Following several erroneous and inaccurate information conveyed in recent months by certain citizens in the media and on social networks on the dangerousness of drinking water, the City of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac is reassuring the population and reminding them that the standards on the treatment of drinking water imposed by the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change are fully respected.
Furthermore, the Public Health Department (DSP) of the CISSS des Laurentides confirmed to us that a citizen has never been asked to carry out a census on health problems within the population. For the DSP, the information obtained by a “house census” has little real scientific value and above all can unnecessarily worry the population. A study of this type requires a different methodology and very strict protocols. The City of Sainte-Marthe-sur-Lac is working with the CISSS des Laurentides in order to characterize the situation and determine solutions.
Manganese is an element naturally present in the soil that is found in water collected from wells. Oxidation of this element causes the water to color. Several cities in Quebec that get their water from wells have episodes of colored water like in Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac.
It is for this reason that the City has been working for several years with drinking water experts as well as with researchers from Polytechnique Montréal to resolve the problem of water coloring. This renowned university institution worked with the City during the installation of the wells in 2012. In addition, in 2016, following the recommendations of Mr. Benoit Barbeau, professor and senior Chair of the Industrial-NSERC in drinking water at the Polytechnique Montréal, the City has taken the lead with the establishment of a manganese treatment station.
As is the case with the COVID-19 pandemic, the proliferation of false information can create anxiety among the population, the city invites the citizens to learn about drinking water from the official sources of information, namely the City of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac and the DSP of the CISSS des Laurentides. They can also view Frequently Asked Questions and Water Tests on this page on our website.
