Water Quality in Ontario 2012 REPORT Acknowledgements The staff of the Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment prepared this report, with contributions from the staff of the ministry’s Communications Branch and Land and Water Policy Branch, and from Laurentian University. We gratefully acknowledge their contributions of data, expertise, advice and comments. The following individuals contributed significantly to the content and organization of the report: John Bailey, Nadine Benoit, Satyendra Bhavsar, Anna DeSellas, Justin Dossett, Rachael Fletcher, Tara George, Jennifer Grixti, Paul Helm, Jocelyne Heneberry, Todd Howell, Vicky Jackson, Chris Jones, Georgina Kaltenecker, Jillian Kingston, Tanya Labencki, Scott MacRitchie, Mohamed Mohamed, Michelle Palmer, Andrew Paterson, Wolfgang Scheider, Janis Thomas, Aaron Todd, Katherine Welch, Huaxia Yao and Joelle Young (Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch), Michelle Borthwick, Tom Browne, Anne Edwards, Tiffanie Ing, Denise Jetten and Jeff Powers (Communications Branch), Rachel Melzer (Land and Water Policy Branch) and Bill Keller (Laurentian University). Finally, we would also like to thank our partners for their ongoing work. Without them, valuable monitoring data could not be collected on such a wide scale. PIBS# 9493e © 2013, Queen’s Printer for Ontario Le document Points clés du rapport de 2012 sur la qualité de l’eau en Ontario est disponible en français. Pour en obtenir une copie, veuillez communiquer avec le Centre d’information du Ministère par téléphone, au 1 800 565-4923, ou par courriel, à l’adresse [email protected]. On peut aussi lire les points clés du rapport sur le site Web du Ministère à l’adresse www.ontario.ca/environnement. For more information on this report, please contact the Ontario Ministry of the Environment at [email protected] You can also contact the ministry’s Public Information Centre at 1-800-565-4923, 416-325-4000, TTY 1-800-515-2759 or at [email protected]. You can download a copy of this report at www.ontario.ca/environment. Table of Contents Acknowledgements .........................................................................................................................................................2 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................................4 1.0 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................................8 1.1 Water Quality in Ontario ..........................................................................................................................................9 1.2 The Ontario Government’s Role in Protecting Water Quality .................................................................................9 2.0 Water Quality Monitoring ...................................................................................................................................12 2.1 The Importance of Water Quality Monitoring ........................................................................................................12 2.2 Water Quality Monitoring Partnerships .................................................................................................................16 2.3 Celebrating 40 Years of Monitoring the Great Lakes (1972 to 2012) ....................................................................19 3.0 Nutrient and Algal Issues ...................................................................................................................................22 3.1 The Role of Nutrients in Water Quality ..................................................................................................................22 3.2 The Great Lakes ....................................................................................................................................................25 3.3 Inland Lakes ..........................................................................................................................................................28 3.4 Streams .................................................................................................................................................................32 3.5 Algal Blooms .........................................................................................................................................................35 3.6 Algal Surveys .........................................................................................................................................................37 4.0 Contaminants ......................................................................................................................................................40 4.1 Monitoring Results for Mercury in Ontario’s Water ...............................................................................................43 4.2 Monitoring Results for Metals in Sudbury Lakes ..................................................................................................47 4.3 Monitoring Results for Chemicals of Emerging Concern .....................................................................................51 4.4 Cleaning Up the Great Lakes Basin ......................................................................................................................55 5.0 Climate Change ...................................................................................................................................................60 5.1 Inland Lakes ..........................................................................................................................................................61 5.2 Streams .................................................................................................................................................................64 5.3 Groundwater .........................................................................................................................................................67 5.4 Far North ...............................................................................................................................................................71 6.0 What are Other Issues Affecting Water Quality? ............................................................................................73 6.1 Invasive Species in Lake of the Woods ................................................................................................................73 6.2 Pathogens .............................................................................................................................................................78 6.3 Calcium Decline in Inland Lakes ...........................................................................................................................80 7.0 Summary ..............................................................................................................................................................83 8.0 References ...........................................................................................................................................................85 9.0 Words and Terms ................................................................................................................................................89 Executive Summary The Ministry of the Environment has been monitoring and protecting water quality for the people of Ontario since 1972. Clean and abundant water resources are the foundation for the quality of life we enjoy in Ontario. This year’s Water Quality in Ontario Report provides findings from the ministry’s water quality monitoring programs for Ontario’s lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater. The report features results for three main areas of water monitoring: nutrient and algal issues, contaminants and effects of climate change. It also features results for other issues affecting water quality such as invasive species and pathogens. We measure the quality of Ontario’s water resources throughout the province. Every year we collect thousands of samples of water, sediment and aquatic life. Our laboratories test the samples for hundreds of elements and compounds. These include basic water quality indicators (e.g. pH, calcium and nutrients such as phosphorus) and pollutants (e.g. mercury, lead, PCBs and pesticides). Our world-renowned water monitoring programs study what is currently affecting water quality in specific areas of the province and track water quality conditions over time. This information contributes to leading-edge science that we commonly publish in scientific journals, technical reports and more recently, the Water Quality in Ontario Reports. Our monitoring data are also available through the data downloads section of the ministry’s website. The ministry also reports on the ongoing work to protect Ontario’s drinking water through the Chief Drinking Water Inspector Annual Report and the Minister’s Annual Report on Drinking Water. We are continuously improving our monitoring methods and introducing innovative technologies to study the effects of climate change and detect chemicals of emerging concern in the environment. Our monitoring and research activities help develop policies and programs to protect and improve water quality in Ontario. For example, our monitoring played a key role in tracking the restoration of Jackfish Bay in Lake Superior, setting a goal for reducing phosphorus loading into Lake Simcoe and developing advisories for the safe consumption 4 Water Quality in Ontario – 2012 Report Executive Summary of Ontario’s sport fish. Ontario has extended its temperatures have resulted in a shorter ice-cover monitoring to the Far North, including areas with season in some inland lakes and changes in the recent discoveries of mineral deposits that include types and structure of algae in many lakes in chromite. Ontario’s Far North. The findings presented in this report show we In Lake Erie, blue-green algal blooms are re- are achieving some successes in protecting and appearing in the lake’s western and central basins. restoring parts of the Great Lakes, Lake Simcoe Also, reported algal blooms have increased in many and other water bodies. However, much more work areas of the province. Algal blooms can negatively remains. affect recreational activities and drinking water. Ministry staff work closely with local public health Thanks to clean up efforts in the north, Spanish teams when responding to algal blooms. Harbour and Jackfish Bay have started their environmental recovery and Peninsula Harbour is Invasive mussels are redistributing nutrients into steps closer to being restored. Three of 17 Areas of the nearshore areas of the lower Great Lakes. The Concern have been delisted; Collingwood Harbour Ontario government is monitoring invasive species (1994), Severn Sound (2003) and Wheatley Harbour in the Great Lakes through partnerships with the (2010). federal government. Levels of contaminants such as PCBs, dioxins A review of data from two southwestern Ontario and furans have decreased in Great Lakes fish by streams in agricultural areas suggest that, when as much as 90 per cent in the last four decades. compared to 40 years ago, there has been no drop The 2013-2014 Guide to Eating Ontario Sport in the amount of nutrients entering streams, while Fish shows a modest decrease in consumption preliminary evidence suggest that in some streams, restrictions compared to the previous guide. nutrients may be increasing. Ontario is working with its partners to ensure that agricultural and Over a 40-year period, provincial actions to reduce residential owners reduce phosphorus loads from mercury emissions have resulted in lower mercury sources such as fertilizers, animal waste and failing levels in fish in the Great Lakes, northern inland septic systems. lakes and the English-Wabigoon River system. Although levels of some contaminants such as Phosphorus levels in Lake Simcoe, the Great Lakes PCBs and dioxins have decreased in Great Lakes and some streams and inland lakes in Ontario have fish, some newer commercial chemicals have been declined in response to management actions. found to persist. These include flame retardants and oil and water repellents. Governments and Reductions in the damaging effects of acid rain industries have begun to take action by banning or have led to the recovery of many lakes in central phasing out the use of some of these chemicals and and Northern Ontario. monitoring is ongoing. Our actions are proving effective and Ontario’s Calcium monitoring results are reported for the water quality continues to improve but population first time in this year’s Water Quality in Ontario growth and emerging issues, such as invasive Report. Calcium levels in Ontario’s inland lakes are species and climate change, are presenting new going down due to acid rain, timber harvesting and challenges. regrowth. Lower calcium levels are already affecting Ontario’s water resources are already experiencing calcium-rich organisms such as zooplankton. The the effects of climate change. Warmer air ministry has increased its monitoring efforts to 5 Water Quality in Ontario – 2012 Report Executive Summary better understand the impacts of changing calcium The Lake Simcoe Water Quality Update, released in levels. May 2010, has more information on three decades of Lake Simcoe water quality trends. The ministry recently released the Minister’s Annual Report on Nutrient and Algal Monitoring Lake Simcoe, 2011-2012. The report shows that significant progress has been made to enhance the Routine monitoring of nutrient inputs began shoreline, lower phosphorus levels and encourage in the 1960s with weekly monitoring of algal the return of native Lake Trout. concentrations in raw water samples from water treatment plants throughout the Great Lakes. Algal Blooms in Ontario The ministry currently has several programs that monitor nutrients and algae in the Great Lakes, Algal blooms are a concern in Ontario lakes and inland lakes and streams. In this and previous Water rivers. Nuisance algal growth can be unsightly Quality in Ontario Reports, data have shown some and cause taste and odour issues. Blooms of decreases in phosphorus levels in some Ontario cyanobacteria — technically a bacteria, although lakes, rivers and streams. commonly called blue-green algae — are of particular concern since many species produce While phosphorus levels in some of Ontario’s toxins that can affect the health of humans and water bodies have decreased over time, we are still other animals. Excessive algal growth can affect facing significant challenges and need to reduce drinking water, recreational activities like swimming phosphorus inputs into our waters. The ministry is and fishing, and shoreline property values. continuing to work with its partners on these issues. Human activities and the resulting nutrient Phosphorus Monitoring in enrichment, climatic warming, acidification and the spread of invasive species can all promote algal Lake Simcoe growth and worsen blooms. Ministry scientists are studying algal blooms to understand the factors The ministry, in partnership with the Ministry of that control algal behaviour and growth. Their work Natural Resources and the Lake Simcoe Region will contribute to actions needed to reduce the Conservation Authority, has been monitoring the occurrence of algal blooms. ecological health of Lake Simcoe since the 1970s. Currently, sampling occurs at 10 water quality Actions to promote good water quality, particularly sampling stations. nutrient reduction efforts, will continue to be essential to reduce the extent of algal blooms in Four decades ago, Lake Simcoe had problems with Ontario. excessive growth of plants attached to the lake bottom near the shoreline and of small, free-floating plants called phytoplankton in the open water. Monitoring contaminants Starting in the 1980s, initiatives began to reduce The ministry routinely monitors for contaminants the amount of phosphorus entering the lake. The in our water and works closely with partner improvements in deepwater dissolved oxygen mean organizations to share scientific expertise and to that naturally produced Lake Trout are being caught coordinate efforts in our environmental monitoring again in the lake. programs. 6 Water Quality in Ontario – 2012 Report Executive Summary Long-term monitoring programs provide the Other Issues Affecting scientific information necessary to identify emerging Water Quality issues, evaluate regulatory actions and remediation efforts and develop new policies and regulations. While the ministry’s monitoring programs focus Our program data shows government actions to on studying the effects of nutrients, contaminants ban and limit contaminants have resulted in long- and climate change on Ontario’s water, we also term decreases in many contaminants in Ontario’s work with our many partners to examine other water resources. issues that affect water quality such as invasive species and the presence of pathogens and other While we have made progress in reducing some microbial contamination that may present a risk to contaminants in Ontario’s water, more work is human health. needed to further reduce toxic emissions and clean up contaminated areas in lakes and streams. The ministry conducts ongoing monitoring of pathogen contamination in a variety of water Through working with our partners, we have sources in Ontario. In the summer months, local achieved measurable success in cleaning up health units throughout Ontario regularly test water contaminated areas in the Great Lakes basin like at bathing beaches and post signs if the beaches Collingwood Harbour, Severn Sound, Wheatley are not safe for swimming. People should check Harbour and Peninsula Harbour where extensive with local health units before swimming. clean up actions have brought us closer to restoring local water quality. While there have been improvements, all of us still need to do more to protect Ontario’s water quality from new and ongoing problems by: Climate Change ■■Continuing our efforts to reduce phosphorus Ontario’s water resources are likely to experience levels to discourage excessive algae growth the effects of climate change. In some inland lakes, and decrease harmful blue-green algal blooms warmer air temperatures have resulted in shorter ■■Taking ongoing actions to reduce toxic ice-cover seasons. Lower water levels and warmer emissions and clean up contaminated areas in water temperatures may also affect the quality of lakes and streams our lakes and rivers. ■■Continuing our efforts to clean up the Ontario is working closely with communities, Great Lakes industries and researchers to reduce greenhouse gases and to develop adaptation strategies. For ■■Taking actions to reduce the effects of climate a more detailed explanation of our strategies, see change and prevent the spread of invasive Ontario’s Climate Change Progress Report for more species information. The Ministry of the Environment’s monitoring and This report presents monitoring data that reporting programs provide essential information to documents more effects of climate change on help protect water quality in Ontario. Ontario’s lakes, streams and groundwater. 7 Water Quality in Ontario – 2012 Report 1.0 Introduction Ontario is a large province covering of the data collected allows our scientists to work with their many science partners, our program and over one million square kilometres. policy divisions and the public to design legislation, Freshwater occupies one-sixth of this regulations and even new monitoring technology to total area — the largest proportion ensure our environmental management actions are of all provinces and territories in supported by hard evidence. Canada. Our lakes, rivers, streams and This third Water Quality in Ontario Report highlights groundwater are essential to our health, findings from our water monitoring programs that directly relate to the government’s environmental our environment and our economic priorities. These include protecting the Great Lakes prosperity. They supply our drinking and Lake Simcoe, toxics reduction, climate change water and are home to many plant and extending efforts into the Far North. This report and animal communities. They also focuses on three main areas of water monitoring: nutrient and algal issues; contaminants; and the play a vital role in industry, agriculture, effects of climate change. Another chapter focuses recreation and food processing. on other issues that affect water quality, such as invasive species and pathogens. Given its importance, everyone in Ontario has a role to play in protecting our water. The Ministry of This report has technical information and uses the Environment is taking action on many fronts to words and terms specific to water quality conserve and protect Ontario’s water resources management that may not be familiar to all readers. through its world-renowned water monitoring There is an explanation of these in the Words and programs. Terms section at the end of the report. Our water monitoring programs provide information If, after reading this report, you have any questions about ambient water quality conditions and trends or would like more information, please contact the across the province. This information contributes ministry by email at [email protected] or to leading-edge science that we commonly publish call the ministry’s Public Information Centre at in scientific journals, technical reports and more 1-800-565-4923, 416-325-4000, recently, the Water Quality in Ontario Reports. Our TTY 1-800-515-2759. monitoring data are also available through the data downloads section of the ministry’s website. Ontario borders on four of the five Great Lakes. Our monitoring programs are a result of the We have more than 250,000 lakes and collaborative work with our many partners. These 500,000 kilometres of rivers and streams, and relationships help us maintain and increase our vast groundwater resources. scientific and technical expertise, expand the scope of our programs, interpret and report findings in a timely manner and keep abreast of new research. The ministry takes the approach that the best science will lead to best practices. Our programs and policies aimed at improving and protecting our water quality are based on the best science available. Strict monitoring and careful interpretation 88 WWaatteerr QQuuaalliittyy iinn OOnnttaarriioo –– 22001122 RReeppoorrtt 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Like the Far North’s aquatic ecosystems, water quality across the rest of the province is also Water Quality in Ontario susceptible to climate change. The last few decades have seen a connection between increased water Ontario’s geology has shaped its regional land use temperature in Ontario lakes and increased air patterns and water-quality conditions. Northern temperatures caused by climate change. Average and southern Ontario have different geology and temperatures could rise by as much as 8°C over the land use. In southern Ontario, the sedimentary next century. A warmer climate could result in milder rocks and overlying glacial deposits have created winters and longer growing seasons. There could thick, nutrient-rich soils that are ideal for agricultural also be more frequent severe weather events, such development. Three of the five Great Lakes (Huron, as storms, floods, droughts and heat waves. Erie and Ontario) surround southern Ontario. As a result, there is dense population and industrial, agricultural and urban usage. This has led to a 1.2 range of human-induced water quality problems, The Ontario Government’s Role including excessive loading of nutrients and the in Protecting Water Quality release of toxic substances into Ontario’s water bodies. Ontario has some of North America’s most rigorous In contrast, thin soils typically cover the Canadian programs and legislation to protect water quality. Shield region of Northern Ontario. There is poor Our water protection actions are founded on drainage and the region is largely undeveloped. science and are often ecosystem- or watershed- The rocks of the Canadian Shield contain the large based. We work with a range of partners to protect, mineral deposits that are so important to Ontario’s restore and preserve water quality using best economy. A few urban areas have developed practices and best science. around the mining and forestry industry, and there The Ontario Water Resources Act is a key piece of are seasonal cottages on the shores of some of legislation. The act is designed to conserve, protect the lakes in this region. Despite the Shield’s lower and manage Ontario’s groundwater and surface population density, water quality issues also affect water. it. In particular, the soft water of the region’s lakes and wetlands is especially vulnerable to the effects Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy is Ontario’s road of acid deposition and excess nutrients. map to protect the Great Lakes. It outlines the challenges affecting the lakes, and complements The Hudson Bay Lowlands are north of the Shield. Ontario’s Great Lakes protection and restoration They cover part of Ontario’s Far North region. This actions under the Canada-Ontario Agreement. northernmost area of Ontario reaches to the shores of Hudson Bay and James Bay. Its characteristics The Safeguarding and Sustaining Ontario’s Water are poor drainage, wetland domination and small, Act protects in law a historic agreement that sparsely populated settlements along the Hudson Ontario, Quebec and the eight Great Lake U.S. Bay shores. The aquatic ecosystems that make states signed in 2005 to strengthen the existing up the Shield and the rest of the Far North region ban on water diversions out of the Great Lakes-St. are potentially vulnerable to various stressors. Lawrence River, Nelson and Hudson Bay basins. These include resource extraction (e.g. mining and forestry) and climate change. The Lake Simcoe Protection Act and the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan, the first plan of its kind in Ontario, focus on improving Lake Simcoe’s 9 Water Quality in Ontario – 2012 Report 1.0 Introduction water quality, protecting the wider watershed’s The Cosmetic Pesticides Ban prohibits the sale and natural heritage and resources, and managing the use of certain pesticides for cosmetic purposes on effects of climate change and invasive species. The lawns, gardens, parks and schoolyards. Lake Simcoe Phosphorus Reduction Strategy aims to reduce phosphorus levels by almost 40 per cent. Did you know? The Clean Water Act ensures that safeguarding source water is the first line of defense in protecting Ontario’s ban on over 100 cosmetic Ontario’s drinking water. The act results in locally pesticides, including certain kinds of developed, science-based, collaborative actions to herbicides, fungicides and insecticides, is protect sources of drinking water. one of the toughest in the world. Levels of three common lawn care pesticides The Far North Act is the foundation for land-use decreased by about 80 per cent in urban planning that protects the unique ecology and vast streams in the first year of Ontario’s boreal environment of Ontario’s far north forests cosmetic pesticides ban. and peat lands. The Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Much of the scientific information that forms Act sets a path to help Ontarians use water more the basis for Ontario’s water quality protection efficiently and further develop and market clean legislation and regulations is directly due to the water technology and services to Canada and the ministry’s monitoring and reporting programs. world. The next chapter of this report has details on our Helping regulated facilities use fewer toxic programs. substances and move to safer alternatives with the Toxics Reduction Act is part of the province’s toxics reduction program and reduces the amount of toxins entering our water supply. 10 Water Quality in Ontario – 2012 Report