End pit lakes in the Canadian oil sands were studied to assess the risk of inorganic pollutants on surface water quality. The study found that the water quality improved slightly over three years due to pumping out contaminated water, but significant chemical mass remains in the lake. High levels of salt, boron, and nickel were identified as posing a very high risk to aquatic life. Despite these risks, certain salt-tolerant organisms were found in the water, suggesting that some aquatic life can survive in the lake. The time needed for a fully functional ecosystem to develop is still uncertain.