Surface water is the water that flows through our rivers, lakes and streams.  The quality of this water is determined by measuring water chemistry.

Lower Trent Conservation monitors surface water through the Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network in partnership with the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) at nine sites across the watershed.  These sites are sampled monthly from April to September every year.  The samples are analyzed for a variety of parameters including pH, conductivity, alkalinity, major ions and metals.  The data gathered from this sampling is used to ensure the quality of the surface water for both human and aquatic life.