Rivière-du-Loup 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
32.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.05
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 Rivière-du-Loup, your appliances are currently losing 3% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Rivière-du-Loup | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | — |
| Washing Machine | 12.9 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 14.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -1% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Rivière-du-Loup compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Mineralization | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec | 19.5 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
| Rimouski, Quebec | 16 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
| Edmundston, New Brunswick | 81 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Montmagny, Quebec | 78.5 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Chicoutimi, Quebec | 11.5 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
National Benchmark
How Rivière-du-Loup compares to the Canada average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rivière-du-Loup | 19.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| Canada National Avg | 141 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Vancouver Top Rated | 3 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Rivière-du-Loup's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Rivière-du-Loup's drinking water is managed by Ville de Rivière-du-Loup, drawing from the Rivière du Loup watershed or a local reservoir system in the Notre-Dame Mountains of Bas-Saint-Laurent — a strategic regional hub city on the south shore of the St. Lawrence at the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway and the ferry to St-Siméon, connecting the lower St. Lawrence south and north shores. Water undergoes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, UV disinfection, and chloramination, meeting all Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ) requirements. Hardness measures 19.5 mg/L (1.1 gpg) — classified as soft by Health Canada, with TDS of only 32.7 mg/L — an extremely soft supply approaching distilled water in its mineral content.
Rivière-du-Loup sits at the point where the south shore of the St. Lawrence transitions from the St. Lawrence Lowlands into the Appalachian Highlands — the Notre-Dame Mountain range composed of Cambrian and Ordovician volcanic greenstone, phyllite, quartzite, and low-grade metamorphic rocks of the Taconian accretionary prism. These ancient, highly resistant terranes dissolve almost imperceptibly, releasing near-zero dissolved calcium and bicarbonate into the Rivière du Loup watershed, producing the remarkable 19.5 mg/L supply — one of the softest municipal water readings in Quebec outside the Saguenay and North Shore Shield communities.
With 19.5 mg/L of hardness, Rivière-du-Loup homes are effectively mineral-free in their water supply — appliances require zero descaling, hot water tanks have an outstanding operational lifespan, and soap lathers exceptionally well. Ville de Rivière-du-Loup publishes annual water quality reports following Ministère de l'Environnement standards. The extremely soft, low-TDS supply warrants Health Canada lead and copper precautionary guidance: the very soft and slightly acidic water can be mildly corrosive to metallic plumbing in older pre-1975 properties.
Geology & Source: Supplied by Ville de Rivière-du-Loup from the Rivière du Loup or a local Notre-Dame Mountains watershed reservoir — the Bas-Saint-Laurent south shore supply from the Appalachian Highlands metavolcanic and metasedimentary terrain produces extremely soft water at 19.5 mg/L (1.1 gpg).