Flowing freshwaters support a rich diversity of life that includes fishes, insects, and plants, as well as other animals such as bats and birds that can depend on the food resources generated by freshwaters.
The Air Quality Health Index or "AQHI" is a public information tool. Using the AQHI can help you to protect yourself better from the negative effects of air pollution. You can do this by: limiting short-term exposure to air pollution, and adjusting your activity when air pollution levels are high. The Air Quality Health Index measures air quality on a scale from 1 to 10. The higher the number, the greater the health risk associated with breathing the air. When the amount of air pollution is very high, the number will be reported as 10. How do I see the air quality index in my area? Information...
Surface water and groundwater are critical hydrological resources for Prince Edward Island. Surface water is required for irrigation; groundwater provides the drinking water and some irrigation resources for the island.
Over the past three decades, Prince Edward Island has experienced a steady increase in the level of nitrates – both in the groundwater we rely on for drinking water, and in rivers, streams and estuaries that are home to a wide variety of wildlife and a source of livelihood and
The 2010 State of the Environment report measures data on key indicators of the health of Prince Edward Island's natural environment. This is the second progress report on the state of the environment.
Iron is a naturally occurring element that is common in PEI rocks and soils. Iron can occur in well water for two reasons; it may be present in fine sediment particles, or it may be present in dissolved form in the water. A reddish-brown colour to the water, or an accumulation or...
Manganese occurs naturally in PEI rocks and soils. Usually it is not easily dissolved from these sources and its concentration in well water is low. In some cases, particularly in swampy areas where oxygen levels in groundwater are low, manganese is more easily dissolved and can...
This report is intended to provide an overview of the current state of the Province's groundwater, fresh surface water and estuarine resources, as well as highlight any notable changes in water quality over the available period of record.
Nitrate is a naturally occurring form of nitrogen that is commonly found throughout the environment. It is present at low levels in most groundwaters, but can be present significantly higher levels in areas with extensive use of fertilizers, storage and spreading of manure or...
Uranium is a naturally occurring element that is widely distributed throughout the Earth’s rocks and soils. Uranium can be dissolved from minerals in the soil or rock and be present in groundwater. The concentration of uranium in water is typically very small, but varies from...