This report details the established and proposed criteria for assessing water quality in British Columbia. The British Columbia Water Quality Branch developed these criteria to evaluate water quality data and establish site-specific objectives. The criteria are being formulated for individual substances, prioritizing those most critical for current assessments. This document presents both working criteria awaiting formal approval and those already sanctioned by BC Environment, covering a range of substances including particulates, nutrients, cyanide, nitrogen, metals, bacteria, chlorine, fluoride, ammonia in saltwater, and organic compounds like chlorophenols and polychlorinated biphenyls.

This document serves as a technical reference for environmental professionals and regulatory bodies involved in water quality management within British Columbia. It outlines the specific parameters and thresholds used by BC Environment for assessing the health of aquatic ecosystems. The report's focus on both approved and working criteria indicates a dynamic process of scientific evaluation and regulatory refinement in environmental protection.