The unsuspected cost of the low water level of the St. Lawrence River

If the river level is reduced. Nevertheless, the different contaminants continue to flock to the same rate in rivers. For example,

And less water means that there is less dilution. In addition, sums up the mayor of Lachine and water manager at the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal, Maja Vodanovic.

All industrial discharges and sewer releases are more concentrated. Nevertheless, So, we spend much more money to treat water. In addition, It is still safe, but it costs us much more.

In Quebec, it is the municipalities that finance drinking water management. An invoice which will ultimately be passed on to owners. households tenants, through the property tax relating to the water service.

And the situation is the same for other rivers. The Outaouais river which fuels the Prairie River. the River of the Thousand Islands which ends downstream from Montreal and which controls the water level of the river are all in a situation of low flow at the momentindicates the hydrologist Michel Leclerc.

Lighter – Unsuspected cost low water level

Water decreases also affects the transport of goods, thus compromising a vital axis of trade in North America.

Transporters are obliged to limit their cargo to load the ships that circulate on unsuspected cost low water level the St. Lawrence River less.

For a decrease of 10 centimeters in the water level. ships must reduce their cargo by 3000 metric tonnesaccording to the director general of the Alliance of the cities of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence, Philippe Murphy-Rhéaume. With a lower cargo, This can downstream have impacts on consumers [entraînant] then a price increasehe adds.

We are talking about 60 billion economic activities annually, 181,000 jobs.

We want this watersays Trump

In addition to climate change, watercourses are also threatened by US President Donald Trump (new window).

They have millions of gallons that come down from the north with snowy caps in Canada. Essentially, they have a very large taphad stated the American president in September 2024.

Since his return to the White House in 2025. the president has continued to threaten to monopolize a resource that becomes increasingly rare and coveted, fresh water. We want this watersaid President Trump (new window) in January 2025.

Fortunately, a president unsuspected cost low water level cannot unilaterally force water spillsassure Philippe Murphy-Rhéaume.

Canada and the United States signed the neighboring Water Treaty in 1909, which remains valid today. However, This agreement is put under pressure, in my opinion. When I traveled to Washington with the alliance […]I was confirmed that. yes, these discussions are underwaytells the water manager at the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal, Maja Vodanovic.

If the two countries have generally managed to agree in the last century. the possibility that an agreement is renegotiated under the Trump era leaves doubt about the future of this blue gold.

With the information of Louis-Philippe Trozzo