CCME's Water Science and Policy workshops

Protecting human and aquatic ecosystem health in Canada involves understanding what is in the water, how it got there, and how it might affect users of that water. Through scientific research, we are able to understand more and more about how human activity and how natural occurrences affect water quality and ecosystems.

For instance, when scientists study wastewater discharged from a manufacturing plant, they can see if a pollution prevention program at that plant is working. By using minnows in a laboratory, they can test how certain chemicals or mixtures of substances may affect fish populations.

This research is done in a variety of ways and with many different partners from research facilities all over Canada. Governments, universities and businesses and industries run these facilities. Scientists share their research results with each other and the public.

Scientists study everything to do with water, not just what is in the water itself. Of course, they measure oxygen and chemicals and study micro-organisms and fish, but they also look at the amphibians or invertebrates/insects and other wildlife that live in or near the water and see how healthy they are. They also study plants. This is an ecosystem approach - one that looks at the health of all the living things that depend on the water, and not just at what is in a single glass of water.

Scientists are able to analyze chemicals in the water and in many cases trace them back to their sources. They also try to understand more about how bacteria act. And of course, scientists do some major detective work to find out the sources of substances that seem to have no explanation for being there!

Many water research centres have information about their work available on-line, as well as the results of scientific studies.

The National Water Research Institute (NWRI)
NWRI generates scientific knowledge through ecosystem-based research to support the development of sound government policies and programs, public decision-making, and early identification of environmental problems.

St. Lawrence Centre
Research and development information on the St. Lawrence River ecosystems.