Water Quality Surveys

 Dynamic Ocean Consulting provides professional water quality survey services for both marine and freshwater environments. Our team has extensive experience in the collection, handling, and interpretation of water chemistry data, supporting a range of regulatory, research, and environmental management objectives.

Purpose and Applications

Water quality sampling provides critical insight into:

  • Habitat quality for fish, invertebrates, and aquatic vegetation

  • Baseline and operational contaminant levels during construction or dredging activities

  • Regulatory compliance under Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) guidance

  • Environmental impact and recovery monitoring for projects subject to the Fisheries Act or the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)

Our results help determine whether aquatic systems meet Canadian Water Quality Guidelines (CWQG) and other scientifically established thresholds for protecting aquatic life.

Open black case containing two yellow cylinders with tubes, hoses, and connectors, used for testing or sampling, on a metallic diamond plate surface. Nearby are gray and red containers with equipment, including what appears to be electronic testing devices and other tools.

Sampling and Collection Methods

Dynamic Ocean applies standardized and defensible collection techniques to ensure sample integrity and comparability across programs.

Niskin Bottle Sampling

We commonly use Niskin bottles for discrete-depth water sampling, as these are the industry standard for both marine and freshwater field programs【source: COML & Aquatic Biotechnology】.

  • Design: Cylindrical PVC or polycarbonate bottles equipped with spring-loaded end caps that can be triggered remotely or electronically.

  • Deployment: Bottles are lowered by cable or mounted on a rosette carousel at predetermined depths; when triggered, both ends seal simultaneously, capturing water at ambient pressure and temperature.

  • Advantages:

    • Maintains in situ integrity—no contamination from other layers.

    • Allows multi-depth profiling for stratified environments.

    • Compatible with CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) sensors for concurrent physical parameter logging.

Supporting Field Measurements

Our survey crews record field parameters (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, turbidity, and conductivity) using calibrated multiparameter sondes or portable probes prior to sampling.
These in-field metrics help characterize site variability and ensure laboratory samples are interpreted in context.

Chain-of-Custody and QA/QC

  • All samples are collected in certified containers, labeled, and preserved following provincial or federal sampling protocols.

  • Samples are delivered under chain-of-custody documentation to accredited analytical laboratories.

  • Field blanks, duplicates, and calibration checks are incorporated into every project.

Laboratory Analysis and Interpretation

Dynamic Ocean partners with certified Canadian analytical laboratories to conduct comprehensive analyses using the latest instrumentation and methods (e.g., ICP-MS, GC-MS, spectrophotometry).
Parameters commonly analyzed include:

  • Nutrients: nitrates, phosphates, ammonia

  • Metals: copper, zinc, mercury, lead

  • Organics: hydrocarbons, PAHs, chlorinated compounds

  • Physical parameters: total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, turbidity

All results are evaluated against Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Water Quality Guidelines and relevant DFO regional criteria to determine exceedances or areas of concern.

Reporting and Applications

Our reports provide:

  • Tabulated field and laboratory results with QA/QC documentation

  • Comparisons against applicable water quality standards

  • Spatial and temporal trend analyses

  • Interpretation of potential biological or ecological effects

  • Recommendations for mitigation, monitoring, or regulatory follow-up

Our deliverables are designed to integrate directly into construction environmental management plans (CEMPs), disposal-at-sea permit applications, and Environmental Assessment (EA) reports.

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Regulatory and Scientific Integration

Dynamic Ocean is uniquely positioned at the intersection of academic research, regulatory compliance, and applied field science.
We maintain familiarity with key guidance from:

  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) – fish and fish habitat assessment methodologies

  • Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) – analytical and disposal-at-sea protocols

  • CCME Water Quality Guidelines – protection thresholds for aquatic life

Our team ensures that sampling design, analytical interpretation, and reporting align with both scientific best practices and regulatory expectations.

Contact

Discuss your water quality monitoring needs with our field team.
We provide flexible survey packages for baseline studies, compliance programs, and habitat monitoring.

Contact us today to request a proposal or review sample data deliverables.