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Saguenay Drinking Water Quality
By OpenStats · Built from official Canadian sources
Regional estimateC
Water quality grade
Fair
Graded against Health Canada drinking water guidelines
Lead within guidelinepH in range
Hardness vs provincial average194 mg/L · prov. avg 183 mg/L
Lead vs provincial average0.2 μg/L · prov. avg 0.3 μg/L
Hardness
194 mg/L
Lead
0.2 μg/L
≤ 5 μg/L
pH
8.2
6.5–8.5 range
Hardness
194 mg/L
Very hard
Lead
0.2 μg/L
Max: 5 μg/L
pH
8.2
6.5–8.5
Chlorine
0.7 mg/L
Max: 4 mg/L
From source to sink
Where Saguenay water comes from
Lakes, rivers, wells, and treatment plants behind the kitchen tap, in plain language. Chemistry grades above are a separate lab snapshot; this section is the route the water travels.
Open the full tap storyOn the map
Where Saguenay water lives
Source waters and treatment plants pinned from published utility names. Open a pin below for the full OpenStreetMap view.
- CitySaguenay
Municipal service area
- Treatment plantUsine de filtration de Chicoutimi
Approximate pin near Saguenay (exact plant coordinates pending)
- Treatment plantUsine de filtration de Jonquière
Approximate pin near Saguenay (exact plant coordinates pending)
- Treatment plantUsine de filtration d'Arvida
Approximate pin near Saguenay (exact plant coordinates pending)
- Treatment plantUsine / système Saint-Honoré
Approximate pin near Saguenay (exact plant coordinates pending)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins are approximate for orientation, not legal survey points.
Where it starts
Mixed surface and groundwater
Research confidence: medium
Named source waters
- Lac Kénogami (via Rivière Chicoutimi and Rivière aux Sables)
- Lac Kénogami sector lakes / intakes
- Lac de l'Aqueduc (Saint-Honoré)
- Groundwater wells (La Baie sector)
Treatment plants
Usine de filtration de Chicoutimi
Major plant supplied via Rivière Chicoutimi from Lac Kénogami reservoir system.
Usine de filtration de Jonquière
Rivière aux Sables intake; fully renovated 2016 with membrane filtration.
Usine de filtration d'Arvida
One of four surface/filtration plants cited for the amalgamated city.
Usine / système Saint-Honoré
Serves northern Chicoutimi area from Lac de l'Aqueduc supply.
How it reaches your street
City operates multiple filtration plants, wells, boosters, and reservoirs across former Chicoutimi, Jonquière, and La Baie networks. Lac Kénogami is the principal raw-water reservoir for ~100,000 residents via the Chicoutimi and aux Sables rivers; La Baie relies mainly on groundwater wells.
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Partner
Lab water test for Saguenay taps
Municipal reports cover the plant. A Tap Score kit tests the water at a Saguenay tap for a broader contaminant panel.
Lab kit partner link. We may earn a commission when tracking is active.
Reading this page
Saguenay's most recent drinking water sample (2026-07-22) reports hardness of 194 mg/L, classified as very hard, and pH 8.2, drawn from a mixed water source and treated at Saguenay Water Treatment Plant. Lead measured 0.2 μg/L and fluoride 0.7 mg/L.
Free chlorine measured 0.7 mg/L in this sample. No E. coli was detected in this sample.
Saguenay's hardness of 194 mg/L is above the Quebec average of 183 mg/L across 34 tracked municipalities, with a provincial average pH of 7.5.
These readings summarize a single compliance snapshot, not a certification of the water reaching your tap. Test your own water periodically, especially on a private well, and consider a softener if hardness is classified hard or very hard.
How to use this page: read the headline metrics first, then where the water comes from (map and tap story), then the parameter table and source footer.
Health parameters meet Health Canada limits; turbidity above the 1 NTU typical target and very hard water.
One or more parameters exceed a Health Canada drinking water guideline or turbidity target.
Figure 1 · From source to sink
How drinking water reaches your tap
Compared to provincial average
Quebec · 34 cities in sample
Hardness (city vs Quebec avg)194 mg/L
pH (city vs Quebec avg)8.2
Lead (city vs Quebec avg)0.2 μg/L
Fluoride (city vs Quebec avg)0.7 mg/L
Provincial average: hardness 183 mg/L · pH 7.5 · lead 0.3 μg/L · fluoride 0.6 mg/L
Full parameters
| Parameter | Reading | Health Canada guideline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 194 mg/L | No health limit (aesthetic) | Compliant |
| pH | 8.2 | 6.5–8.5 | Compliant |
| Lead | 0.2 μg/L | ≤ 5 μg/L | Compliant |
| Fluoride | 0.7 mg/L | ≤ 1.5 mg/L | Compliant |
| Chlorine (free) | 0.7 mg/L | ≤ 4 mg/L | Compliant |
| Turbidity | 3.5 NTU | ≤ 1 NTU (typical target) | Exceeds guideline |
Alberta water licences
WaterRegister.ca
On a private well or holding an Alberta water allocation licence? Water Register maps EPA licence records, transfer comparables, and watershed context across the province.
Explore WaterRegister.ca →Water softeners for hard water
Very hard water. Whole-house softeners are the high-ticket fit; salt and test kits support the install.
As an Amazon Associate, OpenStats earns from qualifying purchases.
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- Shop on Amazon.caWater hardness test stripsConfirm mg/L before sizing a unit
- Shop on Amazon.caTDS meterQuick dissolved-solids check
Source · ECCC / municipal open data (seed). Last updated 2026-07-22. Refreshed on the site's automated schedule.