Early data

Major programs that made a mark on clean-up

The St. Lawrence after 20 years of clean-up

A river in legacy
This great artery, which has witnessed, industrial expansion and dredging, as well as wood floating has always been part of the Quebec landscape. But, it has deteriorated with the passage of time. It was in the 1970s that people began to become aware that the water was unsafe to drink, fishes were poisoned and beaches no longer swimmable, spurred governments to act. If something was to be done, people would have to be empowered so that a clean, healthy river could be left for future generations.

Early data
Apart from its general appearance, little was known of the river? In 1970, the federal government contracted Laval University to conduct the first water quality sampling campaigns for the St. Lawrence. At that time, environmental concepts of the river were few and new data about currents and mixing of water masses from the tributaries were viewed as important discoveries.

Researchers of the day had a lot to discover. They knew that the waters of the St. Lawrence were polluted, but did not know the impact of that pollution on the ecosystem, its sources, how it was affecting public health, and aquatic life. Knowledge was needed to improve the health of the river. In 1973, a study committee was set up under a Canada-Quebec agreement to evaluate the state of the river. After five years of work, the River Water Quality Committee tabled a report containing the first recommendations for cleaning up the river. The important data in "A Plan for the St. Lawrence" spawned a series of government programs to clean up the St. Lawrence.

Major programs that made a mark on clean-up
In 1978, the government of Quebec launched a wastewater treatment program called the Programme d'assainissement des eaux du Québec (PAEQ), also known as the Programme d'assainissement des eaux municipales, and the Programme les Eaux Vives du Québec. The purpose of the PAEQ was to fight organic and bacteriological pollution from municipal sewage, which keeps us from drinking and using water. The river, the most pressing need was to make a start and show other sectors the way by treating municipal wastewater. Today, 95 % of domestic sewage carried by sewage systems is treated in a municipal wastewater treatment plant before being released into the St. Lawrence. However, if the river is to be really clean, we must also consider other sources of pollution, because attacking just one third of the problem is only one third of the solution.

The St. Lawrence Action Plan was launched in 1988. A harmonization agreement was signed in 1989 making Canada and Quebec partners in this highly ambitious program. One of its main objectives was the elimination of chemical pollution from 50 priority plants. The St. Lawrence Action Plan added another 56 plants to its priority list in 1993. Since 1998, the Plan’s third phase relies of pollution prevention rather than the clean-up of effluents.

PRRI the Programme de réduction des rejets industriels, [industrial waste reduction program] was designed in the late 80's to protect receiving environments using an integrated (water-air-soil) approach. It targets 300 major industrial establishments in Quebec. Clean-up certificates, which serve as special operating licences, are used to strengthen existing technological standards. Additional requirements in the clean-up certificates are directly based on the uses and fragility of receiving environments.

The Quebec Department of the Environment has been working with industrial associations for several years to develop strategies to ensure that new environmental constraints will be effective and are within the technical and economic capabilities of industrial establishments. Clean-up certificates have begun to be issued for the pulp and paper industry. The program will gradually be extended to other major industries in Quebec.

The contamination by fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture results in pollution of the tributaries that flow into the river. The Pesticide Reduction Strategy, launched in 1992 by the Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec and its partners, is aimed at helping farmers to adopt more environmentally friendly practices.

The St. Lawrence after 20 years of clean-up
What is the river’s bill of health today? For 20 years, clean-up programs have been in place to help the St. Lawrence recover. All of this work has not been in vain: important results have been achieved under all of these programs. However, after 20 years, work still being done to wipe out sources of pollution. For the Quebec’s wastewater treatment program some took 20 years and seven thousand million dollars before 95 % of the wastewater in sewer network were treated by municipal wastewater treatment stations. Even today, we continue to acquire knowledge, find solutions, educate, inform and act.