Inventory of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Environmental and Occupational Health Data
Sources and Surveillance Activities

Inventory of Data Sources

Water Quality Database (Newfoundland)

Contacts
Martin Goebel, P.Eng.
Director
Water Resources Management Division
Department of the Environment
Government of Newfoundland
Confederation Bldg West, 4^th floor
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL
A1B 4J6
Tel: (709) 729-5703
E-mail: mgoebel@gov.nf.ca

Paul Neary
Computer Systems Analyst
[Address same as above]
Tel: (709)729-5743
E-mail: P.Neary@gov.nf.ca

Organization Maintaining the Database
Water Resources Management Division
Newfoundland Department of the Environment

Purpose of Database
Collects and stores data that archives provincial (Newfoundland) laboratory testing results.

Content
Data on drinking water quality parameters and water quality testing results (at tap and at source, both before and after) from sampled communities in Newfoundland. There are approximately 300 quarterly samples.

Data types: primarily chemical data (40 chemical parameters for drinking water). Periodic sampling of water supply sources with a focus on tap water quality monitoring. Geographic information: enumeration area, census division and subdivision. Geolocators: The Water Resources Management Division is in the process of including georeferencing in the database; some entries already have municipal codes.

Data coding/classification standards: Laboratory protocol for, e.g., missing data, and significant digits. Subject to change.

Year Database Established
1983

Coverage Period
1983 to 2002

Data Updates
Quarterly

Data Providers
Water Resources Management Division in the Newfoundland Department of the Environment; other provincial bodies.

Data Availability
Data are fully accessible to government bodies, various agencies, and the general public. Data are accessible via the Internet:
Water Resources Management (http://www.gov.nf.ca/env/Env/water_resources.asp)
Drinking Water Quality Data (http://www.gov.nf.ca/env/env/waterres/Surfacewater/Drinking/DrinkingWater.asp)
Surface Water Section Trihalomethanes (THMs) (http://www.gov.nf.ca/env/Env/waterres/Surfacewater/THM/THM.asp)

Reports
An annual report is sent to each community or municipality sampled, and is available in paper format and on the Web as a PDF file. Data can be exported in formatted text output. The database has the capacity to send information in spreadsheet or data dump format

Additional Comments
This database is the first of its kind in Canada; it is quite elaborate, widely available and fully accessible for the general public. It has generated significant spin-offs.

The database is associated with a monitoring/health Surveillance system (Drinking Water Quality Monitoring).

This database links with information in two other databases: 1) Community Accounts Indicators database; and 2) Council of Canadian Ministers of the Environment (CCME) web page (direct link). There are no specific protocols associated with database linkages; a disclaimer appears with information provided.

The list of communities sampled includes First Nations or Inuit communities.

Keywords for searches: tap water quality, chemical parameters, nutrients.

Documentation on the database is available in electronic format.