Water quality overview of Athabasca River Basin

• Main Authors: Corkum, L., Thompson, M. V., Hamilton, H. R.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 1985
• Subjects: Oil Sands; Surveys; Tar Sands; Alberta; Water Chemistry; Athabasca River
• Online Access: https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/efc3f993-6df8-40d7-9751-f65689f8fca2; https://doi.org/10.7939/R33T9D604

This report overviews major water quality patterns and trends for the Athabasca River and its major tributaries. In doing so it compares water quality data with surface water quality objectives, identifies spatial and temporal patterns, defines major factors affecting water quality, characterizes the relationship between basin hydrology and water quality and identifies river reaches with similar water quality characteristics. The data analyzed for this overview assessment include historical water quality records collected since 1970 at three fixed station network locations (Jasper, Town of Athabasca and Ft. McMurray), and the results of six basin wide synoptic sampling surveys done seasonally during 1984 and early 1985. The historical data define long term trends, whereas the synoptic surveys provide information on spatial patterns. Results indicate that except for the St. Regis Pulp Mill at Hinton, point source effluents from municipal and industrial plants have no broadly based influence on river water quality. In almost all instances, tributary streams account for 90% or more of all measured constituent 1oadings. At low river flows the Hinton Pulp Mill does affect river water quality for a distance of 50 to 75 km. Many of the Alberta Surface Water Quality Objectives (ASWQUO) are regularly exceeded, however most of these exceedances are not attributable to point or nonpoint source impacts. These provincial objectives do not account for regional variations in natural water quality. Comparison with Environment Canada's use specific water quality objectives indicate Athabasca River water can be used for all beneficial uses except contact recreation, which is 1imited much of the year by low water temperatures and high turbidity. Certain objectives for aquatic life and wildlife are occasionally exceeded, however, these violations are due to natural causes and pending further investigation are not thought to be significant. Three water quality zones can be defined for the Athabasca River. The Foothills Reach, ...