PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Montreal, June 15, 2020 – Following the publication of Fondation Rivières press release entitled “Wastewater treatment in Quebec: 7 out of 10 municipalities still contaminate rivers”, 42 organizations sensitive to water issues have united to demand concrete actions from the Quebec government regarding the sanitation of municipal wastewater.
The list of signatories as well as the entire open letter can be consulted on the Fondation Rivières website. Note, among others, the presence of the following major national groupings: The Group of Quebec watershed organizations (ROBVQ), Saint-Laurent Strategy, THE National grouping of regional environmental councils (RNCREQ) and the Quebec grouping of environmental groups of Quebec (RQGE).
Together, they wrote an open letter setting out recommendations to protect Quebec's waterways and ensure Quebecers have public access to rivers that is clean and sanitary. This document was sent to the Premier of Quebec, as well as the Ministers of the Environment and Municipal Affairs on Friday June 12, 2020.
7 out of 10 municipalities still contaminate Quebec's waterways
Remember that in 2018, 53,645 wastewater overflows into Quebec's waterways took place, which represents 147 overflows on average per day. These overflows account for a total of 37,575 hours of overflow for this year alone. Furthermore, one in five times, up to 25% of the wastewater flow sent to factories is diverted into rivers without receiving treatment, despite billions in public investment.
“It is regrettable that in 2020, despite billions of public funds invested, the situation of municipal wastewater overflows in Quebec's waterways is still not controlled. What we are asking the government today is to tackle this issue quickly. We are incredibly lucky to have so many rivers in our territory. We have a collective duty to protect them. » – Alain Saladzius, president of Fondation Rivières.
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Source :
Geneviève Tardy
Communications Manager
vs. 514 424-3556
communications@fondationrivieres.org
Photo: Linus Nylund/Unpslash
