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Recent changes in contaminant levels in the Bow River following the installation of a containment system at the Canada creosote site

Description

Alberta Envrionmental Protection has intensively monitored the Bow River ecosystem since 1989. This work was designed to determine the distribution of contaminants from the Canada Creosote site in... More ≫

Description

Alberta Envrionmental Protection has intensively monitored the Bow River ecosystem since 1989. This work was designed to determine the distribution of contaminants from the Canada Creosote site in the aquatic ecosystem, to protect domestic water supplies and to ensure the human consumption of fish was safe. This report evaluates changes in water quality over the two years since the containment system was intalled.

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Alberta surface water quality guidelines : a working compendium

Description

This document provides a summary of the numeric and descriptive water quality values applied in Alberta. It is intended to be used as a screening tool for the evaluation of water quality... More ≫

Description

This document provides a summary of the numeric and descriptive water quality values applied in Alberta. It is intended to be used as a screening tool for the evaluation of water quality monitoring date and for setting approvals limits for effluent discharges. If during the review of monitoring data guidelines are not exceeded, problems are unlikely. On the other hand, if the guidelines are exceeded, a detailed assessment might be required to determine the extent of and/or the possible sources of the exceedance and the potential adverse effects arising from the exceedance.

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A review of nitrogen conditions in the Wapiti River system with respect to Grande Prairie sewage effluent

Description

This report assembles data and information regarding conditions in the receiving river system, concentrations and loads in effluents and tributaries to the Wapiti River. It reviews pertinent... More ≫

Description

This report assembles data and information regarding conditions in the receiving river system, concentrations and loads in effluents and tributaries to the Wapiti River. It reviews pertinent reports and information from elsewhere to guide the City of Grande Prairie as they move forward with improvements to their sewage treatment.

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Alberta coal mining wastewater guidelines

Description

These guidelines are a general reference for wastewater management at new and existing coal mining operations. Alberta Environmental Protection's expectations for the collection, treatment and... More ≫

Description

These guidelines are a general reference for wastewater management at new and existing coal mining operations. Alberta Environmental Protection's expectations for the collection, treatment and disposal of mine wastewaters are described. Relevant sections of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) that must be followed by coal mine operators are outlined. These guidelines describe the types of mine wastewaters generated and how they should be managed. Included are guidelines pertaining to settling pond design requirements, the use of wastewater treatment chemicals, and general comments on areas of wastewater management that require particular attention. Typical EPEA approval requirements for mine wastewater release limits, monitoring, and reporting are discussed. This document is intended for general reference only.

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The impact of aerated sewage lagoon effluent on water quality in Field Lake

Description

This report summarizes the information gathered on the water quality of Field Lake during the initial period of study (1981 - 1986) and from three sets of samples collected during the summer of... More ≫

Description

This report summarizes the information gathered on the water quality of Field Lake during the initial period of study (1981 - 1986) and from three sets of samples collected during the summer of 1997. The impact of the effluent discharge is assessed by comparing 1) water quality two years before and four years after the discharge began, 2) concentrations of substances in the lake water with relevant Alberta and Canadian water quality guidelines, and 3) 1985-86 data with 1997 data.

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Investigation of PPWB excursions in the North Saskatchewan River at the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary 1997

Description

Water quality in the North Saskatchewan River is monitored for the Prairie Provinces Water Board (PPWB) at the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. Occasional exceedences of PPWB objectives for copper,... More ≫

Description

Water quality in the North Saskatchewan River is monitored for the Prairie Provinces Water Board (PPWB) at the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. Occasional exceedences of PPWB objectives for copper, fecal coliform bacteria, zinc and lead prompted an investigation into sources that may contribute to these high concentrations. Historical water quality data are available for point sources and the river in the urban area, but little is known about the contribution of the creeks and point sources discharging to the river along the last 100 km of river before it reaches the border.

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Changes in contaminant levels in the Bow River following the installation of a containment system at the Canada Creosote site

Description

In November 1989, a liquid mixture of various contaminants including the wood preservatives creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP) was found seeping into the Bow River adjacent to the abandoned... More ≫

Description

In November 1989, a liquid mixture of various contaminants including the wood preservatives creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP) was found seeping into the Bow River adjacent to the abandoned Canada Creosote site in Calgary. A temporary berm was built in the river around the seepage area on November 6-9, 1989, and rebuilt on October 9-19, 1990. Contaminants were removed from the bermed area. A permanent barrier to contaminant flow was installed along the entire shoreline between April 29 and May 3, 1995, and a system designed to prevent the flow of contaminated groundwater to the river around the barrier was operational by February 8, 1996.

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Pesticides in Alberta surface waters

Description

A study carried out under the Canada-Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Agreement (CAESA). The purpose of this scoping-level study was to determine if agricultural pesticides... More ≫

Description

A study carried out under the Canada-Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Agreement (CAESA). The purpose of this scoping-level study was to determine if agricultural pesticides currently sold and used in large quantities across Alberta were detectable in small streams and lakes and to compare their concentrations with CWQG for the protection of aquatic life and for irrigation.

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Golf course pesticide use and monitoring

Description

This fact sheet summarizes survey results of pesticide use at Alberta golf courses and data gathered from monitoring its impacts on local surface and groundwater. The survey and monitoring program... More ≫

Description

This fact sheet summarizes survey results of pesticide use at Alberta golf courses and data gathered from monitoring its impacts on local surface and groundwater. The survey and monitoring program was initiated in response to several major golf course development proposals in Alberta during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The survey was conducted during 1990/91 and monitoring took place from 1991 to 1993.

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Modelling of the response of Pine Lake to reduced internal and external loadings

Description

The Pine Lake Restoration Society began various projects in 1995 designed to reduce nutrient loading and thereby control algal blooms in Pine Lake. Measures to control both external (e.g., runoff... More ≫

Description

The Pine Lake Restoration Society began various projects in 1995 designed to reduce nutrient loading and thereby control algal blooms in Pine Lake. Measures to control both external (e.g., runoff from agricultural sites) and internal phosphorus loadings (e.g., sewage in ground water and sediment phosphorus release) are being implemented. To assess the potential benefits of these projects, a water quality model (Bathtub 5.3)(Walker 1986) was used by Water Sciences Branch, Alberta Environmental Protection to predict theoretical changes in phosphorus concentration in Pine Lake after various levels of reduction in external and internal phosphorus loading. Predictive equations for Pine Lake were then developed to predict changes in algal biomass (chlorophyll a) and transparency (Secchi depth) based on the new phosphorus concentrations predicted by the model.

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