Water Quality

Water Quality Committee Report

Spring 2009

Water quality can be evaluated in a number of ways, including clarity and visual quality, odour, algae growth, bacterial concentrations (e-coli is a key one) and nutrient levels. Measures of clarity and other visual indicators tend to be done at specific locations on a lake or river. Water bodies all contain bacteria like e-coli, but their concentrations tend to be acceptably low, although levels can be higher at points of agricultural runoff. The most commonly used measure of water quality is nutrient levels as indicated by phosphorous concentrations. Phosphorus gets into the water mainly from agricultural runoff and from household use of detergents (phosphates) that find their way into the water through septic system leaching and water treatment plant effluent. High nutrient levels are revealed by excessive algae growth.

The water quality committee has organized the annual testing of nutrient levels through the Lake Partnership Program sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Environment. The testing is free, and since so many other lake organizations around the province participate, the results allow comparisons. The nutrient levels (phosphorous) in samples taken in the centre of Golden Lake in May, 2008 were very close to results in the 2003 and 2004 testing. Each year two samples are taken from a location in the centre of the lake away from any inflow areas. In the table below the two samples each year are expressed as total phosphorus (TP) in micrograms per litre.

A level below 10 is considered a low nutrient count. You can see the results for many Ontario lakes at the Lake Partnership web site and will notice that Golden Lake’s results are at the low end of the average phosphorus concentrations. So far, all indications are that the water in Golden Lake is of good quality.