Alma Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
Source
river
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
107.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.14
energy & soap waste
Source: Health Canada Water Quality · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Alma, your appliances are currently losing 7% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Alma | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -7% |
| Washing Machine | 11.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -3% |
| Water Heater | 13.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -9% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Alma compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Mineralization | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Alma, Quebec | 51 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
| Sainte-Monique, Quebec | 13.5 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
| Jonquière, Quebec | 64.5 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Roberval, Quebec | 26 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
| Saguenay, Quebec | 12 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
National Benchmark
How Alma compares to the Canada average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Alma | 51 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| Canada National Avg | 141 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Vancouver Top Rated | 3 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Alma's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Alma's drinking water is managed by Ville d'Alma, the commercial centre of the Lac-Saint-Jean region in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, drawing from Lac Saint-Jean via the Rivière Petite Décharge — one of the two outlets of this massive boreal lake — via the Alma Water Treatment Plant near the historic Île d'Alma hydroelectric site. Water undergoes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, UV disinfection, and chloramination, fully meeting the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ). Hardness measures 51 mg/L (3.0 gpg) — classified as soft by Health Canada, reflecting Lac Saint-Jean's characteristically soft water from its vast Precambrian Shield drainage basin.
Lac Saint-Jean is one of Quebec's largest lakes, draining an enormous watershed of Precambrian granite, gneiss, and anorthosite from the Laurentian Shield highlands of northern Quebec — the same insoluble crystalline bedrock that produces very soft water in Jonquière (11 mg/L from batch 8) and the broader Saguenay River system. The lake's soft character at 51 mg/L is modestly higher than the Saguenay downstream (11–65 mg/L), reflecting the slight mineral accumulation from the lake's large water volume and diverse tributary catchment, which includes some glacial till with modest calcium carbonate content.
With 51 mg/L of hardness, Alma residents experience very minimal scale — kettles and appliances need descaling only occasionally, every three to four months at most. Hot water tanks have an excellent operational lifespan. Ville d'Alma publishes annual water quality reports following Ministère de l'Environnement standards. Alma's industrial importance as a major aluminium smelter city means the water system is subject to rigorous monitoring; residents in the city's post-war industrial-era housing stock should follow Health Canada lead precautionary guidance.
Geology & Source: Supplied by Ville d'Alma from Lac Saint-Jean via the Rivière Petite Décharge — water from the vast Precambrian Shield–surrounded lake reflecting the moderately soft character of the Laurentian boreal watershed produces soft water at 51 mg/L (3.0 gpg).