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Water Quality
© Government of Yukon
Visit the new Yukonwater website:
The Water Quality Unit within the Water Resources Branch undertakes a variety of activities aimed at ensuring the protection of Yukon's natural waterways. The responsibility for drinking water lies with Health and Social Services.
Water Quality Trend Monitoring
Water Sampling 101
Please view our Water Sampling 101 Information Sheet 
(17 KB) which includes valuable information and techniques for collecting water samples.
Drinking Water
Drinking water quality standards are set out in the Drinking Water Regulation of the Public Health and Safety Act. Almost all Yukon communities – except Carcross and Marsh Lake -- rely on groundwater wells for their drinking water. (Most communities in Canada rely on surface waters that require extensive treatment and can be difficult to protect from contamination.)
Ground water wells must meet strict criteria for siting, construction and operation. National guidelines are followed for siting and, where applicable, Yukon Water Board approval is secured. New wells are tested against bacteriological, radiological, aesthetic and other health-related parameters. Performance tests must be done to determine the yield of the well as well as the characteristics of the aquifer it draws from and the influence of surface water.
A wide range of information about how to use, test and develop drinking water is available from Health and Social Services. As well, rural residents can look to the government’s Rural Domestic Well Program for assistance.
Ground water research is underway in a number of areas in Yukon, including a look at how climate change is affecting ground water supplies. The Yukon government recognizes the importance of quality drinking water and is committed to meeting its obligations under the national Water Charter.
Water Quality Auditing
Anyone who makes significant use of water or discharges to water typically must have a water licence from the Yukon Water Board. The Water Quality Unit audits the water licence performance for those licensed activities that could pose a potential threat to water and any plant, animal or person. This data is collected and tracked over time.
Water Quality staff visit and take samples at mine sites (inactive or active), municipal wastewater facilities, fish farms, and assorted other locales. Some of these samples are processed in our own lab in Whitehorse.
Water Quality Trend Monitoring
In 2005, Environment Yukon's Water Quality Unit and Environment Canada’s Pacific-Yukon Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance group began monitoring four new river monitoring stations: Klondike River, McQuesten River downstream of the Keno mining district, and Yukon River upstream and downstream of Whitehorse. In the future we expect to add more stations in the Peel Basin, Old Crow and Faro areas.
Water quality parameters being tracked include physical variables, metal content, nutrients and bacteria counts. Data will be fed into the new national Water Quality Index and be part of the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicator for freshwater.
Working with Other Jurisdictions
Staff from the Water Quality Unit represent the territory on several inter-jurisdictional working groups and national bodies concerned with the management and well-being of water. These include the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment and the Mackenzie River Basin Board.
Working with First Nations
Many First Nations with Final Agreements are advocating for more rigorous environmental protection and wish to be more visible custodians of the land and waters within their territories. Water Resources has recently been joined by the Carcross-Tagish First Nation to undertake works within a new Yukon River Watershed Management Working Group.
Additional Resources
- Water Resources Branch Profile
- Yukon Water Board
- Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment
- Mackenzie River Basin Board
Contact Water Resources Environment Yukon Government of Yukon Box 2703 (V-310) Phone: 867-667-3171 Email: water.resources@gov.yk.ca |
