Water monitoring network celebrates 60 years

A photo of a PWQMN monitoring site.

Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network celebrates 60th anniversary

A province-wide network for monitoring of surface water quality in Ontario is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2024.

The Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN) began on June 10, 1964 when environmental monitoring staff collected the first water quality sample on a site on the North Maitland River, within the Healthy Lake Huron region.

Since that time, network partners have worked across Ontario to ensure there is the knowledge and data needed to make the necessary decisions to protect water quality in the province.

Mari Veliz, Healthy Watersheds Manager at Ausable Bayfield Conservation, would like to congratulate all the partners, particularly the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks that have helped the Network sample successfully for 60 years.  

This level of collaboration is a huge accomplishment, she said, and it is a benefit to the work to protect and enhance water quality in rivers and the Great Lakes.

To learn more about the Provincial (Stream) Water Quality Monitoring Network visit the Province of Ontario web page.

To learn how the data are used to support Watershed Report cards across Ontario, please go to the Find Your Report Card web page.