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Saint-Félicien Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

17mg/L
Soft

Source

river

pH Level

7.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

28.7 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.05

energy & soap waste

Source: Health Canada Water Quality · Updated 2026

17mg/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 Saint-Félicien, your appliances are currently losing 2% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

ApplianceIn Saint-FélicienSoft Water CityEfficiency Loss
Kettle
9 yrs
8.5 yrs
Washing Machine
13 yrs
12 yrs
Water Heater
14.9 yrs
15 yrs-1%

Regional Water Comparison

How Saint-Félicien compares to its nearest neighbours

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

National Benchmark

How Saint-Félicien compares to the Canada average

BenchmarkHardnessAppliance Risk
Saint-Félicien17 mg/L🟢 None
Canada National Avg141 mg/L🟠 Moderate
Vancouver Top Rated3 mg/L🟢 None

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What Makes Saint-Félicien's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 28.7 mg/LpH: 7.1

Saint-Félicien's drinking water is managed by the Ville de Saint-Félicien, drawing from the Rivière Ashuapmushuan or Lac Saint-Jean — Saint-Félicien is a city on the western shore of Lac Saint-Jean in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, at the mouth of the Ashuapmushuan River, world-renowned for the Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien (one of Canada's premier natural habitat zoos featuring boreal forest wildlife from bears to wolverines and Arctic animals), a regional centre for the Lac Saint-Jean blueberry industry, and a gateway to the vast Chibougamau wilderness to the north. Water undergoes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, UV disinfection, and chloramination, meeting all Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ) requirements. Hardness measures 17 mg/L (1.0 gpg) — classified as soft by Health Canada, with TDS of only 28.7 mg/L — one of the softest municipal supplies in Canada.

Saint-Félicien draws from the Rivière Ashuapmushuan or Lac Saint-Jean — the Ashuapmushuan River drains the vast Precambrian Grenville Province of the Canadian Shield in the Chibougamau-Mistassini highlands, with ancient Archean granitic gneiss and Proterozoic plutonic rocks containing essentially zero carbonate content. Lac Saint-Jean is fed by several similarly soft Shield rivers. At 17 mg/L and TDS 28.7 mg/L, Saint-Félicien has one of the purest and softest water supplies in Canada, consistent with the broader Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Shield watershed pattern (Roberval 26 mg/L from this batch; La Tuque upper Saint-Maurice 28 mg/L from batch 34). Water quality reports are published under Ministère de l'Environnement oversight.

With 17 mg/L, Saint-Félicien homes are completely scale-free — no descaling is needed. Hot water tanks and appliances have an outstanding operational lifespan. Health Canada lead and copper precautionary guidance applies, as the ultra-soft water significantly increases corrosive potential for metallic plumbing, making flushing before drinking water use essential in pre-1975 homes with legacy lead service connections.

Geology & Source: Supplied by the Ville de Saint-Félicien from the Rivière Ashuapmushuan or Lac Saint-Jean — the Saint-Félicien supply from the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Laurentian Shield produces extremely soft water at 17 mg/L (1.0 gpg), with TDS of only 28.7 mg/L, reflecting the ultra-pure Precambrian Shield granite headwater character of the upper Saguenay watershed.

Other Quebec Water Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Saint-Félicien's water safe to drink?
Yes. Saint-Félicien's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 17 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 Saint-Félicien?
Saint-Félicien's water is soft at 17 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.
How does Saint-Félicien compare to the Canada average?
The Canada national average is 141 mg/L. Saint-Félicien at 17 mg/L is 124 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Vancouver at just 3 mg/L.