Water quality monitoring
What problem is Fondation Rivières trying to solve?
The quality of a watercourse can vary depending on the weather, the behaviour of its tributaries and many nearby human activities. This makes it difficult to ensure that swimming or boating in a watercourse is always safe.
Water quality is usually measured by the amount of bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) present. At low concentrations, this bacteria is not dangerous for health, but its presence in large quantities is an indicator of the presence of other bacteria which could cause gastrointestinal illnesses, among others.
It takes between 24 and 72 hours to know the quantity of E. coli with traditional bacteriological analysis techniques, which is hardly useful in waterways where contamination peaks are frequent, but short-lived. This explains why beaches can be closed for several days in a row while awaiting results.
Our water quality monitoring services
Implementation of a water quality monitoring system
- Water samples for E. coli in the laboratory
- Possibility of using a device to obtain results quickly in 15 minutes
- Evaluate infrastructures and their capacity to meet local needs
Analysis and interpretation of results
- Establish a method for analyzing and interpreting data
- Improve the analysis with detection of pollution sources in the field if necessary
Deliverables
Portrait of temporal and spatial fluctuations in water quality under different weather conditions
Identification of contamination peaks
Vulnerability assessment of the targeted swimming area (if applicable)
Preliminary identification of contamination sources and associated risks
Diagnostic report validating the water quality of the site for swimming and water sports (if applicable)
Guidance and training materials on water sampling and the operation of a continuous water quality monitor (if applicable)
Our method
Personalized counseling
Each project is unique. That's why we offer support at every stage, from identifying priority interventions to implementing solutions. We also provide the necessary training for your organization's leaders.
Collaborative support
A project often brings together several stakeholders. We are committed to maximizing the impact of the project by presenting key results and providing training and awareness activities.
Your benefits
- The expertise of a specialized, neutral and independent non-profit organization
- Rapid pollution detection
- Detection of previously unknown sources of contamination
- Obtaining a detailed report on water quality trends
- Informed decision making on swimming potential
- Reduction of health risks
Do you want to make a swimming area accessible to the citizens of your municipality?
Consult the guide to opening an urban swimming site to find out how the Fondation Rivières can help you.
Our water quality monitoring projects
See our completed projects with municipalities, watershed organizations and other associations, as well as the resulting studies and reports.
Discover the rivers for which Fondation Rivières acts positively. Contribute to our actions by adopting the one of your choice.
