Approved water quality guidelines
Last updated on May 16, 2025Approved water quality guidelines are policy statements and apply all over B.C.
Water quality guidelines are used to:
- Protect water values, including: aquatic life, wildlife, drinking water sources, agriculture (livestock watering and irrigation); and recreation
- Inform water quality assessments
- Support resource management decisions
- Provide the basis for water quality objectives
- Report on the state of water quality
- Promote water stewardship
Guideline tools
- Guideline look-up table
- Emerging contaminants tool
- Guideline download
- Guideline update table (PDF, 111KB)
Guideline summary reports
Guideline technical reports
6PPD-quinone
Aluminum
Arsenic
Benzene
Cadmium
Chlorate
Chloride
Chlorophenols
Copper
Calculate a copper guideline using the BC Biotic Ligand Model Software
Water quality guideline documents
Diisopropanolamine (DIPA)
Dissolved Oxygen
Lead
Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE)
Microbiological Indicators – Bacteria
Molybdenum
Naphthalene
Nickel
Nitrogen – Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia
Nutrients – Nutrients and Algae
Organic Carbon
Pharmaceutically-Active Compounds (PhACs): 17 α-ethinylestradiol (EE2)
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Sulfolane
Sulphate
Temperature
Toluene
Total Gas Pressure (TGP)
Guideline supplemental information
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WQG Derivation Protocol and Tool
Contact information
For more information, or to add your name to the water quality guidelines distribution list, please contact our Water Quality Guidelines Scientists: