Water Quality 60% open

What data is expected?

Data, measured at the water source, on the quality of water is essential for both the delivery of services and the prevention of diseases. In order to satisfy the minimum requirements for this category, data should be available on level of the following chemicals by water source and be updated at least weekly:

• fecal coliform
• arsenic
• fluoride levels
• nitrates
• TDS (Total dissolved solids)

What data is available

•   Openly licensed? Unsure (No URL given)
•   Is the data available for free? Yes
•   Is the data machine readable? Yes (WMS, WFS)
•   Available in bulk? Yes
•   Is the data provided on a timely and up to date basis? No
•   Publicly available? Yes(as Fresh Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance published by Environment Canada)
•   Is data in digital form? Yes
•   Is the data available online? Yes (Here)
•   Does the data exist? Yes

Details

Canada as a federation has divisions of powers and responsibilities. At the national level, at the national level Environment Canada has the following responsibilities: "The Fresh Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance Division focuses on regular monitoring, surveillance and reporting on fresh water quality, and aquatic ecosystem status and trends. These activities help to:

• Assess threats to fresh water quality and aquatic ecosystems in areas of national and international interest, including the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin, the Lake Winnipeg Basin, and the Lower Athabasca River (oil sands area) -Meet federal commitments related to transboundary watersheds (rivers and lakes crossing international, inter-provincial and territorial borders)
• Support the development , implementation, and assessment of federal regulations including the Chemical Management Plan, the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda, and the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy."

For other fresh water quality data, information seekers would need to contact provincial and municipal authorities.

The data that are available is of varying quality and formats and are made accessible through an interactive tool, GENIE: http://genie.qc.ec.gc.ca/wqmsd_en.aspx

There are commercial restrictions on the re-use of data: http://ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&xml=5830C36B-1773-4E3E-AF8C-B21F54633E0A

Reviewer comments

Drinking water data is available at the municipal level, but all the variables are available for fresh water sources. This submissions is accurate.