Rouyn-Noranda Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
Source
river
pH Level
7.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
66.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.09
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 Rouyn-Noranda, your appliances are currently losing 5% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Rouyn-Noranda | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -1% |
| Washing Machine | 12.3 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 14.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -5% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Rouyn-Noranda compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Mineralization | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec | 35 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
| Amos, Quebec | 63.5 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Temiskaming Shores, Ontario | 137 mg/L | High | 🟠 Hard |
| Val-d'Or, Quebec | 49.5 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
| North Bay, Ontario | 45 mg/L | Low | 🟢 Soft |
National Benchmark
How Rouyn-Noranda compares to the Canada average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rouyn-Noranda | 35 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| Canada National Avg | 141 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Vancouver Top Rated | 3 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Rouyn-Noranda's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Rouyn-Noranda's drinking water is managed by Ville de Rouyn-Noranda, a mining and forestry city straddling the Quebec-Ontario border in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, drawing from Lac Osisko — a natural lake in the heart of the urban area — and supplementary Abitibi Shield reservoir supply. Water undergoes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, UV disinfection, and chloramination, meeting all Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ) requirements. Hardness measures 35 mg/L (2.0 gpg) — classified as soft by Health Canada, reflecting the ultra-low mineral character of the northern Quebec Abitibi Shield watershed.
Rouyn-Noranda's watershed draws from the same Abitibi Subprovince of the Canadian Shield as Val-d'Or (49.5 mg/L from batch 15) — vast expanses of Archaean granite, granodiorite, and greenstone that are highly resistant to chemical weathering. The even softer 35 mg/L (vs. Val-d'Or's 49.5 mg/L) reflects Lac Osisko's position within the urban Rouyn-Noranda footprint — an Abitibi greenstone belt lake with very limited soluble mineral contact. Despite decades of copper smelting and mining that historically produced the Rouyn area's severe air pollution and soil contamination (from the nearby Horne smelter), the drinking water source itself is a soft, low-TDS Shield lake supply.
With 35 mg/L of hardness, Rouyn-Noranda homes are completely scale-free — appliances and plumbing require zero descaling maintenance. Hot water tanks have an outstanding operational lifespan. Ville de Rouyn-Noranda publishes annual water quality reports following Ministère de l'Environnement standards. Health Canada guidance and provincial monitoring under the Ministère de l'Environnement are particularly relevant to Rouyn-Noranda given the community's industrial history, though lead in drinking water from source and treatment remains the specific concern rather than hardness.
Geology & Source: Supplied by Ville de Rouyn-Noranda from Lac Osisko and local Abitibi Shield reservoirs — water from the Precambrian Abitibi greenstone belt of northwestern Quebec produces very soft water at 35 mg/L (2.0 gpg).