Chicoutimi Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
Source
river
pH Level
7.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
18.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.03
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 Chicoutimi, your appliances are currently losing 2% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Chicoutimi | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 9.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | — |
| Washing Machine | 13.2 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 15.1 yrs | 15 yrs | — |
Regional Water Comparison
How Chicoutimi compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Mineralization | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Chicoutimi, Quebec | 11.5 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
| Saguenay, Quebec | 12 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
| Jonquière, Quebec | 64.5 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Alma, Quebec | 51 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
| Sainte-Monique, Quebec | 13.5 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
National Benchmark
How Chicoutimi compares to the Canada average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Chicoutimi | 11.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| Canada National Avg | 141 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Vancouver Top Rated | 3 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Chicoutimi's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Chicoutimi (a borough of Ville de Saguenay) receives its drinking water from Ville de Saguenay, drawing from the Rivière Chicoutimi (a tributary of the Saguenay) and connected to the broader Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean regional supply system. Water is treated at the Chicoutimi Water Treatment Plant using coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, UV disinfection, and chloramination, fully meeting the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ). Hardness measures just 11.5 mg/L (0.7 gpg) — classified as very soft by Health Canada, among the softest of any major Québec city, reflecting the pure Precambrian Shield geology of the Saguenay basin.
Chicoutimi sits in the Saguenay Fjord region — a spectacular glacially carved valley slicing through the Precambrian Canadian Shield of the Laurentian Plateau. The entire Saguenay watershed, including the vast Lac Saint-Jean basin to the northwest, drains an expanse of granite, gneiss, and anorthosite of the Grenville Province — some of the most resistant rock on Earth, dissolving virtually no calcium or magnesium into precipitation or surface water. The result is some of Canada's softest naturally occurring tap water, comparable to Victoria's coastal supply.
With just 11.5 mg/L of hardness, Chicoutimi homes are entirely scale-free — kettles and taps do not require descaling, and appliances have the maximum possible lifespan unaffected by mineral deposits. Soap and detergent consumption is far below the Canadian average. However, the extremely soft, naturally slightly acidic Shield water is mildly corrosive — Ville de Saguenay treats the supply for corrosivity control and recommends that residents in older pre-1970 Chicoutimi properties with original plumbing follow Health Canada lead guidelines and request water testing at the tap if lead pipes are suspected.
Geology & Source: Supplied by Ville de Saguenay from the Rivière Saguenay and the Lac Saint-Jean watershed — water draining the vast Precambrian Laurentian Shield of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region produces extremely soft water at just 11.5 mg/L (0.7 gpg).