Documentation and How-to

Explore data

Query, visualize and download water quality datasets collected by communities, governments and researchers across each of DataStream’s regional hubs.

Last updated: February 29, 2024

Explore tool

Here’s how to access data on regional DataStream hubs:

Tip: You can also click on 'Custom Download' under Explore Data to use our Custom Download Tool. This tool enables you to generate a custom dataset by specifying location(s), water parameter(s) and/or year(s) of interest.

  • Click on a monitoring location or use the search bar and filters on the top left to find a dataset of interest
  • Screenshot of the DataStream Explore map. An arrow points to the add map layers feature located on the right, where you choose to add sub-basins, watersheds, settled land claims areas and or canadian historical treaties.

  • Click on a dataset to explore monitoring results
  • Screenshot of a dataset's visualization page on DataStream.

Displaying national water quality guidelines

National water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life can be plotted on DataStream's data visualization tool. This includes guidelines published by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).

  • Open a dataset using DataStream’s Explore tool
  • Click the 'Characteristics' drop-down menu
    • If guidelines exist for a given characteristic, this will be indicated beside the characteristic name in brackets
  • Screenshot of the visualization page. Arrows point to pH (guidelines) and dissolved oxygen (guidelines) from the Characteristics drop-down menu
  • Select the characteristic with guidelines that you’re interested in viewing
    • Note: CCME guidelines will be automatically displayed when available
  • Click the 'Guidelines' dropdown to add US EPA and/or ECCC guidelines where available
  • Screenshot of the guidelines drop-down with CCME freshwater chronic and US-EPA freshwater chronic selected. Selected guidelines can be seen on the graph below.

To learn more about water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic ecosystem health, and how DataStream calculates and applies them, see Water Quality Guidelines.

Dataset metadata

Datasets published on DataStream are accompanied by comprehensive metadata (information about the dataset). This includes an abstract, dataset license, recommended citation, and information about who collected the data, methods used and QA/QC protocols and processes.

Datasets receive a new version number when updates are made over time, and a changelog documents the nature of these updates.

  • Dataset metadata can be viewed from within DataStream’s data visualizer tool, via the left-hand panel (‘Dataset & Contact Information’)
  • Screenshot of DataStream's data visualizer tool. A circle highlights the Dataset and Contact Information button on the left hand panel.

  • Complete dataset metadata can be viewed from the dataset page via the dataset 'DOI' link
  • Screenshot of the Dataset Information panel for a dataset on DataStream. Yellow circles highlight the dataset's DOI link and the dataset's full metadata link.

  • From the dataset page this metadata can also be accessed in the following standardized formats:
    • ISO 19115
    • DCAT (json, xml)
  • Screenshot of a dataset's full metadata page on DataStream. A yellow circle highlights "Alternate formats" and a mouse arrow points to one of the alternate format options.
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