Water Quality
Status: Stable
Water is essential for our health and for our community to prosper. As water passes through our community, the impact can be determined by comparing upstream and downstream water quality.
The Strategic Plan has the long-term strategy to reduce the impact of storm-water run-off that is going into the river.
Where are we now?
The South Saskatchewan River upstream and downstream of Saskatoon has consistently averaged Good water quality.
Data Table
2005-07 | 2006-08 | 2007-09 | 2008-10 | 2009-11 | 2010-12 | 2011-13 | 2012-14 | 2013-15 | 2014-16 | 2015-17 | 2016-18 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Water Quality Index Upstream of Saskatoon (near Outlook) | 94.5 | 94.8 | 83.3 | 83.2 | 83.2 | 95.2 | 91.1 | 90.6 | 91.1 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Water Quality Index Downstream of Saskatoon (west Clarkboro) | 90.9 | 91 | 91.7 | 91.7 | 91.7 | 84.8 | 81.8 | 100 | 100 | 95.5 | 95.5 | 89.4 |
Water Quality Index | Range | Water Quality Description |
---|---|---|
Excellent | 95-100 | Water quality is protected with a virtual absence of threat or impairment; conditions very close to desirable levels. These index values can only be obtained if all measurements are within objectives virtually all of the time. |
Good | 80-94 | Water quality is protected with only a minor degree of threat or impairment; conditions rarely depart from desirable levels. |
Fair | 60-79 | Water quality is usually protected, but occasionally threatened or impaired; conditions sometimes depart from desirable levels. |
Marginal | 45-59 | Water quality is frequently threatened or impaired; conditions often depart from desirable levels. |
Poor | 0-44 | Water quality is almost always threatened or impaired; conditions usually depart from desirable levels. |
Source: Government of Saskatchewan, Water Security Agency, Annual Report for 2015-16: State of Drinking Water Quality in Saskatchewan
What are we doing?
South Saskatchewan River Watershed Stewards Inc.
Wetland Policy
Nutrient Recovery Facility
Soil Handling Strategy
Stormwater Management Plan
What can you do?
Don’t pour harmful household chemicals down the drain. Bring household hazardous waste to a City drop off event.
Use a car wash rather than washing your vehicle at home. Car washes use less water and are designed to keep soapy runoff out of the storm water system that drains directly to our river, harming plant and animal life.
Did You Know?
Saskatoon’s tap water is safe and healthy with over 55,000 tests per year monitoring quality.