RVCA samples 57 streams and 39 lakes on a routine basis across the watershed. Surface water is the backbone of any healthy watershed, including the communities within it.
Clean surface water is required for drinking water, agriculture, recreation, tourism, industry and ecology. RVCA has sampled surface water since the 1960s, measuring the presence of various bacteria, nutrients, metals and dissolved solids and monitoring trends over time.
This work informs a number of internal and external surface water quality programs, including:
Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network
which looks at 42 variables to identify temporal and spatial trends in water quality conditions across the province;
City Baseline Monitoring Program
a City of Ottawa-led initiative to monitor 52 water quality parameters in rivers, streams, and tributaries in cooperation with City staff, South Nation Conservation and Mississippi Valley Conservation;
RVCA Baseline Monitoring Program
which assesses 52 water quality parameters in tributary streams in the Upper Watershed;
RVCA Watershed Watch Program
which samples 39 major lakes on a regular cycle with help from volunteers at both deep points and near-shore sites to test for a variety of water quality parameters.
Find Surface Water Quality Data
Water Quality Geoportal
The most up-to-date water quality data can be found in our Water Quality Geoportal.
Please note that some data, including City of Ottawa Baseline data, is not available in this format.
2023 Watershed Conditions Report
The RVCA’s 2023 Watershed Conditions Report includes a comprehensive analysis of historic surface water quality trends at the subwatershed and catchment level.
Subwatershed & Catchment Reports (Historical)
Water quality data has historically been compiled and analysed in subwatershed and catchment-level reports.
