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Trend evaluation of water quality parameters in the Niagara and St. Lawrence Rivers
1Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
|November 15, 2013
Summary
Water quality analysis of the Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers revealed significant decreases in specific conductivity, sodium, and chloride levels from 1977 to 1987. Discharge and nutrient levels showed no significant trends during this period.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Quality Monitoring
- River Systems Analysis
Background:
- Environment Canada monitored water quality in the Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers from 1977 to 1987.
- Analysis focused on physical and chemical parameters, including nutrients and major ions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze seasonal and annual variations in water quality indicators.
- To identify trends in water quality parameters over a decade.
Main Methods:
- Employed parametric methods like moving averages and linear regression.
- Utilized nonparametric methods, specifically Spearman's rank coefficient, for trend analysis.
Main Results:
- Observed significant decreases in specific conductivity, sodium, and chloride concentrations.
- Detected no significant trends in river discharge or nutrient levels over the study period.
Conclusions:
- Water quality in the studied sections of the Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers has shown improvement regarding specific ions.
- Continued monitoring is essential to understand long-term river health and the impact of environmental changes.
