Water quality in the Elk Valley
See our water treatment facilities in action:
Water quality monitoring in the Elk River watershed
Watch our team conduct water quality monitoring in the Koocanusa Reservoir and Elk River:
Water quality challenges in the Elk Valley are connected to the long history of mining in the region. The mining process generates large quantities of leftover rock that contains naturally-occurring substances such as selenium, an element that is essential for human and animal health in small amounts, but which may cause adverse impacts in high enough concentrations. Water from both precipitation and runoff flows through these rock piles and carries selenium and other substances, such as nitrate, into the local watershed.
Developing the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan
In 2013, in consultation with the Government of BC, the Ktunaxa Nation, scientists, and local communities, Teck, as the former operator of EVR, developed the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan, which was approved by the provincial government in 2014. This is a long-term plan with the goal of stabilizing and reversing the trend of selenium, calcite and other constituents and improving the health of the watershed, while at the same time allowing for continued sustainable mining in the region.
Implementing the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan
EVR has made significant progress implementing the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan. Water treatment facilities are operating now that are successfully improving water quality with additional facilities under construction.
West Line Creek Active Water Treatment Facility - Treating up to 17.5 million litres of water per day.
Elkview Saturated Rock Fill - Treating up to 20 million litres of water per day.
Fording River South Active Water Treatment Facility - Treating up to 20 million litres of water per day.
Fording River North Saturated Rock Fill - Treating up to 40 million litres of water per day.
These facilities are removing between 95% and 99% of selenium from treated water. Selenium and nitrate concentrations have stabilized and are reducing downstream of treatment.
Our four water treatment facilities have the capacity to treat up to 97.5 million litres of water per day. Two additional water treatment construction projects currently underway are expected to increase water treatment capacity by an additional 30 million litres per day by 2027.
EVR has spent $2 billion building water treatment facilities as part of the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan.
The Elk Valley Water Quality Plan is working
This graph shows semi-annual average selenium concentrations over time at our first permitted compliance location downstream of all our operations in the Elk Valley which is in the Elk River at Sparwood, B.C. Selenium concentrations have stabilized and are reducing downstream of treatment.
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Water quality monitoring
EVR conducts extensive studies and monitoring of water quality and aquatic health, which includes regular water quality sampling at more than 170 water quality locations and over 100 biological monitoring stations in the Elk Valley and within the Koocanusa Reservoir. The purpose of this monitoring is to evaluate water quality and to allow for the early detection of emerging water quality concerns. Monitoring results are used to inform management decisions and support the protection of aquatic and human health.
Our water quality monitoring shows our treatment facilities are removing between 95% and 99% of selenium from treated water. Selenium and nitrate concentrations have stabilized and are reducing downstream of treatment, and we expect further reductions as additional water treatment facilities come online.
2025 Implementation Plan Adjustment
The 2025 Implementation Plan Adjustment outlines EVR’s updated approach to managing water quality, informed by science, modelling and operational experience.
Koocanusa Reservoir
The Elk Valley Water Quality Plan is designed to protect the overall health of the aquatic ecosystems in the Elk River watershed, including the Koocanusa Reservoir.
Since 2014, EVR has been conducting water quality monitoring in the Canadian portion of Koocanusa Reservoir. Monitoring results indicate that selenium conditions in the reservoir have stabilized and are improving. A recent report from the Province of British Columbia found no documented evidence of selenium-related impacts to fish in the reservoir and characterized the current risk to aquatic health as low or negligible.
Read the Selenium Conditions in the Canadian Portion of the Koocanusa Reservoir report
In addition, data from the United States Water Quality Portal indicate that average selenium concentrations in fish from the Kootenai/y River and Koocanusa Reservoir, on both sides of the Canada-US border, remain well below the US Environmental Protection Agency's protective criteria. Available monitoring data further shows that average selenium concentrations in fish tissue within Koocanusa Reservoir have not exceeded US EPA selenium criteria since monitoring began.
Fish population monitoring
EVR works with external registered professionals to undertake fish population monitoring. Results from 2025 indicate a stable fish population in the Upper Fording River, with Westslope Cutthroat Trout population numbers around the long-term averages for adults and juvenile fish.
Research and development
In addition to treating water, preventing constituents from entering the watershed in the first place and reducing the need for water treatment is a priority for EVR. Best practices for water management and blasting have been implemented to help reduce the release of constituents. EVR is also working to incorporate water quality considerations earlier in the mine planning process to minimize impacts where possible. We are constantly researching new technology, and we have broad portfolio of research and development projects underway to help reach our water quality goals.
Technologies from this research and development include:
Nitrate reduction: Our research and development program led to the development of a new nitrate prevention technique that uses liners that help prevent nitrate from blasting from coming in contact with water. This technique has been applied across our operations in the Elk Valley and a majority of blasts holes now use a liner.
Suboxic zones: Suboxic zones are designed to limit oxygen supply to the mine rock resulting in the development of conditions that have the potential to reduce leaching of selenium and nitrate. EVR is currently undertaking two full-scale suboxic zone source control research and development trial projects at our Elkview and Fording River Operations.
Learn more
We are working with government, Indigenous communities and other stakeholders throughout the region. We remain committed to sharing progress and data with rightsholders and stakeholders. We work with the Province of B.C. to make monitoring and compliance data accessible. View the most recent data and information on the British Columbia Elk Valley Water Quality Hub.
Frequently asked questions about water quality in the Elk Valley
Water quality in the Elk Valley fact sheet
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