River Pesticide Index: More about the data

The River Pesticide Index formula is similar to the CCME (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment) Water Quality Index, though the method for calculating the index is tailored to Alberta. For this index, pesticides are evaluated based on whether or not they can be detected in a water sample. This conservative approach was adopted because many pesticides do not yet have official guidelines and, unlike metals, nutrients, and bacteria, do not occur naturally in the environment.

Based on data collected monthly between May and August, the River Pesticide Index is calculated annually, and is a "sub-index" of the overall River Water Quality Index. Over 50 pesticides are routinely analyzed in Long-Term River Network samples. Seventeen of the more commonly applied are included in the index:

Reporting for the River Pesticide Index currently includes only Long-Term River Network (LTRN) sites.