Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality

Prepared by the Federal-Provincial Working Group on Recreational Water Quality of the Federal-Provincial Advisory Committee on Environmental and Occupational Health

1992
ISBN: 0-660-14239-2
Cat. No.: H49-70/1991E

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Table of Contents

• Preface
• Members of the Federal-Provincial Working Group on Recreational Water Quality
• Acknowledgements
• 1. Purpose and Scope
• 2. General Requirements for Recreational Water Quality
  • 2.1 Environmental Health Assessments
  • 2.2 Epidemiological Evidence
  • 2.3 Indicator Organism Limits
  • 2.4 Presence of Pathogens
• 3. Microbiological Characteristics
  • 3.1 Indicator Organisms for Fresh Waters
    • 3.1.1 Escherichia coli and fecal coliforms
  • 3.2 Indicator Organisms for Marine Waters
    • 3.2.1 Enterococci
  • 3.3 Coliphages
  • 3.4 Pathogenic Organisms
    • 3.4.1 Pseudomonas aeruginos
    • 3.4.2 Staphylococcus aureus
    • 3.4.3 Salmonella
    • 3.4.4 Shigella
    • 3.4.5 Aeromonas
    • 3.4.6 Campylobacter jejuni
    • 3.4.7 Legionella
    • 3.4.8 Viruses
    • 3.4.9 Protozoa
    • 3.4.10 Toxic phytoplankton
• 4. Nuisance Organisms
• 5. Physical and Chemical Characteristics
  • 5.1 pH
  • 5.2 Temperature
  • 5.3 Aesthetics
    • 5.3.1 Turbidity
    • 5.3.2 Clarity - Light penetration
    • 5.3.3 Colour
    • 5.3.4 Oil and grease
  • 5.4 Chemical Characteristics
    • 5.4.1 Inorganic chemicals
    • 5.4.2 Organic chemicals
• 6. Microbiological Sampling and Analysis
  • 6.1 Sampling
    • 6.1.1 Sampling locations
    • 6.1.2 Frequency of sampling
    • 6.1.3 Sampling procedures for water
    • 6.1.4 Sampling procedures for sediments
    • 6.1.5 Sample preservation and storage
  • 6.2 Methods for Microbiological Analysis
    • 6.2.1 Escherichia coli and fecal coliforms
    • 6.2.2 Enterococci
    • 6.2.3 Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    • 6.2.4 Staphylococcus aureus
    • 6.2.5 Salmonella and Shigella
    • 6.2.6 Aeromonas
    • 6.2.7 Campylobacter jejuni
    • 6.2.8 Legionella
    • 6.2.9 Protozoa
    • 6.2.10 Viruses and coliphages
    • 6.2.11 Toxic phytoplankton
• 7. Posting of Recreational Waters
• Appendix 1:  Bathing Area Environmental Assessment
• References