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Example of Water Quality Test Report
for the
Town of Qualicum Beach

 

Note:    As a general rule of thumb, samples taken in the winter or at high water table times of the year will show a lower reading of foreign components in the water when compared to samples taken at a low water table time of year.

 

Table #1
Conventional Parameters in Water
(Samples taken between February 7 and 9, and October 5, 2000)

Sample ID  3-1   3-1   4-2  BC Water Quality
Guidelines for
Drinking Water
Aquifer  #1   #1   #1 
Sample
Date		 Feb 9,
2000		 Oct 5,
2000		 Feb 7,
2000
Well
Preparation		 Developed Developed Developed
Sampled By TECL TECL TECL
Sample
Preparation		 Total Total Total
pH, Field 6.4 6.8 - 6.5-8.5
pH,
Laboratory		 6.8 6.92 6.85 6.5-8.5
Conductivity,
Field		 700 2180 - 700
Conductivity,
Laboratory		 987 2540 1830 700
True Colour - 50 - 15
Turbidity 430 <=1
Hardness
(total)
(CaC03)		 398 781 835 500
Total
Dissolved
Solids		 571 1460 1230 500
Total
Alkalinity
(CaC03)		 538 1320 1040 -
Bicarbonate
Alkalinity
(C03)		 - 1610 -
Carbonate
Alkalinity
(C03)		 less than
detection
limit
Hydroxide
Alkalinity (OH3)		 less than
detection
limit
Fluoride (F) 0.14 1.5
Chloride (Cl) 9.9 138 103 <=250
Nitrate and
Nitrite (N)		 - less than
detection
limit		 - -
Nitrate less than
detection
limit		 - 10
Nitrite less than
detection
limit		 - -
Sulphate
(SO4)		 39.1 5.7 37.1 <=500
Chemical
Oxygen
Demand		 35 94 78 -
Total
Kjeldahl
Nitrogen (N)		 16 - 2.48
Total
Phosphorus
(P)		 0.53 2.1
Total
Coliform
(confirmed)		 2 less than
detection
limit		 - 10
Faecal
Coliform		 less than
detection
limit		 less than
detection
limit		 0

Notes:
  • Some of the British Columbia Water Quality Guidelines for Drinking Water are considered to be aesthetic limits rather than "threats to human health".
  • Numbers in 'red' in the table exceed the British columbia Water Quality Guidelines for Drinking Water.

See: Table#2
Conventional Parameters in Water
Arrowsmith Watersheds Coalition Society
Photographs on this web site are courtesy of Bob Herbison and Gord Buckingham.
Last updated: 4/04/04