data from active sites, as well as historical sites that have a period of record suitable for trend analysis. Sampling frequencies vary according to monitoring objectives. The number of sites in the network varies slightly from year-to-year, as sites are adjusted according to a risk-based adaptive management framework. The Great Lakes are sampled on a rotation basis and not all sites are sampled every year. Data are collected to meet federal commitments related to transboundary watersheds (rivers and lakes crossing international, inter-provincial and territorial borders) or under authorities such as the Department of the Environment Act, the Canada Water Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, or to meet Canada's commitments under the 1969 Master Agreement on Apportionment.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field	Value
Last Updated	April 17, 2026, 19:15 (UTC)
Created	April 17, 2026, 19:15 (UTC)
contact_email	msqeinformation-wqmsinformation@ec.gc.ca
contact_person	{"en": "Government of Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada,1-800-668-6767,msqeinformation-wqmsinformation@ec.gc.ca", "fr": "Gouvernement du Canada; Environnement et Changement climatique Canada,msqeinformation-wqmsinformation@ec.gc.ca"}
criticality_level	[]
data_dictionary	["inland_waters"]
geographic_scope	[]
open_canada_collection	fgp
open_canada_date_published	2016-05-02 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords	{"en": ["Monitoring", "Observation/Measurement", "Surveillance", "Status", "Nutrients", "Major ions", "Transboundary", "Pesticides", "Surface water", "Trends", "Environmental indicators", "Environment", "Metals", "Bacteria", "Rivers", "Federal provincial agreements", "Water quality", "Lakes", "Assess Toxicity; Manage and Monitor for Environmental Presence of Hazardous Substances and Waste", "Monitor / Assess Substance and Waste Levels in Air; Water; Soil; Biota", "Science and Technology Branch", "Water Science and Technology", "1.2.1. Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystems Health"], "fr": ["Monitoring", "Observation et mesures", "Surveillance", "L'état", "Les nutriments", "Les ions majeurs", "Transfrontalier", "Pesticides", "Eau de surface", "Tendances", "Indicateur environnemental", "Environnement", "Métal", "Bactérie", "Fleuve / Rivière", "Accord fédéral-provincial", "Qualité de l'eau", "Lac", "Évaluer la toxicité de la présence dans l'environnement des substances et des déchets dangereux; les gérer et les surveiller", "Surveiller et évaluer les niveaux des substances et des déchets dans l'air; l'eau; le sol; le biote", "Direction générale des sciences et de la technologie", "Sciences et technologie; Eau", "1.2.1 Qualité de l'eau et santé des écosystèmes aquatiques"]}
open_canada_subject	["nature_and_environment"]
sensitivity_level	unrestricted
title_fr	Données nationales de monitoring de la qualité de l'eau à long terme
update_frequency	P1M