canada – british columbia...color apparent (col.unit) color sw (swu) color true (col.unit)...

CANADA – BRITISH COLUMBIA WATER QUALITY MONITORING AGREEMENT

WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF PEACE RIVER ABOVE

ALCES RIVER (1984 – 2002)

BWP Consulting

January 2003

Environment Environnement Canada Canada

Water Quality Assessment of the Peace River above Alces River (1984-2002)

Canada – British Columbia Water Quality Monitoring Agreement i

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Peace River is a major river located in northeastern British Columbia, flowing from

the W.A.C. Bennett Dam and Williston Reservoir eastward to the Alberta border (Figure

1). River water quality is important to aquatic life, recreation, livestock watering,

industry, wildlife, and irrigation. The Peace River is also a drinking water supply for the

Village of Taylor and the District of Hudson's Hope. Direct wastewater discharges from

the McMahon gas plant, the Fibreco pulp mill and the City of Fort St. John affect river

water quality. Non-point source contributions that affect water quality originate from the

agriculture and forestry sectors.

This report assesses water quality data collected at the monitoring station above the Alces

River, near the Alberta border. Water quality samples were collected every two weeks

during the period from 1984 and 2001. Flow was measured at a Water Survey of Canada

flow gauge near Taylor.

CONCLUSIONS The main conclusions of this assessment are as follows:

• Concentrations of alkalinity and calcium indicate that the water is well buffered

and has a low sensitivity to acid inputs.

• Water quality patterns in this watershed are usually closely matched with flow

patterns. As a result, increased turbidity and non-filterable residue during spring

freshet makes it necessary to treat the water for drinking purposes.

• Elevated levels of dissolved organic carbon and total metals such as aluminum,

chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese and zinc are related to seasonal

increased flows and associated suspended sediments and thus are largely not

biologically available.

• True and apparent colour values also varied seasonally, and are elevated above

the drinking water guideline during spring freshet.

• Metals such as arsenic and nickel, as well as pH showed occasional values that

exceed their respective guidelines, but these occasional excursions are not likely a

cause for concern.


Canada – British Columbia Water Quality Monitoring Agreement ii

• Fecal coliform concentrations were often high, occasionally exceeding the

guideline for drinking water that undergoes partial treatment (i.e., filtration plus

disinfection) .

• Water temperatures seldom exceeded the aesthetic drinking water guideline and

never exceeded the general fisheries guideline. Recent temperature values seem to

have decreased since about 1993, possibly indicating a change in the water release

patterns from the WAC Bennett dam. An odd pattern was noted in water

temperatures at the station; summer values between 1984 and 1994 were much

higher than those from 1995 onwards. These findings will be further investigated

to determine if they are reasonable with respect to flow patterns in the river.

• Dissolved chloride may be increasing slightly over time at this site. The cause of

this increase is likely a change of analytical techniques with associated detection

limits.

• The minimum detectable limit used for cadmium analyses was much too high to

determine guideline compliance. Methods with much lower analytical limits

(maximum 1/10 the guideline, or 0.000003 mg/L) should be used when they

become available.

No remedial activities appear to be necessary at this time.

RECOMMENDATIONS We recommend that monitoring be continued for the Peace River above Alces River

because:

• It is the only long-term station on the Peace River.

• It is being used to determine trans-boundary effects ,Alberta maintains a high

interest in the quality of water crossing its border, and the river is covered under

the Mackenzie River Basin Agreement.

• It is necessary to confirm that the upstream point source discharges (Fibreco Pulp

Inc., McMahon Gas Plant, Fort St. John sewage treatment facilities) continue to

have no influence on water quality at the provincial border.


Canada – British Columbia Water Quality Monitoring Agreement iii

• It is being used to determine the impact of non-point sources such as agriculture

and forestry.


Canada – British Columbia Water Quality Monitoring Agreement iv

Figure 1. Peace River above Alces River


Canada – British Columbia Water Quality Monitoring Agreement v

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

Executive Summary ............................................................................................................. i

Conclusions.......................................................................................................................... i

Recommendations............................................................................................................... ii

Table of Contents............................................................................................................... vi

List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi

Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1

Quality Assurance............................................................................................................... 2

State of the Water Quality................................................................................................... 2

LIST OF FIGURES Page

Figure 1. Peace River above Alces River ......................................................................... iv

Figure 2. WSC Flow Data for Peace River near Taylor (1984-2000) ................................9

Figure 3. Alkalinity, Total ..................................................................................................9

Figure 4. Aluminum, Total ...............................................................................................10

Figure 5. Arsenic, Total, Dissolved and Extractable ........................................................10

Figure 6. Barium, Total and Extractable...........................................................................11

Figure 7. Beryllium, Total and Extractable ......................................................................11

Figure 8, Boron, Extractable.............................................................................................12

Figure 9. Bromide, Dissolved ...........................................................................................12

Figure 10. Cadmium, Total and Extractable.....................................................................13

Figure 11. Calcium, Total, Dissolved and Extractable .....................................................13

Figure 12. Carbon, Total and Total Dissolved..................................................................14

Figure 13. Carbon, Total Organic and Dissolved Organic ...............................................14

Figure 14. Chloride, Dissolved .........................................................................................15

Figure 15. Chromium, Total and Extractable ...................................................................15


Canada – British Columbia Water Quality Monitoring Agreement vi

LIST OF FIGURES

(CONTINUED) Page

Figure 16. Cobalt, Total and Extractable ..........................................................................16

Figure 17. Coliforms, Fecal and E. coli ............................................................................16

Figure 18. Colour ..............................................................................................................17

Figure 19. Conductivity, Specific .....................................................................................17

Figure 20. Copper, Total and Dissolved ...........................................................................18

Figure 21. Cyanide, WAD and SAD+SCN ......................................................................18

Figure 22. Fluoride, Dissolved..........................................................................................19

Figure 23. Gallium, Extractable........................................................................................19

Figure 24. Hardness, Total................................................................................................20

Figure 25. Iron, Total and Extractable ..............................................................................20

Figure 26. Lanthanum, Total ............................................................................................21

Figure 27. Lead, Total and Extractable.............................................................................21

Figure 28. Lithium, Total and Extractable........................................................................22

Figure 29. Magnesium, Total, Dissolved and Extractable................................................22

Figure 30. Manganese, Total and Extractable ..................................................................23

Figure 31. Molybdenum, Total .........................................................................................23

Figure 32. Nickel, Total and Extractable ..........................................................................24

Figure 33. Nitrogen, Kjeldahl ...........................................................................................24

Figure 34. Nitrate/Nitrite, Dissolved ................................................................................25

Figure 35. Nitrogen...........................................................................................................25

Figure 36. pH ....................................................................................................................26

Figure 37. Phosphorus, Total and Dissolved ....................................................................26

Figure 38. Potassium, Dissolved and Extractable.............................................................27

Figure 39. Residue, Filterable...........................................................................................27

Figure 40. Residue, Non-Filterable...................................................................................28

Figure 41. Rubidium, Extractable.....................................................................................28

Figure 42. Selenium, Total and Extractable......................................................................29


Canada – British Columbia Water Quality Monitoring Agreement vii

LIST OF FIGURES

(CONTINUED) Page

Figure 43. Silica, Dissolved, and Silicon, Dissolved and Extractable..............................29

Figure 44. Silver, Total and Extractable ...........................................................................30

Figure 45. Sodium, Dissolved and Extractable.................................................................30

Figure 46. Strontium, Total and Extractable.....................................................................31

Figure 47. Sulphate, Dissolved .........................................................................................31

Figure 48. Temperature, Water.........................................................................................32

Figure 49. Thallium, Extractable ......................................................................................32

Figure 50. Turbidity ..........................................................................................................33

Figure 51. Uranium, Extractable.......................................................................................33

Figure 52. Vanadium, Total ..............................................................................................34

Figure 53. Zinc, Total .......................................................................................................34


Canada – British Columbia Water Quality Monitoring Agreement 1

INTRODUCTION The Peace River is located in northeastern British Columbia, and flows into Alberta.

Impounded by the massive W.A.C. Bennett Dam, water leaves the Williston Reservoir

clean and clear and flows eastward. Three-quarters of the flow in the Peace River at the

Alberta border comes from the Williston Reservoir, while one-quarter is provided by its

many tributaries downstream from the Bennett Dam (Butcher, 1987). The Pine River

comes from the south and meets the Peace River at Taylor. The Halfway River from the

north joins the Peace River 30 km downstream from Hudson's Hope. Other major

tributaries are the Beatton River from the north and the Moberly and Kiskatinaw rivers

from the south. These tributaries carry non-filterable residue and turbidity from highly

erodible soils during the spring freshet and rainfall in the summer and fall, and the high

sediment loads are carried into the Peace River. The soils support agricultural and

forestry land uses.

The water quality monitoring station above the Alces River is the only site on the Peace

River jointly monitored by the federal and provincial governments. The station is located

at the bridge across the Peace River south from Clayhurst near the Alberta border. The

Peace River drains an area of 118 000 km2 at this point. Water quality of the Peace River

is affected by waste discharges from the City of Fort St. John (into the Peace and Beatton

rivers), the McMahon gas processing plant at Taylor, and Fibreco Pulp Inc. at Taylor.

This is a CTMP (chemi-thermomechanical pulp) mill which does not use chlorine in the

bleaching process. These waste discharges are probably too small and well treated to

influence the Peace River at the Alberta border after complete mixing (Pommen, 1996).

Agriculture and forestry also have an impact on the Peace River. The river is important

for sports fishing, recreation and some irrigation. After partial treatment, the Peace River

is also used to supply Taylor and Hudson's Hope with drinking water (Butcher, 1987).

Data for this report are compiled from bi-weekly sampling between 1984 and 2002. The

federal data are stored under ENVIRODAT station number BC07FD0005; provincial

data are stored under the SEAM site number E206585. The water quality indicators are

plotted in Figures 3-53. The Water Survey of Canada (WSC) operates a flow gauge



approximately 40 km upstream near Taylor (site number BC07FD002). At this point, the

drainage area is 97 100 km2. Flow data from 1984 to 2002 are graphed in Figure 2.

QUALITY ASSURANCE The water quality plots were reviewed, and values that were known to be in error or

questionable were removed. The total mercury plot has been removed as it showed many

detectable values which were probably errors due to false positives near the method

detection limits (MDLs) and artificial contamination due to the sample collection and

laboratory measurement methods used. Natural mercury levels in pristine areas are

typically <1-2 ng/L and are 5-10 ng/L in grossly mercury-polluted waters (Pommen,

1994). These levels are at or below the lowest MDL used for mercury. For these reasons

mercury measurement in the ambient water quality monitoring network was terminated in

1994. Mercury in resident fish tissue would be monitored if there were any mercury

concerns upstream in this watershed.

There were known quality assurance problems for a number for trace metals and cyanide

between 1986 and 1991, due to the gradual failure of the re-usable Teflon liners in the

bakelite preservative vial caps. Over time, preservatives would leach out contaminates

from the bakelite vial caps and contaminate many preserved water samples. This

contamination problem was known to affect federal and federal-provincial water quality

data province-wide. The primary variables affected were cadmium, chromium, copper,

cyanide, lead, mercury, and zinc during this sampling period. There were also known

quality assurance problems for pH between 1986 and 1988, due to analytical problems

at the Environment Canada Laboratory during that period.

STATE OF THE WATER QUALITY The state of the water quality is assessed by comparing the values to B.C. Environment's

Approved and Working Criteria for Water Quality (Nagpal, Pommen & Swain, 1995).

There are no site-specific water quality objectives for the Peace River. All comments and

observations regarding apparent trends are based solely on the visual examination of the

graphically displayed data.



Any levels or trends in water quality that are deleterious to sensitive water uses, including

drinking water, aquatic life and wildlife, recreation, irrigation, and livestock watering, are

noted. Variables that exhibited no apparent environmental problems have not been

discussed although all of these variables have been plotted and included in this report.

These include barium, beryllium, boron, bromide, total carbon, total dissolved carbon,

cyanide (WAD and SAD+SCN), gallium, hardness, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium,

molybdenum, Kjeldahl nitrogen, nitrate/nitrite, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,

filterable residue, rubidium, silica, silicon, silver, sodium, strontium, sulphate, thallium,

uranium and vanadium.

Concentrations of alkalinity (Figure 3) and dissolved and extractable calcium (Figure

11) indicate that the Peace River above the Alces River is well buffered against acidity.

Concentrations of total aluminum were often high, with a maximum concentration of

26.4 mg/L (Figure 4). 183 of the 246 samples (74%) collected between 1987 and 2002

exceeded the aquatic life guideline of 0.1 mg/L for dissolved aluminum, and 121 samples

(49%) exceeded the drinking water guideline of 0.2 mg/L. However as only total

aluminum was measured, an accurate assessment of compliance with this guideline

cannot be made. It must also be noted that total aluminum concentrations were strongly

correlated with turbidity values (see Figure 4), suggesting that higher levels of aluminum

were associated with particulate matter. In this case, they would likely be unavailable to

biota, and would also be removed by treatment necessary for reducing turbidity prior to

consumption as drinking water. Fifteen values (6% of samples) exceeded the wildlife,

livestock watering and irrigation guideline of 5 mg/L total aluminum.

Total arsenic concentrations exceeded the aquatic life guideline of 0.005 mg/L on 14

occasions (5% of the 258 samples collected) (Figure 5). However, as there was a strong

correlation with turbidity, it is likely that the majority of the arsenic present was

associated with particulate matter and therefore not biologically available. Extractable

arsenic concentrations were all below the guideline.



Total cadmium concentrations invariably exceeded the aquatic life guideline of 0.00003

mg/L (Figure 10), but this was partially due to the fact that the detection limits used in the

analyses were between 30 and 300 times higher than the guideline limit. However, 27 of

40 values (68%) of extractable cadmium measured between 1996 and 2002 using a

lower detection limit (0.000005 mg/L) also exceeded the aquatic life guideline,

suggesting that cadmium concentrations may be a concern in the Peace River. In order to

properly assess cadmium concentrations, it is essential that analytical methods with a

detection limit of no more than one-tenth the guideline level be employed when they

become available.

Dissolved organic carbon concentrations were below the drinking water guideline

during the winter months, but usually exceeded this value (4 mg/L) during the spring

freshet and through the summer (Figure 13). 12 of 57 values (21%) collected between

1997 and 2001 exceeded this guideline.

Dissolved chloride concentrations appear to be decreasing over time in the Peace River

above the Alces River (Figure 14). There is currently no guideline for chloride, and this

decrease is unlikely to be environmentally significant. It is likely that this apparent trend

is a result of the change in methodology in mid-1991 from an automated colorimetric

method to ion chromatography.

Total chromium concentrations measured prior to 1991 (Figure 15) may have been

elevated due to suspected preservative vial contamination. Since that time, 104 samples

(50% of the 208 samples collected between 1987 and 2002) exceeded the aquatic life

guideline of 0.001 mg/L, with a maximum concentration of 0.0369 mg/L. Thirty-eight

values (18% of samples) exceeded the irrigation guideline of 0.005 mg/L. Three of 40

recent extractable chromium concentrations also exceeded the aquatic life guideline. It

appears that elevated levels of total chromium are associated with elevated turbidity,

suggesting that the chromium is associated with particulate matter and therefore not

likely available to biota (Figure 15).



Total cobalt concentrations exceeded the aquatic life guideline of 0.0009 mg/L in 23%

of samples between 1987 and 2002 (Figure 15). The irrigation guideline of 0.05 mg/L

was not exceeded on any occasion. Recent extractable cobalt concentrations illustrated

similar patterns as exhibited by the total concentrations. Elevated concentrations of total

cobalt occurred at the same time that turbidity levels were elevated, suggesting that the

cobalt was associated with particulate matter and therefore not likely available to biota.

The 90th percentile value for fecal coliforms collected between 1997 and 2001 could not

be calculated due to insufficient sampling frequency, and therefore the drinking water

guideline could not be properly assessed. However, the fact that only 1% of values (4 of

243 values) exceeded the 90th percentile guideline of 100 CFU/100 mL for water

undergoing partial treatment as well as disinfection (Figure 17) suggest that coliforms are

not likely a problem for drinking water in the Peace River and reinforces that the partial

treatment beyond simple disinfection is necessary.

True colour values showed a strong seasonal variation, with regular increases to above

the aesthetic drinking water guideline of 15 TCU occurring during the spring and summer

(Figure 18). True colour values ranged from below detectable limits (< 5 TCU) to a

maximum of 200 TCU on August 8, 2001. High colour levels can indicate the presence

of organic materials that, during water treatment with chlorine for disinfection, can

cause the formation of trihalomethanes.

Specific conductivity values were fairly consistent in the Peace River above the Alces

River, fluctuating near 200 µS/cm for most of the year (Figure 19). All values were well

below the guideline for drinking water of 700 µS/cm.

Total copper samples collected between 1988 and 1991 are suspect due to preservative

vial contamination. Outside of that period, 80 values (32% of 248 samples) exceeded the

hardness-dependent average aquatic life guideline and 34 values (14%) exceeded the

maximum guideline (Figure 20). There was a strong correlation between copper and



turbidity (see Figure 20), suggesting that most copper was associated with particulate

matter and therefore would likely not be toxic to aquatic life. Recent extractable copper

concentrations also seem to be influenced by turbidity concentrations.

The aquatic life guideline for dissolved fluoride is hardness dependent – at a hardness

greater than 50 mg/L (typical for the Peace River above the Alces River, see Figure 24),

the guideline is 0.3 mg/L. This guideline was not exceeded by any samples (Figure 22).

Total iron concentrations usually exceeded the aquatic life and aesthetic drinking water

guideline of 0.3 mg/L (61% of 285 samples) (Figure 24). As well, the irrigation

guideline of 5 mg/L was exceeded by 13% of samples. However, there was a strong

correlation between iron and turbidity fluctuations, suggesting that higher concentrations

of iron were associated with particulate matter and were therefore not likely biologically

available. Iron would be removed by treatment necessary to decrease turbidity prior to

use as drinking water.

Concentrations of total lead measured between 1988 and 1991 are suspected to be

contaminated as a result of faulty preservative vial seals. Outside of this period, 21

values (8% of samples) exceeded the average hardness-dependent aquatic life guideline

of approximately 0.004 mg/L and no values exceeded the maximum guideline (Figure

27). All exceedences of the average guideline occurred during periods of elevated

turbidity (see Figure 27). Total lead concentrations seem to fluctuate with turbidity

concentrations, suggesting that higher lead values are likely not biologically available.

Recent extractable lead concentrations also seem to follow this same pattern.

Fifty-five total manganese concentrations (19% of all samples) exceeded the drinking

water guideline of 0.05 mg/L, with a maximum value of 1.1 mg/L occurring on July 4,

1994 (Figure 30). Thirteen of these values (5%) also exceeded the irrigation guideline of

0.2 mg/L, and one sample exceeded the aquatic life guideline of 0.8 mg/L. Higher

manganese values tend to reflect turbidity values. Recent extractable manganese values

seem to be following the same pattern. Elevated levels of total manganese occurred



concurrently with higher turbidity levels, suggesting that treatment to remove turbidity

prior to entering the drinking water supply would remove much of the manganese.

Total nickel concentrations were generally below the aquatic life guideline of 0.025

mg/L (Figure 32). Eight values exceeded this guideline, with a maximum value of

0.0474 mg/L occurring on July 4, 1994. The similar patterns in concentrations between

total nickel concentrations and turbidity suggest that much of the nickel is associated with

particulate matter and therefore not likely toxic to aquatic life. Recent extractable nickel

values seem to vary with turbidity.

The majority of pH values were between 8.0 and 8.5 pH units, and were within the

drinking water guidelines which recommend a range of 6.5 to 8.5 pH units (Figure 33).

The exceptions were four values ranging from 8.57 to 8.93 pH units, measured between

May 10, 1995 and December 14, 2000.

Non-filterable residue (total suspended solids) concentrations were seasonally

correlated, with maximum values occurring annually during spring freshet. Values were

occasionally extremely high, ranging from below detectable limits (< 1 mg/L) to a

maximum of 3880 mg/L (Figure 40). Thirty-five percent of values exceeded the general

fisheries guideline of 25 mg/L.

None of the 245 samples analyzed for total selenium between 1984 and 2002 exceeded

the aquatic life guideline of 0.002 mg/L (Figure 42). One sample had an extractable

selenium concentration above this level (0.0045 mg/L), but it is not likely that selenium

is a concern in the Peace River.

Water temperatures in the Peace River above Alces exceeded the aesthetic drinking

water guideline (15°C) in two summers between 1984 and 2002 (Figure 48). The

maximum recorded temperature was 18°C, on August 2, 1993. The general fisheries

guideline of 19°C was never exceeded. There is an odd pattern in water temperatures at

this site: summer water temperatures between 1984 and 1994 routinely reached highs in



the mid to upper teens in July/August. From 1995 onwards however, summer water

temperatures never increased above 5oC. This may be due to changes in release patterns

of water from the WAC Bennett dam. These results will be further investigated to

determine if they are reasonable.

As expected, turbidity values followed a trend similar to that of non-filterable residue,

with maximum values occurring during the spring freshet (Figure 50). A number of

values were extremely high (> 700 NTU), and 91% of values exceeded the health

drinking water guideline of 1 NTU. However, since partial treatment is provided to the

drinking water supplies, this low guideline is not appropriate. Fifty-six percent of values

(149 of 268 samples) exceeded the aesthetic drinking water guideline of 5 NTU, and 19%

of values exceeded the aesthetic recreation guideline of 50 NTU.

Two hundred and eighty-five samples were analyzed for total zinc concentrations

between 1984 and 2002 (Figure 53). Of these, 55 (19%) exceeded the hardness-

dependent aquatic life guideline for average concentrations and 26 values (9%) exceeded

the aquatic life guideline for maximum concentrations . Zinc concentrations seem to be

well correlated with turbidity (Figure 51), indicating that the zinc is likely not

biologically available and would be removed the turbidity treatment required prior to use

as a drinking water source.



Figure 2. WSC Average Daily Flow Data for Peace River near Taylor (1984-2000)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

700019

84

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

Date

Ave

rage

Dai

ly F

low

(m3 /s

)

Figure 3. Peace River above Alces River - Alkalinity

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

9-Mar-84 4-Dec-86 30-Aug-89 26-May-92 20-Feb-95 16-Nov-97

Year

Alk

alin

ity (m

g/L)

Alkalinity Total 4.5 (mg/L)

Lower threshold for sensitivity to acidinputs



Figure 4. Peace River above Alces River - Aluminum, Total

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

3-May-87 27-Jan-90 23-Oct-92 20-Jul-95 15-Apr-98 9-Jan-01Year

Al (

mg/

L)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Turb

idity

(NTU

)

Al-T (mg/L)Wildlife, livestock and irrigation guidelineTurbidity

Figure 5. Peace River above Alces River - Arsenic, Total, Dissolved and Extractable

0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

9-Mar-84 4-Dec-86 30-Aug-89 26-May-92 20-Feb-95 16-Nov-97 12-Aug-00

Year

As

(mg/

L)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Turb

idity

(NTU

)

As-D (mg/L)As-E (mg/L)As-T (mg/L)Aquatic life guidelineTurbidity



Figure 6. Peace River above Alces River - Barium, Total and Extractable

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

25-Aug-90 7-Jan-92 21-May-93 3-Oct-94 15-Feb-96 29-Jun-97 11-Nov-98 25-Mar-00 7-Aug-01

Year

Ba

(mg/

L)

Ba-E (mg/L)Ba-T (mg/L)Drinking water and aquatic life guideline

Figure 7. Peace River above Alces River - Beryllium, Total and Extractable

0

0.001

0.002

0.003

0.004

0.005

0.006


Year

Be

(mg/

L)

Be-E (mg/L)Be-T (mg/L)Chronic aquatic life guideline



Figure 8. Peace River above Alces River - Boron, Extractable

0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

31-Dec-98 19-Jul-99 4-Feb-00 22-Aug-00 10-Mar-01 26-Sep-01

Year

B (m

g/L)

Figure 9. Peace River above Alces River - Bromide, Dissolved

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

26-Apr-94 12-Nov-94 31-May-95 17-Dec-95 4-Jul-96 20-Jan-97 8-Aug-97 24-Feb-98 12-Sep-98

Year

Br (

mg/

L)



Figure 10. Peace River above Alces River - Cadmium, Total and Extractable

0

0.001

0.002

0.003

0.004

0.005

0.006

0.007


Year

Cd

(mg/

L)

Cd-E (mg/L)Cd-T (mg/L)Aquatic life guideline

Figure 11. Peace River above Alces River - Calcium, Total, Dissolved and Extractable

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70


Year

Ca

(mg/

L)

Ca-D (mg/L)Ca-E (mg/L)Ca-T (mg/L)Lower threshold for sensitivity to acid inputs



Figure 12. Peace River above Alces River - Carbon, Total and Total Dissolved

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

13-Aug-96 26-Dec-97 10-May-99 21-Sep-00 3-Feb-02

Year

C (m

g/L)

C--T (mg/L)Carbon Total Dissolved (mg/L)

Figure 13. Peace River above Alces River - Carbon, Total and Dissolved Organic

0

5

10

15

20

25

13-Aug-96 26-Dec-97 10-May-99 21-Sep-00 3-Feb-02

Year

Al (

mg/

L)

Carbon Dissolved Organic (mg/L)Carbon Total Organic (mg/L)Dissolved Organic Carbon Drinking water guideline



Figure 14. Peace River above Alces River - Chloride, Dissolved

R2 = 0.2412

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6


Year

Chl

orid

e (m

g/L)

Chlrid:D (mg/L)Linear Trend Line

Figure 15. Peace River above Alces River - Chromium, Total and Extractable and Turbidity

0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

0.035

0.04

13-Apr-87 7-Jan-90 3-Oct-92 30-Jun-95 26-Mar-98 20-Dec-00

Year

Cr (

mg/

L)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Turb

idity

(NTU

)

Cr-E (mg/L)Cr-T (mg/L)Irrigation guidelineTurbidity (NTU)



Figure 16. Peace River above Alces River - Cobalt, Total and Extractable and Turbidity

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

25-Aug-90 7-Jan-92 21-May-93 3-Oct-94 15-Feb-96 29-Jun-97 11-Nov-98 25-Mar-00 7-Aug-01Year

Co

(mg/

L)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Turb

idity

(NTU

)

Co-E (mg/L)Co-T (mg/L)Aquatic life guidelineIrrigation guidelineTurbidity (NTU)

Figure 17. Peace River above Alces River - Coliforms, Fecal and E. coli

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

11-Aug-87 7-May-90 31-Jan-93 28-Oct-95 24-Jul-98 19-Apr-01

Year

Col

iform

s (C

FU o

r MPN

/100

mL)

Coli:Fec (CFU/100mL)Coli:Fec (MPN)E Coli (CFU/100mL)90th %ile for drinking water undergoing partial treatment

(900 CFU/100 mL)



Figure 18. Peace River above Alces River - Colour

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200


Year

Col

our (

units

as

per l

egen

d)

Color Apparent (Col.unit)Color SW (SWU)Color True (Col.unit)ColorTAC (TAC)Aesthetic drinking water guideline

Figure 19. Peace River above Alces River - Conductivity, Specific

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800


Year

Con

duct

ivity

(mic

roSi

emen

s/cm

) Specific Conductance (uS/cm)Drinking water guideline



Figure 20. Peace River above Alces River - Copper, Total and Extractable

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35


Year

Cu

(mg/

L)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Turb

idity

(NTU

)

Cu-E (mg/L)Cu-T (mg/L)Approx. Average GuidelineApprox. Maximum GuidelineTurbidity

Figure 21. Peace River above Alces River - Cyanide, WAD and SAD + SCN

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

2-Jun-85 15-Oct-86 27-Feb-88 11-Jul-89 23-Nov-90 6-Apr-92 19-Aug-93

Year

Cya

nide

(mg/

L)

Cyanide (WAD) (mg/L)Cyanide(SAD)+SCN (mg/L)Drinking water guideline (SAD + SCN)



Figure 22. Peace River above Alces River - Fluoride, Dissolved and Total

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35


Year

Fluo

ride

(mg/

L)

FluordeD (mg/L)FluordeT (mg/L)Aquatic life guideline (hardness <50 mg/L)Aquatic life guideline (hardness >50 mg/L)

Figure 23. Peace River above Alces River - Gallium, Extractable

0

0.0005

0.001

0.0015

0.002

0.0025

21-Dec-98 9-Jul-99 25-Jan-00 12-Aug-00 28-Feb-01 16-Sep-01 4-Apr-02

Year

Ga

(mg/

L)



Figure 24. Peace River above Alces River - Hardness, Total Dissolved and Extractable

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180


Year

Har

dnes

s (m

g/L)

Hardness Total (D) (mg/L)Hardness Total (Extr) (mg/L)

Figure 25. Peace River above Alces River - Iron, Total and Extractable

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90


Year

Fe (m

g/L)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Turb

idity

(NTU

)

Fe-E (mg/L)Fe-T (mg/L)Irrigation guidelineTurbidity



Figure 26. Peace River above Alces River - Lanthanum, Extractable

0

0.001

0.002

0.003

0.004

0.005

0.006

0.007

5-Jan-99 24-Jul-99 9-Feb-00 27-Aug-00 15-Mar-01 1-Oct-01

Year

La (m

g/L)

Figure 27. Peace River above Alces River - Lead, Total and Extractable

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07


Year

Pb (m

g/L)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Turb

idity

(NTU

)

Pb-E (mg/L)Pb-T (mg/L)Approx. 30-day average aquatic life guidelineApprox. maximum aquatic life guidelineTurbidity



Figure 28. Peace River above Alces River - Lithium, Total and Extractable

0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

0.035

0.04

0.045

27-Jan-90 11-Jun-91 23-Oct-92 7-Mar-94 20-Jul-95 1-Dec-96 15-Apr-98 28-Aug-99 9-Jan-01

Year

Li (m

g/L)

Li-E (mg/L)Li-T (mg/L)

Figure 29. Peace River above Alces River - Magnesium, Total, Dissolved and Extractable

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20


Year

Mg

(mg/

L)

Mg-D (mg/L)Mg-E (mg/L)Mg-T (mg/L)



Figure 30. Peace River above Alces River - Manganese, Total and Extractable and Turbidity

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2


Year

Mn

(mg/

L)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Turb

idity

(NTU

)

Mn-E (mg/L)Mn-T (mg/L)Drinking water guidelineAquatic life guidelineIrrigation guidelineTurbidity (NTU)

Figure 31. Peace River above Alces River - Molybdenum, Total

0

0.002

0.004

0.006

0.008

0.01

0.012


Year

Mo

(mg/

L)

Mo-T (mg/L)Irrigation guideline



Figure 32. Peace River above Alces River - Nickel, Total and Extractable

0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

0.035

0.04

0.045

0.05

13-Apr-87 7-Jan-90 3-Oct-92 30-Jun-95 26-Mar-98 20-Dec-00

Year

Ni (

mg/

L)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Turb

idity

(NTU

)

Ni-E (mg/L)Ni-T (mg/L)Aquatic life guidelineTurbidity

Figure 33. Peace River above Alces River - Nitrogen, Kjeldahl

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1


Year

Kje

ldah

l N (m

g/L)

Nitrogen (Kjel.) Tot Diss (mg/L)N.Kjel:T (mg/L)



Figure 34. Peace River above Alces River - Nitrate, Dissolved and/or Nitrite, Dissolved

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3


Year

NO

2 and

/or N

O3 (

mg/

L)

Nitrate (NO3) Dissolved (mg/L)Nitrate + Nitrite Diss. (mg/L)Nitrogen - Nitrite Diss. (mg/L)

Figure 35. Peace River above Alces River - Nitrogen, Total

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5


Year

N (m

g/L)

Nitrogen Total Dissolved (mg/L)



Figure 36. Peace River above Alces River - pH

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9


Year

pH (p

H u

nits

)

pH (pH units)Lower objectiveUpper objective

Figure 37. Peace River above Alces River - Phosphorus, Total and Dissolved

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4


Year

P (m

g/L)

P--T (mg/L)Phosphorus Tot. Dissolved (mg/L)



Figure 38. Peace River above Alces River - Potassium, Dissolved and Extractable

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4


Year

K (m

g/L)

K--D (mg/L)K--E (mg/L)

Figure 39. Peace River above Alces River - Residue, Filterable

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

28-Apr-84 10-Sep-85 23-Jan-87 6-Jun-88 19-Oct-89 3-Mar-91 15-Jul-92 27-Nov-93

Year

FR (m

g/L)

Residue Filterable 1.0u (mg/L)Residue Fixed Filterable (mg/L)Aesthetic Drinking Water Guideline



Figure 40. Peace River above Alces River - Residue, Non-Filterable and Average Daily Flow

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

28-Apr-84 10-Sep-85 23-Jan-87 6-Jun-88 19-Oct-89 3-Mar-91 15-Jul-92 27-Nov-93 11-Apr-95 23-Aug-96

Year

Non

-Filt

erab

le R

esid

ue (m

g/L)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

Ave

rage

dai

ly fl

ow (m

3 /s)

Residue Fixed Non-filt. (mg/L)Residue Non-filterable (mg/L)General fisheries guidelineAverage Daily Flow (m3/s)

Figure 41. Peace River above Alces River - Rubidium, Extractable

0

0.001

0.002

0.003

0.004

0.005

0.006

0.007

0.008


Year

Rb

(mg/

L)

Rb-E (mg/L)



Figure 42. Peace River above Alces River - Selenium, Total, Dissolved and Extractable

0

0.0005

0.001

0.0015

0.002

0.0025

0.003

0.0035

0.004

0.0045

0.005


Year

Se (m

g/L)

Se-D (mg/L)Se-E (mg/L)Se-T (mg/L)Aquatic guideline

Figure 43. Peace River above Alces River - Silica, Dissolved and Silicon, Dissolved and Extractable

0

5

10

15

20

25

30


Year

Si o

r Sili

ca (m

g/L)

Si-D (mg/L)Si-E (mg/L)Silica:D (mg/L)



Figure 44. Peace River above Alces River - Silver, Total and Extractable

0

0.0001

0.0002

0.0003

0.0004

0.0005

0.0006

0.0007

20-Apr-96 26-Dec-96 2-Sep-97 10-May-98 15-Jan-99 22-Sep-99 29-May-00 3-Feb-01 11-Oct-01

Year

Ag

(mg/

L)

Ag-E (mg/L)Ag-T (mg/L)

Figure 45. Peace River above Alces River - Sodium, Dissolved and Extractable

0

5

10

15

20

25


Year

Na

(mg/

L)

Na-D (mg/L)Na-E (mg/L)Drinking water alert level



Figure 46. Peace River above Alces River - Strontium, Total and Extractable

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

27-Jan-90 11-Jun-91 23-Oct-92 7-Mar-94 20-Jul-95 1-Dec-96 15-Apr-98 28-Aug-99 9-Jan-01

Year

Sr (m

g/L)

Sr-E (mg/L)Sr-T (mg/L)

Figure 47. Peace River above Alces River - Sulphate, Dissolved

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


Year

SO4 (

mg/

L)

Sulfat:D (mg/L)Aquatic guideline alert level



Figure 48. Peace River above Alces River - Temperature, Water

-5

0

5

10

15

20


Year

Tem

p (d

egre

es C

)

Temp (C)Aesthetic drinking water guidelineAquatic life guideline

Figure 49. Peace River above Alces River - Thallium, Extractable

0

0.00002

0.00004

0.00006

0.00008

0.0001

0.00012

0.00014

0.00016


Year

Tl (m

g/L)



Figure 50. Peace River above Alces River - Turbidity and Average Daily Flow

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200


Year

Turb

idity

(NTU

)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Ave

rage

dai

ly fl

ow (m

3 /s)

Turbidity (NTU)Aesthetic Recreation GuidelineAverage Daily Flow (m3/s)

Figure 51. Peace River above Alces River - Uranium, Extractable

0

0.0002

0.0004

0.0006

0.0008

0.001

0.0012

0.0014

0.0016

0.0018

0.002


Year

U (m

g/L)



Figure 52. Peace River above Alces - Vanadium, Total and Extractable

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12


Year

V (m

g/L)

V--E (mg/L)V--T (mg/L)Drinking water, livestock watering and irrigation guideline

Figure 53. Peace River above Alces River - Zinc, Total and Extractable and Turbidity

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25


Year

Zn (m

g/L)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Turb

idity

(NTU

)

Zn-E (mg/L)Zn-T (mg/L)Approx. maximum aquatic guidelineApprox. average aquatic guidelineTurbidity

canada – british columbia...color apparent (col.unit) color sw (swu) color true (col.unit)...

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