Toxic Chemical Survey of Municipal Drinking Water Sources in Atlantic Canada 1985-1988

During the period of 1985 to 1988, municipal water supply sources in Atlantic Canada were sampled and analyzed for various compounds including major ions, nutrients, heavy metals, pesticides and synthetic organic chemicals. Both surface and ground water sources were sampled. Ninety-eight percent of supply sources were within the health-related maximum acceptable concentrations of the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (Health and Welfare Canada 1987), and eighty-five percent within the aesthetic guidelines. A geographic information system was used to classify the municipal sources by surrounding land-use and comparisons made to nitrate-N. All samples reported as 1.0 mg.L−1 or greater were from ground water supplies in areas classed as high agricultural use. Though a direct input from agriculture was established for two wells, the source of nitrate-N at the remaining sites was attributed to soil-N and/or fertilizer-N.