Nearly 100% of boil advisories are issued as a precautionary measure.

A boil advisory is issued when:

• Planned work is being done on a municipal water main
• A water main breaks
• The results of a water test does not comply with the Ministry’s standards and requires further testing (such results might be the result of human handling of the sample).
• Minimum 3-day rule: A precautionary boil water advisory is normally in effect for a minimum of 3 consecutive days, the time required for the water sample to be analyzed by an independent laboratory and the results reported to the City.

Communicating advisories/lifting of advisories

• Door hangers: when and advisory is issued locally, the Town distributes door hangers to affected residences. The City does not distribute door hangers for largescale boil advisories. Instead, it issues a community alert using the automated call system.
  
  
• Automated call system (community alert): the Town sends automated notifications to the community via landline phones, mobile phones, text message and email. Citizens simply need to register by phone at 450-424-8000, extension 290.
  
  
• Recorded messages at extension 315: Each time a boil water advisory is issued locally or for all users on a specific aqueduct network, the City records a message at extension 315 (450-424-8000). The lift is also recorded.
  
  
• Newsletter (email): the City sends out a newsletter when largescale boil water advisories are issued—not when only a small number of properties is affected.
  
  
• Signs at City entrances and affected residential areas: When all users of a network are affected, the City may also post signs at the entrances of concerned residential areas and at certain City entrances depending on the network targeted by the advisory.
  
  
• Web site: the City also keeps the “Boil water advisory – in effect, lifting of advisory and precautions” section of its Web site.

1. Bring tap water to a rolling boil for one (1) minute prior to consumption or use bottled water
   
   
2. Water that has been boiled for one minute, or bottled water, must be used for the following activities, until further notice
   
   
• Brushing teething and rinsing your mouth
• Drinking and preparing beverages
• Preparing infant formula and baby food
• Washing and preparing food that will be eaten raw (fruits, vegetables, etc.)
• Preparing food that does not require long cooking (canned soups, desserts, etc.)
• Making ice cubes
  
  
3. Throw out ice cubes (remember to empty out refrigerator water dispenser tanks), beverages and food prepared with unboiled tap water
   
   
4. You can use unboiled tap water for the following activities:
   
• Washing dishes with hot water, making sure to dry them well
• Washing clothes, showering and bathing
• Make sure young children do not swallow water while bathing or when washing them with a face cloth

Residents who notice a break or leak in the municipal water network can immediately notify the City by:

• Providing:
  • Their complete contact information
  • A brief description of the situation
  • The specific location where service is required (address, intersection, streets)
• Leaving a message at 450-424-8000, ext. 250
• Calling 311 outside of regular hours of operation (evenings and weekends) or on statutory holidays

Responsibilities

According to the City’s registry (2003–2019), close to 220 private wells (commonly known as “artesian wells”) provide water to Saint-Lazare homes. Water intended for human consumption must be of good quality and meet the standards set in the Regulation respecting the quality of drinking water. The owner of an individual well or small network (serving less than 21 people) is responsible for ensuring that the water is of good quality and safe for human consumption. The owner’s responsibilities are listed in a guide provided by the Ministère (site).

Construction prohibited in sectors served by the water network

Note that, in accordance with By-law 1123, the construction of a private well intended for sourcing groundwater is now prohibited on any property served by the municipal water network. Construction of private wells is only authorized for agricultural activities, geothermal purposes, fire safety, public safety and the maintenance of municipal infrastructures such as parks and sports fields.

Mandatory identification

Owners of existing private wells (or other alternative source of untreated water supply) are not subject to By-law 667 on the use of water distributed by the municipal water network.

They must, however, place a sign on their property that is visible from the road at all times. Signs can be obtained at the service counter of the Urban Planning and Environment Department free of charge.

The information provided below has been simplified and is provided for information purposes only.

Quality control

As part of the routine operations in a treatment facility, several water quality tests are conducted every week, in accordance with the Regulation respecting the quality of drinking water. The samples, drawn at various points on the networks, undergo a series of physico-chemical and bacteriological tests conducted by an independent laboratory accredited by the Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC). The results of all water analyses are automatically transmitted to the MELCC without exception. This standard procedures helps ensure that the strictest quality standards are met in the treatment and distribution of water.

Fluoride

No fluoride is added to the water supplied by the City, and the water drawn from the City’s water table naturally contains very little fluoride or none at all.

Lead

In Saint-Lazare, the presence of lead in the drinking water distributed via the water supply network is mainly attributable to the private water main pipes of buildings constructed before 1975, and often before 1955. These buildings, listed in a municipal registry, represent less than 10% of the buildings within the territory.

Every year, the City samples water directly from the taps of single-family residences and residential buildings with fewer than 8 units that were built before 1975, in accordance with the sampling protocol of the Guide d’évaluation et d’intervention relatif au suivi du plomb et du cuivre dans l’eau potable du ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC). The most recent measurements show a maximum concentration of 1 µg/L. Health Canada’s maximum acceptable lead concentration for drinking water is 5 µg/L—a precautionary measure to protect public health.

Note that homeowners are responsible for checking the condition of their indoor water pipes. They may hire a plumber to find out about the composition of their home’s pipes or joints. In the event that the property does have lead pipes, the homeowner can register to be included as a property to be sampled, in accordance with the above mentioned Guide. Homeowners may have their water tested by an accredited laboratory, at their own expense.

Manganese and iron

Manganese and iron are not considered hazardous to our health when it is in concentrations that are normally found in nature and in concentrations distributed through the network.

Testing for manganese and iron is not mandatory under the Regulation respecting the quality of drinking water of the Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC).

Although it is not a requirement, regular testing is carried out to determine concentrations of manganese and iron so as to maintain the aesthetic quality of the water leaving the treatment plants, before its distribution.

Aesthetic quality of water

Unidirectional flushing of the drinking water pipes across the City’s entire network is the most effective way to remove manganese and iron deposits that have accumulated.

The City carried out a unidirectional flushing operation in the spring on one portion of the network and in the fall on the other portions.

Colour

Water drawn from deep wells, as is the case in the City of Saint-Lazare, naturally contains metallic elements such as iron and manganese. These elements are not usually oxidized since they have had little or no contact with oxygen.

Although the non-oxidized manganese and iron contained in water drawn from deep wells are naturally colourless, they take on a yellowish or brownish tinge when in contact with permanganate (Saddlebrook treatment plant) and sodium hypochlorite (Saddlebrook and Sainte-Angélique treatment plants), used as precipitating and disinfecting agents. This change in colour is caused by the oxidizing power of the products used.

When manganese and iron are oxidized, their form is altered. This results, among other things, in higher density. They therefore tend to precipitate to form deposits in water mains and other equipment. Although the treatment plants filter most of the precipitated manganese and iron before the water reaches the distribution network, a small portion may end up in the network and accumulate on the bottom and sides of water mains over time. Water may therefore turn yellowish and brownish:

• During regular unidirectional flushing of water mains is conducted to dislodge accumulated manganese and iron particles from pipe walls
• When fire hydrants are used in emergency situations
• If a water main breaks
• During periods of higher drinking water consumption in them morning, evening or on weekends
• When filling pools
• During excessive lawn watering

Network – City of Saint-Lazare

In 2022, the City supplied 93% of properties on its territory with treated (drinking) water, representing a total of 7,598 residences (7%—the equivalent of 587 out of 8,185 residences—are served by private artesian wells). The City draws water from different groundwater tables that have different quantitative and qualitative properties.

Water is distributed through three (3) networks:

• Sainte-Angélique network: 6,067 residences (approx. 18,200 residents) (2022)
• Saint-Louis network: 328 residences (approx. 980 residents) (2022)
• Saddlebrook network: 1,203 residences (approx. 3,600 residents) (2022)

Which network serves my property?

Extension

A project aimed at extending the Sainte-Angélique network has been planned for the Route de la Cité-des-Jeunes sector in 2022–2023, specifically involving the drinking water pipe along Route de la Cité-des-Jeunes between Chemin Sainte-Angélique and the limits of Vaudreuil-Dorion.

Visit the construction project - Frontenac sector page.

Network connection request

Residents who wish to connect their properties to an existing network available in their sector may submit a request by:

• Providing:
  • Their complete contact information
  • A brief description of the request
  • The specific location where service is required (address, intersection, streets)
• Completing an online request (a follow-up number is provided)
• Leaving a message at 450-424-8000, ext. 250
  
  

Groundwater withdrawal protection area

Some properties in the Green Maple Hill development are part of an intermediate protection area for groundwater abstraction for drinking water supply purposes. These properties were notified by letter in July 2023. For further information, please consult the following sample letter:

Typical letter - protection area of a groundwaterIn case of discrepancies, the French version prevails.

Other networks

Network – Ville de Hudson

Twelve (12) properties on Route Harwood in Saint-Lazare are serviced by the municipal water network of the City of Hudson. The City of Hudson’s Public Works Department (or the operator of the network) is responsible for distributing door hangers to the Saint-Lazare residents serviced by its network. However, if a boil water advisory is issued for Hudson, and upon Hudson’s request, the Saint-Lazare Communications Department may post a notice under the “Boil water advisory – in effect, lifting of advisory and precautions” section.

Network – Ville de Vaudreuil-Dorion

Seventeen (17) properties on Route de la Cité-des-Jeunes are serviced by the Vaudreuil-Dorion network. The City of Vaudreuil-Dorion’s Public Works Department is responsible for distributing door hangers to the Saint-Lazare residents serviced by its network. However, if a boil water advisory is issued for Vaudreuil-Dorion, and upon Vaudreuil’s request, the Saint-Lazare Communications Department may post a notice under the “Boil water advisory – in effect, lifting of advisory and precautions” section.

Private networks

In Saint-Lazare, there is at least one private water network (Green Maple Hill sector). The owner, (i.e., the operator of the network) is responsible for notifying those serviced by this network of any instances of the network’s non-compliance. In accordance with the Regulation respecting the quality of drinking water, owners of private water networks are subject to the same rules as municipalities.

At the request of the owner of the private network, the City may post a notice under the “Boil water advisory – in effect, lifting of advisory and precautions” section.

Operation

Unidirectional flushing is an operation through which water is forced through the pipes in order to dislodge accumulated particles of manganese and iron. It therefore eliminates deposits in the pipes and helps maintain good quality drinking water.

Flushing operations:

• Can take several weeks depending on the length of the network and other operations underway
• It temporarily affects:
  • Water clarity
  • Water pressure

It does not, however, affect water quality. Simply let the water run until it becomes clear.

Periods

* The dates, announced in the newsletter, are provided for information purposes only. The schedule may vary depending on the priorities and emergencies assigned to ground crews. In addition, the duration of the flushing varies from year to year, depending on changes brought to the network and observations made by the technicians during the flushing operation. To find out which municipal network serves your property, consult the map of networks.

Advice and guidelines

• Consumption of yellowish or brownish water: Although we do not recommend drinking brownish or yellowish water because of its altered taste and smell, it can still be used for other daily household tasks.
• Doing laundry during flushing periods: Before doing the laundry, check the colour of the water. During flushing operations, it is recommended that you wait until after 5:00 p.m. to do the laundry. It is not recommended to use coloured water to wash white clothing during or after a flushing operation as clothing is likely to be stained, especially if bleach is used. Note that you can purchase products to remove rust stains from various surfaces at your local hardware store.
• Let water run: If the water at your home becomes yellowish or brownish, the only way to remedy the situation is to let the cold water run from the tap (in the bathtub) until it becomes clear.
• Abnormal situations: If you notice anything abnormal during a flushing operation, feel free to contact the Public Works Department.

Producing water for human consumption is one of the most expensive services a town or city provides its residents. In Saint-Lazare, this water comes exclusively from the groundwater table. It is sourced by wells and transported to one of the plants to be treated for consumption. The City has 2 treatment plants.

Sainte-Angélique treatment plant

• The Sainte-Angélique treatment plant was originally built in 1994 to reduce iron and manganese naturally found in water and serve the City’s 8,000 residents at the time
• In 2013, the plant was optimized at a cost of $10,900,000 in order to increase its filtration capacity from 10,400 m³/day to 19,000 m³/day and be able to serve over 14,000 residents
• Optimization increased water supply from 2,350 m³ to 3,450 m³
• Water is filtered using a biological filter—a chemical-free treatment
• The Sainte-Angélique plant is fed by raw water pumped from the groundwater using several municipal wells
• Once the water is filtered and chlorinated, the water is stored in a tank with a capacity of 3,450,000 litres, the equivalent of more than 120 18-foot above-ground pools or one Olympic pool; this reserve must be used only for essential needs (drinking, cooking, showering, washing clothes, etc.) during peak periods, and in case of fire.
• In 2017, with a view to ensuring a long-term supply of water for its territory, the City of Saint-Lazare examined sources of water from three (3) wells located in La Pinière, located near Parc nature Les Forestiers de Saint-Lazare, in the hopes of connecting them to the Sainte-Angélique plant. A hydrogeological study proved conclusive and the wells were authorized by the Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC).
• In the fall of 2021, the City gave the go-ahead for the work to be done connect these three (3) new wells to its Sainte-Angélique filtration plant. The work is expected to be completed in 2022. Estimated to cost approximately $4 M, this project will receive financial assistance of up to 100% from the government as part of the Programme de la taxe sur l'essence et de la contribution du Québec (TECQ-2019-2023).

Saddlebrook treatment plant

• The Saddlebrook plant, for its part, was built in 1984. Improvements were made in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
• This plant serves close to 1,200 homes (3,950 residents) (2017).
• In December 2019, a second permanent sand filter was installed and put into service to filter iron and manganese from raw water.