Environment and Water
Government of Alberta
Alberta.ca > Environment and Water > Information Centre

FAQ-Water-Water Quality

What is Alberta Environment doing to manage our water resources?

Alberta Environment is responsible for water policy and legislation to ensure the quality and quantity of our water resources and to ensure thriving ecosystems now and in the future. Water for Life: Alberta's Strategy for Sustainability is Alberta's strategy to address the province's current water challenges and proactively deal with water-related issues we may face in the future.

The Water Act guides our policy development and operational work, such as approvals and licences, guidelines, and codes of practice. If you want to know what Alberta Environment is doing to manage water resources provincially and regionally –– visit Alberta Environment's website.

Where can I find information on surface water quality in Alberta?

Alberta Environment's website has a wealth of information on surface water quality in Alberta. Below are a list of informative pages to visit:

  • Visit the Surface Water Quality Program page to learn about what is water quality, why it is monitored, and how we protect it.
  • The FAQ and Glossary page provides common questions and answers on lakes, rivers and problems/issues, followed by a general glossary of technical terms.
  • The Resources and Information pages provides access to information resources including fact sheets, recently released reports, maps and reference material.
  • Visit the River Water Quality Index page for a simple snapshot of annual water quality conditions in major rivers of the province.
  • Visit the Surface Water Quality Data page for water quality data reports.

Where can I find information on drinking water quality in Alberta?

In addition to managing our water resources, Alberta has a long history of providing safe drinking water to Albertans. Visit the Drinking Water Quality section of the Alberta Environment website to find detailed information about Alberta's regulated drinking water program. Assuring the safety of the public's regulated drinking water supply is a department priority.

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