2009 AWQA Day Results

In 2009, over 2000 people, including students, families and landowners, collected water quality results from 430 sites across Alberta as part of this province-wide education and awareness event. The water was tested for basic water quality parameters: temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and turbidity. In the table below you will find the breakdown of the results for these parameters in each major Alberta watershed.

Also available is this year's Participant Summary Report, including results and program photos and feedback. Download the 2009 Participant Summary Report now! (5MB PDF) Note: if you have difficulty downloading the PDFs and would like to be mailed a hard copy, please email us with your contact information.

If you are interested in further information about professional lake quality testing, we invite you to visit the Alberta Lake Management Society's Lakewatch Program. Following the link takes you to downloadable scientific Lakewatch Reports of various provincial lakes.

2009 Water Quality Results Dissolved Oxygen (DO): The majority of water sampled for the AWQA Day program was above 4 ppm, meaning moderate to healthy levels were observed at the time of sampling. pH: The majority of surface waters tested had a pH between 7 and 10, which is ideal for sustaining healthy aquatic plants and animals. Water Temperature: The various waterways tested, from ponds and dugouts to rivers and wetlands, mainly had temperatures ranging from 16 oC to 20 oC. Waters under 20 oC are favourable, as cooler waters are able to hold more oxygen. Turbidity: Almost 90% of the water sampled for the AWQA Day program had low to moderate turbidity (0-4 JTU).

2009 Water Quality Results by Major Alberta Watershed

Watersheds Maps Provincial Map DO PDF Provincial Map Temperature PDF Provincial Map Turbidity PDF Provincial Map pH PDF Provincial Map Sample Sites PDF Athabasca DO PDF Athabasca Temperature PDF Athabasca Turbidity PDF Athabasca pH PDF Athabasca Sample Sites PDF Bow DO PDF Bow Temperature PDF Bow Turbidity PDF Bow pH PDF Bow Sample Sites PDF Beaver DO PDF Beaver Temperature PDF Beaver Turbidity PDF Beaver pH PDF Beaver Sample Sites PDF Missouri DO PDF Missouri Temperature PDF Missouri Turbidity PDF Missouri pH PDF Missouri Sample Sites PDF North Saskatchewan DO PDF North Saskatchewan Temperature PDF North Saskatchewan Turbidity PDF North Saskatchewan pH PDF North Saskatchewan Sample Sites PDF Old Man DO PDF Old Man Temperature PDF Old Man Turbidity PDF Old Man pH PDF Old Man Sample Sites PDF Peace DO PDF Peace Temperature PDF Peace Turbidity PDF Peace pH PDF Peace Sample Sites PDF Red Deer DO PDF Red Deer Temperature PDF Red Deer Turbidity PDF Red Deer pH PDF Red Deer Sample Sites PDF South Saskatchewan DO PDF South Saskatchewan Temperature PDF South Saskatchewan Turbidity PDF South Saskatchewan pH PDF South Saskatchewan Sample Sites PDF Please note: Information in the file was collected and entered by volunteer samplers using AWQA Day test kits. The names of samplers have not been provided. While the data collected for AWQA Day creates a snapshot of provincial water quality, it is not intended to provide rigorous scientific information. The true value of the program comes from the educational opportunities that arise during sampling and by bringing people together across Alberta's watersheds to demonstrate the impact that collective action can have.