Sample Types
Sample types and parameter classes are used to categorize water monitoring sites in the Water Data Catalogue. A listing of parameters included in each parameter class is provided to aid parameter-based searches. Sample type
Aquatic organisms: Measurements of species occurrence and population density of aquatic organisms.
Parameter class
Fish: The collection, counting, and identification of fish species to determine species occurrence and/or population density.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Biological characteristics, age | years |
| Biological characteristics, diet | species composition by volume |
| Biological characteristics, gender | male/female/unknown |
| Biological characteristics, length | mm |
| Biological characteristics, maturity | category |
| Biological characteristics, weight | g |
| Relative abundance, catch per unit effort | count/time and sample gear characteristics |
| Species presence/absence | binary |
Parameter class
Invertebrates: The collection, counting, and identification of macroinvertebrates to determine species occurrence and/or population density.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Benthic invertebrate composition | species type |
| Benthic invertebrate density | count |
| Benthic invertebrate presence/absence | binary |
Parameter class
Other: Other measurements not classified in given categories.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Canopy coverage | % |
| Habitat types (pools, rapids, riffles, straight runs) | category |
| Macrophyte coverage | % |
| Riparian zone (coniferous, deciduous, grasses/ferns, shrubs) | category |
Sample type
Hydrological: Hydrological measurements including streamflow, surface and groundwater level.
Parameter class
Depth to groundwater: The distance from the surface of the ground (or top of well casing) to the top surface of the water under the ground (in a borehole).
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Original static water level below ground surface | m |
| Water level below top of casing | m |
| Water level, gauge or piezometric reading | m |
Parameter class
Other: Other measurements not classified in given categories.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Average velocity | m/s |
| Bankfull-wetted depth | cm |
| Channel depth, average | cm |
| Channel depth, maximum | cm |
| Channel width, bankful | m |
| Channel width, wetted | m |
| Date of ice break-up | day-of-year |
| Gradient over 30 degrees | % |
| Ice thickness | m |
| Instantaneous velocity | m/s |
| Maximum velocity | m/s |
| Slope | m/m |
Parameter class
Streamflow discharge: The per unit time volume of water flow.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Instantaneous discharge | m^3/s |
Parameter class
Surface water level: An arbitrary water level relative to a benchmark elevation.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Water level above a geodetic datum | m |
Sample type
Meteorological: Meteorological measurements including temperature, precipitation, wind, humidity, and other climate-related parameters.
Parameter class
Humidity: Measurements of humidity, the quantity of water vapour in a given volume of surrounding air.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Daily maximum relative humidity | % |
| Daily minimum relative humidity | % |
| Hourly relative humidity | % |
Parameter class
Other: Other measurements not classified in given categories.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Barometric pressure | mb |
| Direct short radiation | W/m^2 |
| Hourly station pressure | kPa |
| Hourly visibility | km |
| Net radiation | W/m^2 |
| Reflected short radiation | W/m^2 |
| Soil heat flux | W/m^2 |
| Soil moisture | WC |
Parameter class
Precipitation: Rain or snowfall amount recorded in liquid water equivalent.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| 24 hour rainfall at noon PST | mm |
| Daily total precipitation | mm |
| Daily total rain | mm |
| Daily total snow | cm |
| One hour rainfall | mm |
Parameter class
Temperature: An index of radiation input – relative class of heating or cooling.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Air-snow interface temperature | C |
| Daily maximum temperature | C |
| Daily mean temperature | C |
| Daily minimum temperature | C |
| Hourly air temperature | C |
| Hourly dew point temperature | C |
| Soil temperature | C |
| Surface temperature | C |
Parameter class
Wind: Measurements of wind direction and speed.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| 10-min mean wind speed | km/h |
| Daily direction of maximum gust | Degrees true |
| Daily speed of maximum gust | km/h |
| Hourly maximum wind speed | km/h |
| Hourly wind direction | Degrees true |
| Hourly wind speed | km/h |
Sample type
Microbiological: Microbiological examinations of water samples to determine sanitary quality.
Parameter class
Microbiological: Microbiological tests for the detection and enumeration of indicator organisms and pathogens.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Coliform, Eschericia | cfu/100mL |
| Coliform, fecal | cfu/100mL |
| Coliform, fecal, MPN technique | MPN/100mL |
| Coliforms, Eschericia, MPN technique | MPN/100mL |
| Coliforms, total | cfu/100mL |
| Coliforms, total, MPN technique | MPN/100mL |
| Giardia, string wound filter sent for analysis | count/100L |
| Giardia, water sample sent for analysis | count/L |
| Heterotrophic plate count | cfu/1mL |
| Heterotrophic plate count, luminescent technique | MPN/mL |
Sample type
Sediment chemistry: Analyses for organic, inorganic, nutrient and metal compounds in sediments.
Parameter class
Inorganics: Analyses for inorganic nonmetallic constituents, including sulphate, fluoride, cyanide, chlorine, bromine, pH, and dissolved oxygen.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Cyanide, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Sulphur, total in sediment | mg/kg |
Parameter class
Metals: Measurements of dissolved, extractable or total metals including arsenic, cadmium, copper, gold, iron, lead, mercury, selenium, zinc, and more.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Aluminum, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Antimony, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Arsenic, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Barium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Beryllilum, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Bismuth, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Boron, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Cadmium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Calcium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Chromium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Cobalt, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Copper, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Gold, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Iron, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Lead, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Magnesium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Manganese, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Mercury, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Metals, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Molybdenum, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Nickel, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Potassium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Selenium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Silver, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Sodium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Strontium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Thallium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Tin, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Titanium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Vanadium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Zinc, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Zirconium, total in sediment | mg/kg |
Parameter class
Nutrients: Analyses for phosphorous and nitrogen based compounds.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen, total in sediment | mg/kg |
| Phosphorus, total phosphate in sediment, as P | mg/kg |
| Phosphorus, total reacitve phosphate in sediment | mg/kg |
Parameter class
Organics: Analyses for aggregate organic constituents and indvidual organic compounds including biochemical oxygen demand, phenols, oil & grease, and benzene.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Carbon, total organic in sediment | mg/kg |
| Hydrocarbons | mg/kg |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | mg/kg |
Parameter class
Other: Other measurements not classified in given categories.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Dominant substrate type | category |
| Dominant sustrate size | mm |
| Mean particle size | µm |
| Moisture Content | % |
| Particle size fraction analysis | % by weight |
| Solids, fixed | mg/kg |
| Solids, volatile | mg/kg |
| Substrate embeddedness | category |
Sample type
Snowpack: Snow measurements including snow depth and snow water equivalent.
Parameter class
Other: Other measurements not classified in given categories.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Snow density | % |
Parameter class
Snow depth: The distance from the top surface of the snow to the surface of the ground.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Snow depth | cm |
Parameter class
Snow water equivalent: The depth of liquid water contained in the snowpack, if the snowpack was melted.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Snow water equivalent | mm |
Sample type
Water chemistry: Measurements of physical properties of water; analyses for organic, inorganic, nutrient and metal compounds; as well as biological and toxicity testing.
Parameter class
Inorganics: Analyses for inorganic nonmetallic constituents, including sulphate, fluoride, cyanide, chlorine, bromine, pH, and dissolved oxygen.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Acidity or alkalinity, field | pH |
| Acidity or alkalinity, laboratory | pH |
| Bromine | mg/L |
| Carbon dioxide gas | ppm |
| Chloride | mg/L |
| Chlorine, free residual | mg/L |
| Chlorine, total | mg/L |
| Cyanate | mg/L |
| Cyanide, free | mg/L |
| Cyanide, strong acid dissociable | mg/L |
| Cyanide, total | mg/L |
| Cyanide, weak acid dissociable | mg/L |
| Fluoride | mg/L |
| Fluorine | mg/L |
| Oxygen, dissolved, field | mg/L |
| Ratio of deuterium and oxygen isotopes | ratio |
| Simple cyanide, pyridine-barbituric acid method | mg/L |
| Sulphate, dissolved | mg/L |
| Sulphate, not specified as total or dissolved | mg/L |
| Sulphate, total | mg/L |
| Sulphide | mg/L |
| Sulphite, dissolved | mg/L |
| Thiocyanate | mg/L |
Parameter class
Metals: Measurements of dissolved, extractable or total metals including arsenic, cadmium, copper, gold, iron, lead, mercury, selenium, zinc, and more.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Aluminum, dissolved | mg/L |
| Aluminum, extractable | mg/L |
| Aluminum, total | mg/L |
| Antimony, dissolved | mg/L |
| Antimony, extractable | mg/L |
| Antimony, total | mg/L |
| Arsenic, dissolved | mg/L |
| Arsenic, extractable | mg/L |
| Arsenic, total | mg/L |
| Barium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Barium, extractable | mg/L |
| Barium, total | mg/L |
| Beryllium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Beryllium, extractable | mg/L |
| Beryllium, total | mg/L |
| Bismuth, dissolved | mg/L |
| Bismuth, extractable | mg/L |
| Bismuth, total | mg/L |
| Boron, dissolved | mg/L |
| Boron, extractable | mg/L |
| Boron, total | mg/L |
| Cadmium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Cadmium, extractable | mg/L |
| Cadmium, total | mg/L |
| Calcium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Calcium, extractable | mg/L |
| Calcium, total | mg/L |
| Chromium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Chromium, extractable | mg/L |
| Chromium, total | mg/L |
| Cobalt, dissolved | mg/L |
| Cobalt, extractable | mg/L |
| Cobalt, total | mg/L |
| Copper, dissolved | mg/L |
| Copper, extractable | mg/L |
| Copper, total | mg/L |
| Iron, dissolved | mg/L |
| Iron, extractable | mg/L |
| Iron, total | mg/L |
| Lanthanium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Lanthanium, extractable | mg/L |
| Lanthanium, total | mg/L |
| Lead, dissolved | mg/L |
| Lead, extractable | mg/L |
| Lead, total | mg/L |
| Lithium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Lithium, extractable | mg/L |
| Lithium, total | mg/L |
| Magnesium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Magnesium, extractable | mg/L |
| Magnesium, total | mg/L |
| Manganese, dissolved | mg/L |
| Manganese, extractable | mg/L |
| Manganese, total | mg/L |
| Mercury, dissolved | mg/L |
| Mercury, extractable | mg/L |
| Mercury, total | mg/L |
| Molybdenum, dissolved | mg/L |
| Molybdenum, extractable | mg/L |
| Molybdenum, total | mg/L |
| Nickel, dissolved | mg/L |
| Nickel, extractable | mg/L |
| Nickel, total | mg/L |
| Phosphorus, dissolved (not colourmetric) | mg/L |
| Phosphorus, extractable (not colourmetric) | mg/L |
| Phosphorus, total (not colourmetric) | mg/L |
| Potassium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Potassium, extractable | mg/L |
| Potassium, total | mg/L |
| Selenium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Selenium, extractable | mg/L |
| Selenium, total | mg/L |
| Selenium, total by graphite furnace method | mg/L |
| Silicon, dissolved | mg/L |
| Silicon, extractable | mg/L |
| Silicon, total | mg/L |
| Silver, dissolved | mg/L |
| Silver, extractable | mg/L |
| Silver, total | mg/L |
| Sodium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Sodium, extractable | mg/L |
| Sodium, total | mg/L |
| Strontium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Strontium, extractable | mg/L |
| Strontium, total | mg/L |
| Sulphur, dissolved | mg/L |
| Sulphur, extractable | mg/L |
| Sulphur, total | mg/L |
| Tellurium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Tellurium, extractable | mg/L |
| Tellurium, total | mg/L |
| Thallium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Thallium, extractable | mg/L |
| Thallium, total | mg/L |
| Thorium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Thorium, extractable | mg/L |
| Thorium, total | mg/L |
| Tin, dissolved | mg/L |
| Tin, extractable | mg/L |
| Tin, total | mg/L |
| Titanium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Titanium, extractable | mg/L |
| Titanium, total | mg/L |
| Tungsten, dissolved | mg/L |
| Tungsten, extractable | mg/L |
| Tungsten, total | mg/L |
| Uranium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Uranium, extractable | mg/L |
| Uranium, total | mg/L |
| Vanadium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Vanadium, extractable | mg/L |
| Vanadium, total | mg/L |
| Zinc, dissolved | mg/L |
| Zinc, extractable | mg/L |
| Zinc, total | mg/L |
| Zirconium, dissolved | mg/L |
| Zirconium, extractable | mg/L |
| Zirconium, total | mg/L |
Parameter class
Nutrients: Analyses for phosphorous and nitrogen based compounds.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Ammonium nitrogen (NH3, NH4+), as N | mg/L |
| Nitrate nitrogen, as N | mg/L |
| Nitrite and nitrate nitrogen, as N | mg/L |
| Nitrite nitrogen, as N | mg/L |
| Phosphorus, total dissolved phosphate, as P | mg/L |
| Phosphorus, total phosphate, as P | mg/L |
| Phosphorus, total reactive (ortho) phosphate, as P | mg/L |
| Total kjeldahl nitrogen (organic nitrogen), as N | mg/L |
Parameter class
Organics: Analyses for aggregate organic constituents and indvidual organic compounds including biochemical oxygen demand, phenols, oil & grease, and benzene.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Benzene | ug/L |
| Biochemical oxygen demand, 5-day | mg/L |
| Caffeine | mg/L |
| Carbon, dissolved organic | mg/L |
| Carbon, total inorganic | mg/L |
| Carbon, total organic | mg/L |
| Chemical oxygen demand | mg/L |
| Ethylbenzene | ug/L |
| Extractable petroleum hydrocarbons, 10-19 range | ug/L |
| Extractable petroleum hydrocarbons, 19-32 range | ug/L |
| Methane gas | ppm |
| Mineral oil & grease aka total petroleum hydrocarbon | mg/L |
| Oil & grease | mg/L |
| Oil & grease, total | mg/L |
| Phenols, total | mg/L |
| Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) | ug/L |
| Styrene | ug/L |
| Surfactants | mg/L |
| Toluene | ug/L |
| Trihalomethanes | mg/L |
| Volatile Organic Compounds | ug/L |
| Volatile Petroleum Hydrocarbons, 6-10 range | ug/L |
| Xylenes (meta and para) | ug/L |
| Xylenes (ortho) | ug/L |
| Xylenes, total (ortho, meta, and para) | ug/L |
Parameter class
Other: Other measurements not classified in given categories.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Radium 226 | Bq/L |
Parameter class
Physical: Measurements of physical and aggregate properties of water including colour, turbidity, odour, taste, acidity, alkalinity, hardness, conductivity, salinity, solids, and temperature.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Acidity to pH 8.3 | mgCaCO3/L |
| Alkalinity, bicarbonate HCO3 | mg/L |
| Alkalinity, carbonate CO3 | mg/L |
| Alkalinity, hydroxide OH | mg/L |
| Alkalinity, phenolphthalein | mgCaCO3/L |
| Alkalinity, total | mgCaCO3/L |
| Calculated Hardness | mgCaCO3/L |
| Colour, true | TCU |
| Conductivity, field | uS/cm |
| Conductivity, lab | uS/cm |
| Flow rate, volumetric | L/s |
| Hardness, calcualted from total metal scan | mgCaCO3/L |
| Hardness, calculated from dissolved metal scan | mgCaCO3/L |
| Instantaneous suspended sediment concentration | mg/l |
| Oxidation, reduction potential | mV |
| Secchi disc depth | m |
| Settleable solids | ml/L |
| Suspended sediment single sampling vertical | m |
| Temperature, field | C |
| Total dissolved solids | mg/L |
| Total suspended solids | mg/L |
| Turbidity | NTU |
Parameter class
Toxicity: Toxicity tests to determine the relative sensitivity of aquatic organisms to an effluent or toxicant.
| Parameters | Units |
|---|---|
| Daphnia magna, percent | % |
| Daphnia magna, time | h |
| Lethal Concentration @ 50% Mortal Bioassay | % |
| Lethal Time @ 50% Mortal Bioassay at 100% concentration | h |
| Sublethal toxicity (growth, reproduction, survival) | Sublethal toxicity (growth, reproduction, survival) |