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As a condition of approval for the Harbour Solutions Project under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, HRM has undertaken a water quality sampling program for Halifax Harbour. Between June 2004 and September 2006, weekly samples were collected for fecal coliform bacterial analysis, and bi-weekly samples for more extensive chemical analyses. Since October 2006, sampling has been bi-weekly for both bacteria and chemistry. Samples are collected at the surface and at 10-meter depths. Regular sampling locations are shown on the map below.
Click on the Map for a larger version
The program began in June of 2004, and was scheduled to run until at least 2009, at which point it was anticipated that all three of the new Harbour Solutions sewage treatment plants would be built and operating. There have been some delays in commissioning the Herring Cove plant, and the Halifax plant was affected by a flood in Jan. 2009, so the sampling program has been suspended until late spring of 2010, when it will resume with the Halifax and Herring Cove plants fully operational. The purpose of the program is to assess whether the defined water quality objectives for the Harbour are met with sewage treatment in place.
More information on the sampling program and results is contained in the quarterly reports, which will describe the data for three-month intervals on an ongoing basis. Quarterly reports available to date are linked below.
Report Q1 (June 23 - Sept. 14, 2004) PDF 372 KB
Report Q2 (Sept. 22 - Dec. 14, 2004) PDF 1 MB
Report Q3 (Dec. 21 - Mar. 15, 2005) PDF 2.7 MB
Report Q4 (Mar. 22 - June 14, 2005 & Summary Year 1) PDF 2.6 MB
Report Q5 (June 21 - Sept. 14, 2005) PDF 2.3 MB
Report Q6 (Sept. 20 - Dec. 13, 2005) PDF 3.7MB
Report Q7 (Dec. 20, 2005 - Mar. 14, 2006) PDF 2.1MB
Report Q8 (Mar. 21, 2006 - June 13, 2006 & Summary Year 2) PDF 5.6MB
Report Q9 (June 21, 2006 - Sept. 13, 2006) PDF 2.3 MB
Report Q10 (26 Sept. 2006 - 5 Dec. 2006) PDF 3.2 MB
Dr. Bill Li of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography has developed a presentation of the data, showing the trends in fecal coliform bacteria in Halifax Harbour from 2004-2008. His document (PDF format) is available at the following link:
http://www.mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/ocean/BedfordBasin/HHWQMP/FecalColiforms.pdf
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Effects of Sewage Treatment - Harbour Bacteria Levels
Water quality objectives have been set for Halifax Harbour. Provision of sewage treatment will achieve these objectives.
Harbour Before Sewage Treatment - June 5, 2007
Harbour with Halifax Sewage Treatment - June 4, 2008
Harbour with Halifax and Dartmouth Sewage Treated
- October 22, 2008
Levels of fecal coliform bacteria determine whether the water is safe for contact recreation. National standards set 200/100mL as the maximum safe limit. The data show that many locations throughout the middle and inner Harbour exceeded this limit prior to treatment (red numbers), but that with treatment for both Halifax and Dartmouth the harbour was suitable for swimming.
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