The NWT-wide Community-based Water Quality Monitoring Program started in 2012 and was designed to contribute to the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy in three ways:

· Provide opportunities for local monitors to do water sampling activities

· Collect water quality information for a baseline data set

· Help address community concerns about the health of the water

The program involves community members from 21 different communities in the NWT, ENR staff and other water partners. The goal of the monitoring program is to include NWT residents in water quality water monitoring at sites across the NWT to answer community questions about water quality.