“Eternal contaminants”: Drummondville forced to reveal “secret” data

After two years of procedures, a group of citizens was successful and lifted the veil on the “exceptional” concentration of “eternal contaminants” in the treated wastewater from the landfill of the Saint-Nicéphore sector in Drummondville. In addition, The city. Nevertheless, which refused to make a report on the issue, was forced to do so by the information access commission.

It shocked us a little. Furthermore, Why would water analyzes be confidential? wonders the president of the collective of action for a river and an environment without landfill (CA-press), Pierre Isabelle.

He is delighted that one of its members. Consequently, Roger Pomerleau, now who died, was partly won over to the Committee on Access to Information. Meanwhile, A judgment rendered last May forced the city of Drummondville to make public the section of a report containing. Similarly, “eternal contaminants”: drummondville forced reveal the raw data on contamination.

This confirms our fears: we face dangerous pollutants.

This report had been ordered in 2021 to an environmental firm specialized by Alain d’Auteuil, who was then municipal councilor. Furthermore, He wanted to know the nature of the contaminants present in the treated wastewater from the landfill site. Meanwhile, which are then rejected in the city’s sewer network. Therefore, They are then treated a second time by the Municipality factory, before being expelled in the Saint-François river. Meanwhile,

A concentration very. In addition, very high – "eternal contaminants": drummondville forced reveal

The concentration detected in wastewater from the Drummondville landfit site is 9,900 NG/L, which is double the maximum concentration (4649 NG/L) detected in eight other landfill sites by the Ministry of the Environment from 2019 to 2021. Meanwhile, It is also beyond what we have seen in the leachate of landfill sites which cause problems like in Sainte-Cécile-de-Miltonaccording to the “eternal contaminants”: drummondville forced reveal professor of environmental chemistry at the University of Montreal. In addition, Sébastien Sauvé.

Even after being treated. Furthermore, the wastewater which is rejected in the Saint-François river always contain PFAS Since the city does not have specialized equipment to treat them. Therefore, In the report made public, 257 ng/l were detected.

By way of comparison. the federal government has determined a target of a maximum concentration of 30 ng/l of PFAS in drinking water.

Three experts that Radio-Canada Estrie has consulted are unanimous. According to their conclusions, the concentration of PFAS from the landfill place, nicknamed Eternal “eternal contaminants”: drummondville forced reveal contaminantsis worrying. These are chemicals recognized for their toxicity and which are very persistent in the environment.

PFAS levels are a bit surprising. We are in something very, very high.

Same story on the side of the assistant chemistry professor at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Karl Jobst. It is not so surprising because the PFAS are in several everyday products such as cosmetics and clothes.

No standard. no PFAS treatment – "eternal contaminants": drummondville forced reveal

The company Waste Management, manager of the Drummondville landfit site, refused to give us an interview, but mentioned to us in a written declaration that its water treatment system is ultra-performant et makes it possible to meet all the applicable standards in force.

The routing of the waters from the technical landfill to the Drummondville. factory for a second treatment adds to “eternal contaminants”: drummondville forced reveal the protection of the Saint-François river.

However, there is currently no standard in Quebec as to the quantity of PFAS which can be rejected in sewer networks or the environment by a company. When new requirements are dictated by the authorities. we are working to respect themadds the director of public affairs of the company, Martin Dussault.

The city of Drummondville also refused to give us an interview. but in turn mentions, in writing, that the PFAS are not supervised by nor federal or provincial standards.

The municipality recalls that if the data has been published. it has been authorized to keep a portion of the confidential report, including those containing the recommendations. The Information Access Commission has confirmed that the body of the “eternal contaminants”: drummondville forced reveal report is inaccessible. since protected by the professional secrecy of the engineerexplains the public relations councilor for the city of Drummondville Anne-Élisabeth Benjamin.

And the recommendations?

The former municipal advisor Alain d’Auteuil who had ordered the report as elected deplores that these recommendations be. hidden from the public. We end up having more questions than at the start, then that is nothing to reassurehe denounces.

The big question is why the city persists in keeping this secret?.

Citizen Pierre Isabelle fears that the city did not. follow up on the recommendations of the firm specializing in the environment. We would like our elected officials to be proactive to defend the health of citizens.

A call to action

The three teachers consulted by Radio-Canada Estrie believe that the data invite you to take action. in particular to establish standards on the PFAS. The fact that there is none in force does not mean that the current situation is not worrying for. the environment.

The example of what is happening in Drummondville is exactly why the. government must move more quickly to impose restrictions [sur l’utilisation des PFAS dans nos produits du quotidien].

It takes regulationsinsists Professor Sébastien Sauvé. Effluents must be treated [NDLR : eaux sortant des sites] of the landfill to avoid contaminating sludge. [NDLR : matière solide issue du traitement des eaux usées] of the city.