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Sainte-Monique Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

13.5mg/L
Soft

Source

river

pH Level

7.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.001 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

22.2 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.04

energy & soap waste

Source: Health Canada Water Quality · Updated 2026

13.5mg/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 Sainte-Monique, your appliances are currently losing 2% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

ApplianceIn Sainte-MoniqueSoft Water CityEfficiency Loss
Kettle
9.2 yrs
8.5 yrs
Washing Machine
13.1 yrs
12 yrs
Water Heater
15.1 yrs
15 yrs

Regional Water Comparison

How Sainte-Monique compares to its nearest neighbours

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

National Benchmark

How Sainte-Monique compares to the Canada average

BenchmarkHardnessAppliance Risk
Sainte-Monique13.5 mg/L🟢 None
Canada National Avg141 mg/L🟠 Moderate
Vancouver Top Rated3 mg/L🟢 None

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What Makes Sainte-Monique's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 22.2 mg/LpH: 7.1

Sainte-Monique's drinking water is managed by Municipalité de Sainte-Monique, drawing from a local river or lake source in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region — Sainte-Monique is a rural municipality on the south shore of Lac Saint-Jean, the vast inland lake of the Saguenay fjord country in northcentral Quebec, a lake formed in a bedrock depression in the Laurentian Shield where the Saguenay River begins its dramatic descent to the St. Lawrence, the geographic heart of the deep-rooted Bleuets (blueberry-growers) francophone Quebec culture of the Lac-Saint-Jean region. Water undergoes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, UV disinfection, and chloramination, meeting all Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ) requirements. Hardness measures 13.5 mg/L (0.8 gpg) — classified as soft by Health Canada, with TDS of 22.2 mg/L — an extremely soft supply consistent with the Laurentian Shield watershed character of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean basin.

The Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean watershed drains the Laurentide Mountains and Laurentian Plateau — ancient Archean and Proterozoic granites, anorthosites, and gneisses of the Grenville Province, among the world's geologically oldest and most insoluble terrains. The Lac-Saint-Jean basin collects runoff from hundreds of Shield rivers dissolving essentially nothing from the granite and gneiss bedrock, producing the near-zero-mineral TDS-22 supply. This is among the softest municipal supplies in Canada, consistent with the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region's characteristic ultra-soft water.

With 13.5 mg/L, Sainte-Monique homes are completely scale-free — appliances and hot water tanks have outstanding operational lifespans. Water quality reports are published following Ministère de l'Environnement standards. Health Canada lead and copper precautionary guidance is essential here — the extremely soft, near-zero-TDS supply is highly corrosive to older metallic plumbing, and any pre-1975 residential properties in the Sainte-Monique community must have lead plumbing and lead-tin solder promptly assessed and replaced.

Geology & Source: Supplied by Municipalité de Sainte-Monique from a local Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean river or lake source — the Sainte-Monique supply from the Laurentian Shield Lac-Saint-Jean watershed produces extremely soft water at 13.5 mg/L (0.8 gpg), with TDS of only 22.2 mg/L.

Other Quebec Water Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sainte-Monique's water safe to drink?
Yes. Sainte-Monique's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 13.5 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 Sainte-Monique?
Sainte-Monique's water is soft at 13.5 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.
How does Sainte-Monique compare to the Canada average?
The Canada national average is 141 mg/L. Sainte-Monique at 13.5 mg/L is 127 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Vancouver at just 3 mg/L.