Water quality is a general term that refers to a number of water chemistry parameters which are important if an aquatic system is going to support life such as plants, invertebrates and fish.

There are several measures of water quality. Some of these are:

• pH
• water temperature
• turbidity
• water colour
• Specific conductivity - a measure of total dissolved solids (TDS)
• dissolved oxygen (DO)
• hardness

As Stoney Creek watershed becomes more urbanized, natural vegetation is removed around the creek and paved surface areas increase. This causes a change in the natural water cycle. In particular, there is less ground surface able to absorb pecipitation and runoff is increased during storms. Chemicals such as road salt, oil and grit from roads, sediments from land, and nutrients from fertilizers can all run into the creek and decrease water quality. In addition, homeowners in the area may release chemical toxins directly into the creek with or without the knowledge that they are poisonous and reduce water quality.

Not only does polluted run-off affect fish in the creek, it also affects the salmon we eat from the Fraser River.

Since 1998, SCEC has being monitoring water quality. By doing this SCEC hopes to get a better picture of how urban run-off is affecting the creek over the long-term. It also allow SCEC to get an idea of how land-uses are affecting water quality. We routinely measure temperature, pH, conductivity, and hardness by grab sampling in 14 locations on the creek. (See Water Quality Stations map.) We also record colour and turbidity.

Community volunteers collect water samples and bring them for analysis to the Environmental Centre at 7:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month.
For more information or if you would like to volunteer with our Water Quality Working Group please contact us: