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L'Assomption River and St. Lawrence Watershed - Evaluation of Wastewater Treatment Systems

Watershed of the L'Assomption River and the Saint-Laurent zone - Evaluation of wastewater treatment systems

Spotlight on what affects the water quality of the L'Assomption River and the Saint-Laurent area

Following the fundraising campaign Adopt the L’Assomption River In 2018, Fondation Rivières carried out a performance evaluation of municipal water treatment systems in the L'Assomption River watershed and the Saint-Laurent area. The objectives: identify sanitation issues that remain between 2014 and 2016 and produce a report that serves as an information tool for municipal decision-makers, interest groups and the public. For request of the Assomption River Development Corporation (CARA), a phosphorus elimination assessment was also carried out.

Photo credit: JP Gagnon

carte évaluation assomption

Delimitation of the five study zones for municipal wastewater treatment works in the Saint-Laurent zone.

Services

Progress report

  • Data compilation Monitoring system for municipal water sanitation works (SOMAE)
  • Interpretation of diagrams and tracking data
  • Carrying out a comparative assessment of phosphorus removal 

 

Diagnosis and action plan

  • Telephone interviews with many water sanitation services
  • Production of a summary table of suggested courses of action

 

Partners and collaborators

  • L'Assomption River Development Corporation (CARA)
  • Saint-Côme
  • Sainte-Beatrix
  • Sainte-Émélie-de-l’Énergie
  • Saint-Jean-de-Matha
  • Greater Joliette
  • Saint Donat
  • Chertsey
  • Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare
  • Crabtree
  • Saint Jacques
  • Sainte-Marie-Salomé
  • Holy Spirit
  • St. Callistus
  • Saint-Lin-Laurentides
  • Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan
  • Epiphany
  • The Assumption

Methodology

 

Treatment plants
0
Overflow structures
0
Recommendations
0

The raw data from Monitoring of municipal wastewater treatment works (SOMAEU) 2014-2016 were obtained from three different sources, namely the L'Assomption River Development Corporation (CARA), THE Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH) and the Ministry of the Environment (MELCCFP).

Of the 27 entities identified, 21 participated in a telephone interview or sent written responses (78 % participation). The study areas were created by combining several watersheds to obtain a substantial number of features in each area. Overall, this project led to the synthesis of information and a performance diagnosis, based on three components: characteristics of the entities, performance of the treatment plants and performance of the networks and overflow structures.

Duration of the study

The evaluation of wastewater treatment systems took place from April 2018 to February 2019.

Findings

01.

A little more than a quarter of the stations have an adequate treatment system, but a sanitation network in need of improvement.

02.

A little less than a quarter of the stations have a sanitation network that meets the requirements of the MELCCFP, but must improve their wastewater treatment performance.

03.

Nearly half of the entities must improve the performance of their wastewater treatment plant and their sanitation network.

Investments at the watershed scale are required in order to address the most relevant interventions to maintain water quality in the Saint-Laurent zone and the environment.

What is the state of water quality in the Saint-Laurent area?

Following this study, Fondation Rivières and the city of L'Assomption launched a collaborative project to study the swimming potential of the L'Assomption River. Using new rapid analysis technology provided by the Polytechnic school and the laboratory of Sarah Dorner, they were able to reveal that the river is generally of good quality in summer, despite its bad reputation. Since then, the city has opened a public beach at Léo-Jacques Park and carries out continuous monitoring of water quality.

Our mandates for evaluating wastewater treatment systems

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Our charity number : 14505 9911 RR0002