Ville-Marie 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
126.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.20
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 Ville-Marie, your appliances are currently losing 10% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Ville-Marie | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -15% |
| Washing Machine | 10.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -9% |
| Water Heater | 12.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -15% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Ville-Marie compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Mineralization | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ville-Marie, Quebec | 73.5 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Petite-Bourgogne, Quebec | 99 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Milton-Parc, Quebec | 99 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Montréal, Quebec | 116 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
| Pointe-Saint-Charles, Quebec | 99 mg/L | Medium | 🟡 Moderately Hard |
National Benchmark
How Ville-Marie compares to the Canada average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ville-Marie | 73.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| Canada National Avg | 141 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Vancouver Top Rated | 3 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Ville-Marie's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Ville-Marie (the downtown borough of Ville de Montréal, encompassing the central business district, Mont-Royal, and the Golden Square Mile) receives its drinking water through Ville de Montréal — Direction de l'eau potable, drawing from the St. Lawrence River via the historic Atwater and DesBaillets water treatment plants — two of Canada's oldest large-scale treatment facilities, continuously updated with ozonation, biofiltration, UV disinfection, and chloramination. All treatment meets the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ). Hardness is 73.5 mg/L (4.3 gpg) — classified as moderately hard by Health Canada.
Ville-Marie's supply is delivered from the Atwater treatment plant drawing directly from the St. Lawrence River at the west island of Montréal, where the blend of upstream Precambrian Shield tributaries (Ottawa River, Saint-Maurice) and Ordovician limestone-influenced mainstream St. Lawrence water produces the moderate 73–74 mg/L hardness characteristic of central Montréal's distribution zones. The Atwater plant's long history of serving downtown Montréal ensures a consistent, well-monitored supply reaching Ville-Marie taps.
At 73.5 mg/L, Ville-Marie residents see only light scale deposits in kettles and on tap aerators — descaling two to three times a year is sufficient. Hot water tanks operate efficiently at this hardness without dedicated treatment. Ville-Marie's dense mix of heritage commercial buildings, condominiums, and historic residences — including many buildings constructed before 1970 — means that Health Canada lead precautions are particularly relevant; Montréal's Direction de l'eau potable provides free lead testing kits and operates an active lead service line replacement programme in the borough.
Geology & Source: Supplied by Ville de Montréal — Direction de l'eau potable from the St. Lawrence River via the Atwater and DesBaillets plants — Ordovician limestone lowlands water softened by Shield tributary blending reaches this downtown Montréal borough at 73.5 mg/L (4.3 gpg).