Unfortunately, due to certain Facebook posts in a community group and comments made during the holidays, I find myself having to again address misinformation that has been spread publicly. This highlights how social media can be misused to cause harm, enabling people to share information that is not fact-based or reflects a lack of understanding on certain topics. I encourage everyone to verify facts before posting and to engage respectfully in discussions. This approach fosters more constructive and productive exchanges. 

Here are all the comments that were posted by one person, along with the corresponding facts I included to address them. It’s long but hopefully you’ll find it informative.

 [1]. Louise says:  This is not a new problem, but one which was brought about by previous councils which increased the population ten-fold over the last decades.

Fact. In order to be true, I would have to go back at least 50 years. Population in 1976 was 3005, so 3005 x 10 would make it 30,050. Saint-Lazare’s population is currently around 23,000.  While Saint-Lazare’s population has indeed grown significantly, this claim is a clear over-exaggeration.

[2]. Louise says: The new hospital will further deplete the aquifer.

Fact. The hospital’s main water source will come from surface water, not underground water. According to the city of Vaudreuil-Dorion, underground water will only be used as a backup in case of issues with the primary source. It is important to note that “aquifer depletion” occurs when water is extracted faster than it can naturally recharge. Pumping tests required by the provincial government are done to establish a recharge rate and ongoing close monitoring is typically done by municipalities to ensure the sustainability of the infrastructure.

[3]. Louise says: There is not enough water pressure at this point to bring water to the new hospital’s top floor. VD is planning on digging 6 more wells to supply the new hospital.

Fact. Vaudreuil-Dorion has had wells on Saint-Lazare territory for probably 30-40 years. It has used these wells to supply water to residents in Dorion. Water makes the trip from Saint-Lazare to Dorion using gravity. A number of their wells were not in optimal condition; they had become clogged, preventing the maximum water extraction that had been authorized by the MELCC. Clogging can occur naturally over time or be accelerated by a lack of maintenance, improper well design, etc. In order to be able to supply the water needed, Vaudreuil-Dorion has had to dig 6 new wells around the same area as the old wells and will include a pumping station. In 2021, pumping tests were done and work authorized by Vaudreuil-Dorion which will give them the capacity needed to store water in case the primary source is not functional (see #2). The wells are already dug and this should be a non issue (Louise makes it sound like it’s a new information). So contrary to the point that Louise was trying to push, the reason why Vaudreuil-Dorion had to dig new wells was not because there’s not enough water, but rather because they had increased needs and their wells didn’t supply the amount needed.

Note that according to our Director of Infrastructure, the impact of Vaudreuil-Dorion’s wells does not have a major effect on Saint-Lazare, as the wells are located at the end of the outflow. The City of Saint-Lazare extracts the water it needs before it even reaches Vaudreuil-Dorion’s wells. It is also important to understand that Saint-Lazare’s water comes from seven different groundwater aquifers. Based on hydrogeological assessments by Technorem, the city extracts water from distinct aquifers that do not necessarily influence one another. Meaning that the aquifers are hydraulically separate and water does not flow between them.

[4]. Louise says:  Last I knew, St Lazare was near its water recharge capacity. How will those new wells further deplete that aquifer?

Fact. This is clearly a misunderstanding of terms and the process of underground water recharge. As mentioned in point #2, the recharge occurs naturally through precipitation and snow melting. It’s not like a glass of water where once it’s empty, it’s gone. Aquifers are replenished over time through natural processes, provided that water is not extracted faster than it can recharge.

It’s important to clarify that during peak usage periods, such as in the summer, water resources can experience temporary stress due to increased demand. To address this, many municipalities, including Saint-Lazare, encourage residents to reduce water consumption during these times. 

Additionally, Saint-Lazare has developed multiple water sources, drawing from seven distinct aquifers through 17 different wells. This diversified system allows the city to manage water extraction efficiently, shifting between sources as needed to ensure sustainable use and maintain balance across all aquifers. This approach aligns with preventive water management practices recommended in Technorem’s studies, ensuring we protect our water resources for the long term.

Having said that, perhaps what should be noted is that Saint-Lazare’s current infrastructures can supply water to approximately 26,000-27,000 residents (we’re around 23,000 in 2024) if we continue responsible consumption and keep our water management practices.

Note that in order to be proactive, the council has authorized in 2024 four new exploration wells in order to make sure we have further water resources. Ongoing tests are currently being done.

Technorem Study, April 2022, Saint-Lazare : recharge

According to estimated climate data for the year 2050, the average recharge is expected to be similar to that of the 2016-2020 period (243 mm), with a value of 245.8 mm. This represents an approximate 25% increase in groundwater recharge compared to the 30-year average (1980-2010) of 195.5 mm. As mentioned in Section 3.2.2.2, it is likely that some of the precipitation in 2050 will occur as extreme rainfall events. However, the hydrological balance method used to calculate recharge considers only the total quantity of precipitation, not the extreme nature of these events. As a result, the calculated recharge values for 2050 may be less representative of the actual recharge reaching the aquifers. Extreme rainfall events typically increase surface runoff, as evidenced by the flooding that often accompanies them.

To address this potential loss of representativity, a realistic increase in the runoff factor, ranging between 10% and 20%, was considered and applied. It was found that even with this 10%-20% increase in runoff rates, groundwater recharge would still be slightly higher than the 30-year average, with values between 231 mm and 218 mm. These values appear to be supported by the results of a 2021 study (Dubois et al., 2022), which indicated that for the Montérégie region east of the Saint Lawrence River, recharge between 2011 and 2070 would see an increase of approximately 13%. This increase in recharge is primarily attributed to higher recharge during the winter months (December to March) and a decrease during the summer months (May to November) due to rising temperatures.

[5]. Louise says: No government (provincial or otherwise) can mandate more doors if the basics like water are not sufficient.

Fact. The government will allow a two years provisional bylaw such as a putting forward a moratorium on development if infrastructures (sewage, aqueduct, etc.) can’t support further development in order to carry-out work to resolve the issue or build new infrastructures (Municipal powers act article 29). The law doesn’t allow for a forever ban on development.

[6]. Louise says:  St Lazare needs to have a vulnerability analysis done. Do it now before it is too late.

Fact. A vulnerability analysis has already been conducted in 2021 as mandated by the government, and all recommendations from the study have been implemented or in the process of. The study, along with all other hydrological reports, is public and readily accessible.

[7]. Louise says:  The water evaluation that was done under the previous council clearly states the estimated consumption and recharge capacity from the aquifer, you may want to refer to that to see how near capacity St Lazare actually is. That was done before an impact study of the added 6 new wells for the hospital.

Fact. The elected mandated a study to look at our capacity in water resources considering the planned future growth and climate change. Two separate studies were produced in 2022 which are publicly available. It was concluded that Saint-Lazare’s water capacity is sufficient to sustain future planned growth. The use of underground water for the hospital project, as well as the need for new wells was already known at that time as pumping tests were already authorized in 2021. 

Having said that, it was confirmed on several occasions that Saint-Lazare’s water resources will not be compromised by the usage of water for the hospital.

[8]. Louise says: You may,or not, know that our newspaper was very concerned about St Lazare’s rapid growth and the effect on the aquifer and environment. We wrote about the wells which had to be shut down due to contaminants. Our research was done by getting expert opinions, legally challenging St Lazare to release its studies, and getting copies of the studies mandated by the town. We did this for decades. What I can say with certainty, is that it has been like a Ponzi by several administrations intent on pretending to residents that there is “no problem”. That is a lie, we hold the documentation which points to the exact opposite.

Fact. I believe the Hudson Gazette shut down around 10 years ago, and Louise’s search for information on this topic likely dates back 20 to 25 years. The only well contamination I am aware of occurred in 2012 on a privately owned well in Green Maple Hill, not city property. If there were any incidents prior to that, they happened long before my time and are unknown to me. Importantly, no water distributed by the municipal network has been contaminated. Owning a newspaper does not grant the right to share unfounded or outdated claims on social media and to twist information to push a point, or make defamatory statements.

[9]. Louise says:  The disappointment should be that St Lazare refuses to put its pants on and stop the growth it cannot sustain and be honest about it.

Fact. We have 2 different studies from 2022 that confirmed that the drinking water reserves of the City of Saint-Lazare will be sufficient to meet the water needs of its current and future population.

In summary, the work conducted as part of this study suggests that the current management of the various groundwater sources is being carried out in a coordinated manner to ensure a safe drinking water supply for the population without compromising the long-term sustainability of natural aquifer reservoirs. Projections over the next 30 years (to 2050), based on an expected population of 26,000 and anticipated climate changes, also indicate that the granular and bedrock aquifers currently in use or planned for near-term exploitation will be sufficient to meet the future water needs of the City and its residents.

The anticipated growth in the coming years, driven by the need for housing near the new hospital, the ongoing housing shortage, and the densification requirements set by the CMM, will undoubtedly bring development. However, we have ensured that this growth remains controlled through different planning (PPU) and bylaws and aligned with the capacity of our current infrastructure.

[10]. Louise says: Why is it that developers told me 25 years ago that they were warned by town employees that there would eventually be serious water shortage issues, including contamination ?

Fact. I can’t answer something that was said 25 years ago. All I can say is that we have been closely following the state of our water resources, and we have added new wells in recent years (2023) which assures that we have the capacity to provide adequate water to our population. In terms of contamination, water distributed is tested daily and follows the norms of the government. 

[11]. Louise says: Sorry, but you need to get the real facts, not the hired/ orientation reports which state what is asked of them by those paying the bill.

Fact. This claim is false, and there is no evidence to support it. Suggesting that reports are tailored to satisfy those funding them ignores the reality that the elected all live in Saint-Lazare and are equally affected by the decisions made. If anything were being hidden, we would face significant consequences ourselves, making such actions illogical. As well, I’m not sure who would be paying for these studies if not the municipality? 

[12]. Louise says:  Genevieve Lachance taking your comments to match the type of  rhetoric we hear from certain politicians to our south, let’s clarify the facts.

Fact. Those who know me probably are rolling on the ground laughing after reading this…

[13]. Louise says: St Lazare continues to have water shortages, not because it has an abundance of water.

Fact. This claim is simply false. 

The following are the years in which an outdoor drinking water ban has been decreed over the past 24 years:

1. 2001
2. 2003
3. 2010 (cause: major water system failure)
4. 2012
5. 2018 (cause: Saddlebrook plant failure (broken pump), only this area was affected by the ban)
6. 2020 cause: water filtering plant can’t keep up with demand (Covid)
7. 2021 early drought period and over usage of water during spring/summer (Covid)

[14]. Louise says:  I have read your studies and have actually discussed those with you. You and I have sat together at meetings for the new hospital where water consumption was your concern given it would further deplete the aquifer.

Fact. The only meeting regarding the hospital that I attended was in Vaudreuil-Dorion in 2019 (almost 6 years ago) when I was a councilor and Louise was present. At the time, I lacked information because the mayor of Vaudreuil-Dorion chose to share updates exclusively with mayors, not councilors. Our mayor at the time didn’t share much with his council. This was when we first learned that Vaudreuil-Dorion planned to use underground water as a backup source for the hospital. 

As for Louise’s claim about reading studies, it highlights that our reports are readily accessible but can be challenging to interpret due to their highly scientific nature. This may explain the confusion some individuals experience when reviewing the data. I encourage people who want to know more to contact the city and ask our experts specific questions.

[16]. Louise says: FYI, it was engineers who warned the developers all those years ago of water shortages and contamination, decades before neighbouring municipalities densified their territories, further impacting the aquifer.

Fact. Again, this is outdated information that I cannot verify and is not relevant in 2024.

[17]. Louise says:  Enough of the irresponsible nonsense that continues to put all of us at risk.

Fact. Contrary to the accusation and defamation statements, as additional monitoring measures, the City has been overseeing the aquifers and their usage levels for over 15 years. The extensive collection of piezometric data over this period has allowed for effective tracking of aquifer conditions and the identification of emerging trends. The commissioning of three new wells was completed in 2022–2023. The exploitation of the bedrock aquifer in the Pinière sector ensures a secure water supply and provides some relief for the most heavily utilized aquifers. Sustainable water management practices will continue to be implemented to ensure the aquifer remains a reliable resource for the community.

Again, members of the municipal council had expressed concerns in 2021 about the long-term supply of drinking water from groundwater, given the climatic events of recent years and their potential for increased frequency in the coming decades. Consequently, TechnoRem was asked whether the mathematical model developed and updated over the past 20 years could be used to assess the impact of climate change on groundwater levels in both granular and bedrock aquifers, as well as their exploitation. 

In summary, the work conducted as part of this study suggests that the management of the various groundwater sources is currently being carried out in a coordinated manner to ensure a safe drinking water supply for the population without compromising the long-term sustainability of natural aquifer reservoirs. Projections over the next 30 years (to 2050), based on an expected population of 26,000 and anticipated climate changes, also indicate that the granular and bedrock aquifers currently in use or planned for near-term exploitation will be sufficient to meet the future water needs of the City and its residents.

The firm Richelieu Hydrogéologie Inc. was commissioned in 2022 to conduct a critical review of the most recent hydrogeological studies related to the groundwater management of the City of Saint-Lazare and confirmed that the studies by Technorem are compliant.

As already mentioned, in order to be proactive, the council has authorized in 2024 four new exploration wells in order to make sure we have further water resources. Ongoing tests are currently being done.

The claims made are unfounded and irresponsible, as they unnecessarily create a sense of worry among the population. In recent years, the city has consistently taken proactive measures to ensure the safety and sustainability of its water supply, including regular monitoring, transparent communication, and evidence-based planning. By relying on thorough studies and expert analysis, the city has demonstrated its commitment to managing resources responsibly and addressing any concerns with factual information.

Final note

That said, I want to remind everyone that municipalities in Quebec are required to follow the Stratégie municipale d’économie d’eau potable to reduce individual water consumption to levels comparable to Ontario. Failure to meet this standard would make the city ineligible for water infrastructure subsidies. The barometers at the city entrances, requests to reduce water usage during the summer, multiple awareness campaigns, and various bylaws have all been implemented to help achieve this important goal and is not an indication that we’re running out of water.