(Montreal) The Department of Defense Wednesday afternoon detected the presence of perfluoro- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) in the water and soil at its Bagotville base in Saguenay.
Posted at 6:21 p.m.
Johanna Pellus The Canadian Press
Minister Anita Anand said in a statement that “PFAS were found at Canadian Forces Base Bagotville around the former fire training range on the south side of the base and near hangars, buildings and water detention ponds on the north side of the base.”
These substances could come from the firefighting foams that firefighters used in training for several decades to a decade ago. Today, while foams are still used to extinguish fuel fires in emergencies, water is used for training.
The Department of Defense says it is working with the City of Saguenay and Quebec on the matter.
“We are committed to responsibly managing the impact of our operational legacy and doing our part to protect the health of Canadians,” Ms. Anand said, noting that the department will continue to “monitor the quality of drinking water on the base and take appropriate action.” .” Further environmental studies to determine if there is a correlation between on-site PFAS sources and those at property lines.”
The city of Saguenay, which said it was invited to a ministry presentation on PFAS, would make the link between the substances observed at the military base and the drinking water of one of its sectors.
“Although perfluorinated compounds enter the environment in different ways, [les mousses ignifuges] would largely explain the data obtained for the district of La Baie,” the municipality said in a press release.
8000 people affected
The city of Saguenay says it has “unusual results.” [de SPFA] registered for a specific sector of the La Baie district”. About 8,000 residents are affected by this situation, but “the water remains drinkable,” it reads.
The presence of PFAS was detected during a sampling campaign conducted by the Quebec Department of Environment from November 2022 to February 2023.
As soon as the first results were in, the city took action in December and closed an ad hoc well that was producing unusual results. It then launched its own sampling campaigns to get a full picture of the situation.
“Noticing the situation just a few weeks ago, I contacted the various levels of government to get the support I needed. In addition, all the municipal services concerned have been used to find applicable solutions as soon as possible,” says the mayor of Saguenay, Julie Dufour, in the press release.
Initially, temporary measures will be taken, which will be operational in January. The per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances are recovered at the outlet of the well and disposed of properly.
In addition, residents who have a private well in the target area will be connected to the water system.
On a more permanent basis, the city is looking for a new source of drinking water for the construction of a treatment and distribution plant.
The other sectors of Saguenay show “only faint traces of perfluorinated compounds over most of their territory, with the levels obtained being well below the possible standards that could be set by levels of government,” states the city.
According to the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are “very persistent in the environment.” “Chronic exposure [ou à long terme] “Certain PFAS may be associated with health effects,” although uncertainty about their severity remains in the scientific community.