q̓ʷətəms t̓ɩšosəm (Sliammon Creek) watershed: Water quality report for the 2024-25 wet season

<jats:p>Water is essential for life, and steps are needed to understand, protect and restore its health in fish habitat throughout British Columbia. The Raincoast Healthy Waters program was launched in 2023 to establish community-oriented water pollution monitoring in select BC watersheds. Two Healthy Waters sampling events take place every year in each watershed – the first in the dry season (summer), and the second being in the wet season (winter). This report highlights results from the first dry (summer) season sampling carried out with the support and participation of the Tla’amin Nation and Pacific Salmon Foundation. Briefly, the Healthy Waters team collected water samples on September 19, 2024, from three water categories, including source water (3 samples), river water (3 samples), road runoff (3 samples), and marine water (3 samples). The samples were pooled into composite by category and then analysed for coliform, nutrients (6), physical parameters, metals (37), pesticides (62), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; 76), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs; 141), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs; 209), alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs; 4), bisphenols (BPs; 6), per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS; 40), and sucralose. Analysis of 6PPD-quinone is pending. We detected 69 contaminants out of 587 measured in the stream and river category – i.e. fish habitat – for the in q̓ʷətəms t̓ɩšosəm (Sliammon River), excluding nutrients, fecal coliform and physical parameters. Overall, the q̓ʷətəms t̓ɩšosəm (Sliammon River) watershed had relatively good water quality in the dry season, but additional sampling and analysis will provide further insight into contamination impacts from forest fires, domestic wastewater, and road runoff on the health of this valued watershed.</jats:p>