Montréal-Nord Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
Source
river
pH Level
7.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
122.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.19
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 Montréal-Nord, your appliances are currently losing 10% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Montréal-Nord | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -15% |
| Washing Machine | 11 yrs | 12 yrs | -8% |
| Water Heater | 12.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -15% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Montréal-Nord compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Mineralization | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Montréal-Nord, Quebec | 71.5 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Quebec | 93.5 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Saint-Michel, Quebec | 85 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Saint-Léonard, Quebec | 80 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Duvernay, Quebec | 65.5 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
National Benchmark
How Montréal-Nord compares to the Canada average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Montréal-Nord | 71.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| Canada National Avg | 141 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Vancouver Top Rated | 3 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Montréal-Nord's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Montréal-Nord receives its drinking water through Ville de Montréal — Direction de l'eau potable, part of Montréal's integrated water system drawing from the St. Lawrence River and Rivière des Prairies via the Charles-J. Des Baillets, Atwater, and DesBaillets water treatment plants. Treatment includes ozonation, biofiltration, UV disinfection, and chloramination, meeting all Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ) standards. Hardness in this north Montréal island borough is 71.5 mg/L (4.2 gpg) — classified as moderately hard by Health Canada, one of Montréal's softer distribution zones due to strong Rivière des Prairies influence.
Montréal-Nord borders the Rivière des Prairies to the north and is supplied predominantly from the Rivière des Prairies intake corridor at the Charles-J. Des Baillets plant. The Rivière des Prairies carries a significant share of water from Precambrian Shield tributaries in the Laurentian Highlands — primarily the Rivière du Nord, Rivière Rouge, and other Ottawa River affluents — producing a supply notably softer than the primary St. Lawrence mainstream. This Shield dilution strongly reduces hardness in Montréal-Nord's distribution zone.
At 71.5 mg/L, Montréal-Nord residents see only light scale deposits on tap aerators and in kettles — occasional descaling two to three times a year is sufficient. Hot water tanks operate efficiently at this hardness without dedicated treatment. As one of Montréal's densely populated working-class neighbourhoods with significant pre-1960 housing stock, Montréal's Direction de l'eau potable strongly encourages residents to follow Health Canada precautionary guidance on lead and to participate in the city's active lead service line replacement programme.
Geology & Source: Supplied by Ville de Montréal — Direction de l'eau potable from the Rivière des Prairies via the Charles-J. Des Baillets treatment plant — Precambrian Shield tributary-softened Ordovician lowlands supply reaches this north Montréal borough at 71.5 mg/L (4.2 gpg).