Water Quality Monitoring Program
Fecal Coliform Monitoring
We monitor the river for fecal coliform levels, which includes E. coli bacteria from the fecal matter of humans and warm-blooded animals. We do this as a public service with support from the municipalities of La Pêche, Cantley and Chelsea, and clubs and associations that use the river for recreational purposes. The testing takes place once a month during the summer season.
We draw water samples at several locations of concern along the river, and the analysis is done by MicroB, a Québec government-certified laboratory in Gatineau, following the standards established by the Québec Ministry of the Environment. The results are published according to the following scale for swimming and other recreational purposes:
“A” – Excellent, between 0 and 20 coliforms per 100ml
“B” – Good, between 21 and 100 coliforms per 100ml
“C” – Acceptable, between 100 and 199 coliforms per 100 ml
“D” – Not Recommended, above 200 coliforms per 100ml
“E”- Very Poor. above 1000 coliforms per 100 ml
Water Quality is Good and Improving
Good news! For the past twenty years, our test results have consistently shown the river to be very safe for swimming, and, for the past ten years, the results have been excellent.
Test Results 2023
Test Results 2022
Test Results 2021
Test Results 2020
August 31, 2020
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August 3, 2020
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July 5, 2020
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Test Results 2019
September 3, 2019
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July 28, 2019
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June 24, 2019
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Historical Results
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2018
Water Quality Poster 05-09-2018
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2017
Water Quality Poster 28-08-2017
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2016
Water Quality Poster 4-07-2016
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2015
Water Quality Poster_30-08-2015
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2013
Water Quality Poster (ALL SITES)-2-07-2013
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2012
Water Quality Poster-2-07-2012
Water Quality Poster-30-07-2012
Water Quality Poster-29-08-2012
Water Quality Poster(CLUBS) 2-07-2012
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2011
Water Quality Poster-28-06-2011
Water Quality Poster-25-07-2011
Water Quality Poster-24-08-2011
Water Quality Poster(CLUBS) 28-06-2011
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2010
Water Quality Poster-27-06-2010
Water Quality Poster-06-09-2010
Water Quality Poster(CLUBS)-27-06-10
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2009
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2008
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2007
Water Quality Poster(CLUBS)-July2-07
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2006
Gatineau River Water Testing Results Posters 2005
Watertesting Summary-june282005
Water Quality Poster-21july2005
Water Quality Poster-29August2005