Châteauguay River - Water quality monitoring
The myth of brown water: is the Châteauguay River swimmable?
Often, brown water is classified as poor quality water. However, this is not always the case! The Fondation Rivières carried out an unprecedented study on the bacteriological quality of the water of the Châteauguay River in order to assess the potential of opening swimming sites in participating riverside towns.
Services
- Identification of potential bathing sites
- Site vulnerability assessment – bacteriological water quality
- Continuous monitoring of water quality
Partners and collaborators
- Châteauguay Zone Watershed Conservation and Development Society (SCABRIC)
- City of Châteauguay
- City of Mercier
- Polytechnique Montreal
Our methodology
The Fondation Rivières carried out hybrid monitoring of the water quality of the Châteauguay River, using both traditional analyzes ofE.coli in the laboratory and a new rapid analysis technology, the ColiMinder. The device can detect in 15 minutes the presence ofE.coli in water by enzymatic analysis and to automate monitoring by allowing sampling at a high frequency and access to the results via an online platform. This hybrid monitoring methodology, coupled with intensive field work, made it possible to draw up a portrait of the bacteriological quality of water over 55 km of river.
The 5 main steps
Sampling took place over a period of 12 weeks, between July and September 2021.
- July 15 – Rapid analysis device installed at filtration plant in Huntingdon
- July 19 – Swimming site screening begins (up to 3 times per week)
- August 2 – The rapid analysis device is moved to the Pavillon des patineurs in Sainte-Martine to continue monitoring in near real time
- September 24 – End of swimming site screening
- October 3 – End of near real-time tracking.
Findings
01.
In dry weather, the bacteriological quality of the water in the Châteauguay River is generally very good and even excellent in certain places (despite being brown).
02.
Only the sector downstream of the river (City of Châteauguay) appears to present a risk of contamination in dry weather.
Swimming is safe and therefore possible in the Châteauguay River.
So, when is swimming in the Châteauguay River?
Of the additional studies will make it possible to establish safety protocols specific to each site and, in the case of the City of Châteauguay, to eliminate sources of contamination in dry weather.
Are you in charge of a watershed organization, a municipality or an association?
Consult the guide to opening an urban swimming site to find out how the Fondation Rivières can help you.