Implementing your water monitoring plan successfully means that you and your stakeholders will be able to use and trust your water quality data. This page is full of resources to help you collect water quality data safely and reliably, identify high quality equipment, conduct laboratory analyses, and manage your water quality data so that it is safe and secure.
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Water Monitoring Equipment Bank
Atlantic Water Network’s equipment bank provides free water monitoring equipment loans to community-based water monitoring programs throughout the Maritime provinces. Equipment is maintained and calibrated so that you can collect the most accurate data possible. Equipment hubs are located throughout Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick.
URL: https://atlwaternetwork.ca/programs/equipment-bank/
Contributor: Atlantic Water Network
Collect water quality data
A blank field sheet you can use to record baseline parameters in rivers as site data such as land use, habitat, vegetation, and stream width data.
How to use water samplers from the AWN Equipment Bank.
Learn how to use a secchi disk for taking accurate turbidity measurements.
Learn how to use the YSI Professional Plus multi-probe to determine accurate measurements of a number of water quality indicators.
Learn to calibrate the YSI multi-parameter probe.
A blank field sheet you can use to record baseline parameters in lakes and rivers.
The Nova Scotia Fish Habitat Suitability Index Assessment (NSHSI) provides a standardized method of assessing the quality of Nova Scotia freshwater fish habitat for Atlantic salmon and brook trout. This field methods manual provides instructions for using the NSHSI to collect data on a range of variables, including water quality, channel cross-sections, substrate, and benthic macroinvertebrates.
With the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and related public health measures established by all levels of government, Oathill Lake Conservation Society developed safety procedures to be taken before, during and after each water monitoring sampling session.
A video showing safety methods and creative ways to sample water quality during high water events.
This page provides safety information for you and your group to review and consider before you head to the water to collect samples.
Taking grab samples for lab analysis.
Grab samples reflects performance only at the point in time that the sample was collected. Learn how to take grab samples here.
The equipment bank provides free water monitoring equipment loans to community-based water monitoring programs throughout the Maritime provinces. Equipment is maintained and calibrated so that you can collect the most accurate data possible.
The CABIN protocol uses a traveling kick net sampling method. The kick net is a triangular metal frame holding a bag with mesh size of 400 microns (μm) and a collection cup attached. It can be purchased from Windco Flags, located in Newfoundland, by emailing sales@windcoflags.com.
Rainbow Net & Rigging Limited, located in Dartmouth NS, can provide fyke nets, eel pots, and gill nets necessary for fish sampling.
Seining is an active method of sampling fish communities that uses a net connected by two poles. Fipec can provide the net necessary for sampling.
Hoskin Scientific is a trusted source for water monitoring equipment including data loggers and YSI multiparameter probes.
The list below shows a partial list of laboratories accredited by either Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA) or Standard Council of Canada (SCC) in the region that can carry out routine physical and chemical analysis on drinking water.
Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA) is an accreditation body serving testing laboratories in Canada and abroad. Accreditation provides formal recognition that laboratories are competent, impartial and independent, therefore providing a ready means for customers to identify and select reliable testing and measurement services that are able to meet their needs.
Manage water quality data
Proper data management is essential in all parts of a water monitoring program – from data collection to data communication. This course will guide you through the development of a strong data management plan and incorporate strategies to properly manage your data in the field, on the computer, and during the data sharing process.
The Temperature Logger R Workshop provides a walkthrough of two applications run using R language that may be useful for groups who collect temperature logger data. The second app looks through temperature logger network data to identify temperature events that may be dangerous to aquatic life, as well as to get a general picture of the temperature distribution in a temperature logger network
Atlantic Water Network hosts workshops on Data Management and Data Analysis. Click to download workshop materials and instructional videos.
Discover water monitoring and data management best practices, learn what others are doing to protect freshwater, and explore innovative ways to make the most of your data.
Data Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) is an important part of data collection. Learn more about BC's Stewardship water quality data and their quality assurance and quality control guidelines.
Implement related program activities
Our in-house experts designed the following resources to assist with and inspire others to complete coastal restoration and climate change adaptation projects in Nova Scotia and beyond.
CLIMAtlantic facilitates access to data and information that supports adaptation to climate change in Atlantic Canada through collaboration, networking, and partnerships.
Over the years the KWRC has developed tried and true restoration techniques for repairing our degraded riparian zones and improving habitats for terrestrial and aquatic species. Based on our extensive experience in restoration over the years, the Riparian Restoration Tool Box is a valuable asset for leading interest groups and community organizations through riparian habitat restoration projects.
The Indigenous Guardians Toolkit is a place for communities across Canada to learn, share and connect about Indigenous Guardian programs, be inspired by other communities, find practical information, and share experiences.
Take Action to Restore Our Coastlines. Find tools and information you need to launch a restoration project in your community.
