Watershed Monitoring

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) assesses water quality throughout the watershed using both surface water and groundwater monitoring programs. These programs test multiple parameters at sites throughout the watershed, providing a good overview of long-term data and trends in water quality.

Monitoring Programs at UTRCA

  • Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN)
  • Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN)
  • UTRCA long-term groundwater monitoring
  • UTRCA long-term surface water monitoring

Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN)

The PGMN program was developed in response to low groundwater levels that occurred in 1998. The program was launched in 2001 as a partnership between the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks and Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities.

The PGMN collects long-term groundwater quality and quantity data at predetermined well sites throughout the watershed. These wells measure ambient water levels and water quality from the major aquifers within the Upper Thames River watershed.

The UTRCA manages 28 wells at 22 sites across the watershed.聽PGMN data is available to the public online.

UTRCA staff take groundwater sample.

Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN)

The PWQMN is a partnership between the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) and Ontario鈥檚 Conservation Authorities. The UTRCA has been involved with this program since it began in the 1960s. The purpose is to collect long-term surface water quality data throughout the watershed.

The UTRCA collects samples at 24 stations. Sampling involves a single grab sample that is sent to a lab for analysis. Parameters include total dissolved nutrients, metals, and chloride.

Additional testing is done for E. coli bacteria as high levels may pose a health risk. This testing is done at all surface water sites throughout the UTRCA. This data is presented in the Upper Thames River Watershed Report Cards.

UTRCA staff monitoring water conditions

UTRCA Long-term Groundwater Monitoring

In addition to PGMN sampling, the UTRCA also collects long-term groundwater quality and quantity samples at groundwater monitoring sites as part of the organization’s targets monitoring, which support the Environmental Targets: Strategic Plan (2016).

UTRCA monitors 2 groundwater wells for water level and samples another 5 wells biennially for water quality. Targets monitoring aids in our understanding of groundwater quality and quantity over the long term.

UTRCA Long-term Surface Water Monitoring

UTRCA also collects surface water samples as part of its targets monitoring for the Environmental Targets: Strategic Plan June (2016). The targets monitoring is complementary and in addition to the PWQMN, with UTRCA monitoring E. coli at all 24 PWQMN sites (PWQMN does not measure E. coli), and monitoring nutrients and E. coli at an additional 3 sites.

Targets monitoring supports the Upper Thames River Watershed Report Cards by ensuring consistent sampling and data collection in each subwatershed.