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Dolbeau-Mistassini Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

53mg/L
Soft

Source

river

pH Level

7.4

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.004 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

112.8 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.14

energy & soap waste

Source: Health Canada Water Quality · Updated 2026

53mg/L as CaCO₃Soft

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 Dolbeau-Mistassini, your appliances are currently losing 7% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

ApplianceIn Dolbeau-MistassiniSoft Water CityEfficiency Loss
Kettle
7.9 yrs
8.5 yrs-7%
Washing Machine
11.6 yrs
12 yrs-3%
Water Heater
13.5 yrs
15 yrs-10%

Regional Water Comparison

How Dolbeau-Mistassini compares to its nearest neighbours

CityHardnessMineralizationRisk
Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec53 mg/LLow🟢 Soft
Saint-Félicien, Quebec17 mg/LLow🟢 Soft
Roberval, Quebec26 mg/LLow🟢 Soft
Sainte-Monique, Quebec13.5 mg/LLow🟢 Soft
Alma, Quebec51 mg/LLow🟢 Soft

National Benchmark

How Dolbeau-Mistassini compares to the Canada average

BenchmarkHardnessAppliance Risk
Dolbeau-Mistassini53 mg/L🟢 None
Canada National Avg141 mg/L🟠 Moderate
Vancouver Top Rated3 mg/L🟢 None

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What Makes Dolbeau-Mistassini's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 112.8 mg/LpH: 7.4

Dolbeau-Mistassini's drinking water is managed by the Ville de Dolbeau-Mistassini, drawing from the Rivière Mistassini — Dolbeau-Mistassini is a city at the northwest corner of Lac Saint-Jean in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, formed by the merger of the sister cities of Dolbeau (a pulp and paper mill town on the Rivière Mistassini founded by the Price Brothers Company) and Mistassini (home to the legendary Chicoutimi Chocolate Festival and a significant Innu Nation community presence), deep in the boreal Shield heartland of northern Quebec. Water undergoes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, UV disinfection, and chloramination, meeting all Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ) requirements. Hardness measures 53 mg/L (3.1 gpg) — classified as soft by Health Canada, consistent with the ultra-soft northern Laurentian Shield river watershed character.

The Rivière Mistassini drains the vast Laurentian Plateau north of Lac Saint-Jean — from the Hudson Bay–St. Lawrence divide through the deep Shield country of the Grenville Province Archean and Proterozoic gneisses and granites of the northern Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean watershed, producing near-zero mineral dissolution in the pristine boreal forest and exposed Shield terrain. The 53 mg/L for the Mistassini River supply is slightly higher than the pure Lac Saint-Jean shoreline (13.5 mg/L at Sainte-Monique from batch 28), reflecting the longer drainage path that gathers marginal mineral input from glacial carbonates in the northern Shield boreal terrain.

With 53 mg/L, Dolbeau-Mistassini homes are essentially scale-free — occasional kettle cleaning every three months is adequate. Hot water tanks have an excellent operational lifespan. Water quality reports are published following Ministère de l'Environnement standards. Health Canada lead precautionary guidance applies to pre-1975 properties in the historic Dolbeau and Mistassini mill-town heritage districts on the Rivière Mistassini.

Geology & Source: Supplied by the Ville de Dolbeau-Mistassini from the Rivière Mistassini — the Dolbeau-Mistassini supply from the northern Laurentian Shield Mistassini watershed produces soft water at 53 mg/L (3.1 gpg), consistent with the ultra-soft Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean Shield river character.

Other Quebec Water Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dolbeau-Mistassini's water safe to drink?
Yes. Dolbeau-Mistassini's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 53 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.
Do I need a water softener in Dolbeau-Mistassini?
Dolbeau-Mistassini's water is soft at 53 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.
How does Dolbeau-Mistassini compare to the Canada average?
The Canada national average is 141 mg/L. Dolbeau-Mistassini at 53 mg/L is 88 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Vancouver at just 3 mg/L.