Indalsälvens Water Quality Association was formed in 1997 and has at present 25 members. Our members are the 8 municipalities in the river catchment area, several companies and organisations. The main activities is monitoring and evaluation of water quality in the 27 000 km2 large drainage basin. Coordinate recipient control is carried out by simultaneous collection of water samples at twenty-one sample points from the mountains in the west down to the Bothnian Sea. We also co-ordinate information about other monitoring of water quality in the catchment area. Other important parts in this work are the county administrative board and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

The cathment area of Indalsälven is one of the largest in Sweden. The number of inhabitants is 110 000, mainly concentrated to the Storsjön area in the county of Jämtland. A small part of the sources of the catchment area is in the district county of Nordtröndelag in Norway.

The general water quality of Indalsälven is very good. Levels of nutrients, metals and organic compounds are low. There are some problems in smaller parts of the catchment area with bacterial contamination and reduced oxygen levels in the bottom water of some lakes in late summer. Approximately 90% of the catchment area has high to very high alkalinity. There are only 4 smaller areas with acidification damages which are subject to lime treatment. There are a number of dams and hydroelectric power stations in Indalsälven. The river generates approximately 11 TWH each year, which is about 14% of the total Swedish hydroelectric energy supply.

Our aim is to preserve Indalsälven as a clear and nutrient poor river with high alkalinity. The water in the river should meet drinking quality standards with respect to occurence of microorganims and chemical contaminants. The water quality association has an obligation to spread knowledge about the quality of the environment in the cathment area to benefit development and growth in the region.

You are welcome to look for information about certain parameters in our control program. The map at the website will guide you to the sample point and the parameter you are looking for.

For more information contact:
EM-LAB, anders.jonsson@em-lab.se