The Swedish company Northvolt was imposed a sanction of $ 10,000 in June for toxic metal rejections in water from its Montérégie site which was to accommodate a mega-factory of batteries.
• Read also: New carcinogenic rejections from the Northvolt field near a swimming area in the Richelieu river
This is the second fine this year for the giant whose future in Quebec is more than uncertain. He had already had to pay $ 2,500 for not having set up a sediment barrier in a swamp on the site.
The fine imposed in June concerns exceeding of the environmental standard for aluminum and chrome observed in December 2024, following the audit of the company’s registers.
The ministry also noted carcinogenic aromatic hydrocarbon leaks (HAP), but has not imposed any sanction to date in connection with these discharges.
Last December, the daily The duty had reported discharges of toxic substances, but the company had then published a “correction” in which it claimed to have “no stake of leaks of contaminants towards the Richelieu river”.
The state of the water of the Richelieu in this sector is particularly important, since a public swimming pool in bright waters is located not far downstream, in Belœil.
Carcinogenic contaminants
Yesterday, our investigation office revealed that analyzes carried out in May by a laboratory, at the request of two citizen organizations, demonstrated significant contamination to the HAP on a flow site in the river near the field of the Swedish company.
Mayor Nadine Viau was warned of the situation by the Citizen-Projet Northvolt Action Committee in mid-July.
“Children are more at risk if they drink this water at a time when contaminating bubbles are transported by the current during large rains,” we could read in the email from which we have obtained a copy.
The Belœil living waters pool, a few kilometers from the Northvolt site, is the first of its kind in Quebec. It was inaugurated in the summer of 2024.
Photo MARTIN ALARIE
However, the municipality has never tested the water from its swimming pool to detect the presence of industrial contaminants such as the HAP. Mme Viau claims to have started steps with scientists to adjust his analysis protocols. “We are going with the data we have,” she told us.
Belœil confirms, however, that she did not ask to consult the sampling data in possession of the government and which are provided by Northvolt.
The ministry has not noticed any surpassing for the months of January and February 2025. The checks are still underway for the months of March, April and May.
“Those who have the need to account are the Quebec government,” said the mayor in an interview on Wednesday.
The city recalls that the swimming pool is closed on rainy days when contamination with fecal coliforms is higher. It is also during these episodes that the presence of contaminants could be more important.
He asks for the pool closure
A candidate for the town hall of Belœil claims the immediate closure of the live water pool while scientific data confirm that bathers run no risk.
“We find that it is unacceptable that, given the risks, the swimming pool is not already closed,” explains Daniel Picard.
The latter is badly explained why the mayor has never yet made analyzes of industrial contaminants and he even goes so far as to speak of negligence.
Last June, a candidate from his party arrested the mayor on this subject and the latter was reassuring.
“According to information that has been obtained through our various partners, there is no risk identified for the health of users,” she replied.
She had then explained that the strong flow of the Richelieu river contributed to dilute potential contaminants, “thus reducing any risk” for Baignade à Belœil.
“No worrying sampling has been reported so far by the competent authorities and the runoff observed on the site of the old CIL factory are under control for the moment,” she said.
However, a few days before, Northvolt was sanctioned for his releases of chrome and aluminum in December.
