A couples’ concerns about the quality of the drinking water in Saint Lazare raised during question period at the monthly St. Lazare council meeting on July 13 prompted councillors to declare the water is safe to drink.

Ignazio Turrigiano and Paola Irrera displayed a used water filter covered with a thick dark coating of what they said was sludge that had apparently accumulated over a six-month period beginning last October before it was replaced with a new filter in March.

They said a similar thick black coating appeared on another filter they replaced last October six months after it was installed in March 2022. Irrera told council she was concerned whether the accumulation on both filters could pose a potential risk to their health.

She added they had the water tested by an independent lab and the results showed no apparent abnormalities. Despite this, the couple feel there is something wrong because of the thick accumulation of sediment on the two water filters.

Councillor suggests changing filter more often

“The filter has to be changed regularly. Sometimes with the concentration you have on your filter it should be changed every month. If you have a water softener you don’t need a filter. It just accumulates and you’re creating a problem right there,” said District 5 Councillor Richard Chartrand.

Chartrand was the interim Mayor Pro Tem for the council session who replaced Mayor Geneviève Lachance because she was absent.

Irrera repiled that if they didn’t use water filters, everything that was trapped by the filters would have entered their bodies.“If we didn’t have a water softener and filter that’s collecting all this, everything would be in our system,” she said.

“Some of them are very good for your health. Minerals are very good for the body but not with the concentration that’s on the filter,” said Chartrand.

“This is good for my body?” asked Turrigiano as he pointed to the filter.

“If the filter is black it should be changed regularly,” Chartrand replied.

Irrera said the manufacturer recommends the filter should be changed every six months as a minimum. “Even if we change it every month the filters will still collect all this. Our neighbours who don’t have filters are ingesting this,” she said.

Chartrand reiterated the couple should change the filter every month. “You’re decreasing the quality of the water and increasing the amount of minerals in the filter,” he said.

Irrera said the city had checked the water quality coming into her home. "They said everything is within norms which is fine but if I’m not using filters this gunk is coming into my body,” Irrera replied.

Council consensus regarding more regular filter change

“Our water is treated and analyzed. We have very good water in St. Lazare. I don’t know why you have bad water but I suggest you change the filter more often because you’re just decreasing the quality of your water because of the large concentration of minerals in the filter,” said Chartrand.

District 1 Councillor Tanja Minisini agreed with Chartrand’s assessment. “Our water is tested by the city before it enters filtration and it conforms within the norms established by the federal and provincial governments and professionals. What’s on the filter is likely because the filter is not being changed often enough. You may need to change it more often,” she said.

“I don’t have a filter. I’m very comfortable with the water supply. Most people don’t have filters because it’s not necessary. The quality of the water that we’re sourcing is fine. It’s been tested over and over. There’s nothing wrong with the water. Even the manganese levels are way below what is accepted,” said District 6 councillor Brian Trainor.

Couple will keep pursuing matter

Irrera said despite council’s reassurances the city’s water is safe for consumption the couple will keep persisting to find out why there’s a high concentration of sediment on their filters.

“Everyone who doesn’t have filters have become human filters. I have gastric problems and I want to know what the long-term effects are of regular consumption,” she said.