Water

Drinking water plant

Serving a population of slightly more than 33,000 (Rosemère, Lorraine and Bois-des-Filion), the plant produces, on average, 500 litres/person/day. Meeting the high standards of the Water Treatment Excellence Program, the technicians in sanitation see to it that you are provided with water of superior quality every single day. To this end, the water is treated in several steps using specialized equipment including a screen rake, two mechanical agitators, two dynamic settling tanks, six bilayer gravity filters (sand and granular activated carbon), two drinking water storage tanks, two electric generating sets, one process computer, two compressors and boosters as well as one telemetry system.

Contact : 450 621-3500, ext. 4221

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Frequently asked questions

What is the water’s hardness level?
40 mg/L CaCO₃

The degree of hardness of drinking water is classified in terms of its calcium carbonate concentration:

• soft: 0 to <60 mg/L
• medium hard: 60 to <120 mg/L
• hard: 120 to < 180 mg/L
• very hard: 18 mg/L and above

Is water from the water treatment plant fluorinated?
No

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Chlorine taste and odour

The chlorine is added to water to neutralize bacteria, viruses and other organisms toxic to your health.

Solution: if the taste and odour are too strong, let the water sit in the refrigerator (in an uncovered glass pitcher) before drinking.

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Whitish water

This phenomenon is caused by tiny air bubbles trapped in the water, similar to bubbles in carbonated drinks. This occurs mainly in cold weather when the water heats up in the pipes or hot-water heater. This degassing is normal and has no impact on the quality of the water. It can therefore be safely consumed.

Solution: let the water settle in a glass for several seconds to allow the gas bubbles to evaporate.

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Black residue on faucets and toilet bowls 

Do you have black residue on your faucet or in your toilet bowl? See the FAQ section below to find out why it happens and how to clean it.

FAUCETS

Potential culprits:

Mineral buildup

Most faucets have an aerator or a small screen at the tip where the water flows out. Over time, minerals in the tap water (limescale, iron, etc.) can build up and form deposits.

When these deposits oxidize, they turn dark grey or black.

Rubber particles

Some flexible pipes and washers are made of rubber. As they age, they start to break down and can appear as black residue in your faucet aerator.

Microbial or fungal growth

If the aerator in your faucet is always wet, it is the perfect environment for biofilm to form. Biofilm can also attach itself to other moist surfaces (under the spout of your tap, around your return pipe, etc.).

This looks like a soft, sticky black layer.

Mineral deposits such as manganese (rare)

In some areas, water naturally contains manganese.

High concentrations of manganese can sometimes cause dark or black spots near water outlets and on certain pieces of equipment that use water.

The Town regularly tests drinking water quality to ensure manganese concentrations do not exceed regulatory limits. These test results indicate that all levels are within acceptable ranges as defined in provincial drinking water regulations.

How to clean faucets

• Unscrew the aerator
• You can generally remove it manually without any special tools.
• If there is any resistance, use pliers with a cloth to avoid damaging the chrome.
• Separate the parts, noting how they all go together to ensure proper reassembly (mesh, rings, filter, etc.).
• Soak everything in white vinegar for 30minutes to 2hours. This will help dissolve the limescale and kill any bacteria.
• Brush the mesh with a toothbrush and vinegar.
• Rinse and reassemble.

How often should faucets be cleaned?

• Once or twice a year for normal maintenance.
• Every three months in the case of black residue.

Pro tip

Cleaning the aerator is a cost-effective way of solving many tap-related problems.

When to call a professional

Contact a plumber if:

• You see rubber particles in your sink. They may indicate deteriorating pipes or fixtures.

TOILET BOWLS

Black residue in your toilet bowl is a frequent sight and, fortunately, easy to manage. Read on for some possible causes and effective maintenance solutions.

Potential culprits:

Mould and mildew

Toilet bowls are wet and often poorly ventilated. Black mould tends to form at the water line, under the rim of the seat and in the corners. It is a frequent occurrence in homes with high humidity levels.

Biofilm

Bacteria that are naturally present in the toilet can sometimes form a black, slimy layer.

Residue in the toilet tank

Black algae or deposits may form inside the toilet cistern (which is often overlooked when cleaning).

When the toilet is flushed, some of these deposits flow into the bowl along with the water.

Mineral deposits (iron or manganese)

If your water is hard, some minerals can leave a dark brown or black stain on your porcelain. Note that the water in Rosemère is considered to be soft (low mineral content).

The Town regularly tests drinking water quality to ensure manganese concentrations do not exceed regulatory limits. These test results indicate that all levels are within acceptable ranges as defined in provincial drinking water regulations.

How to clean your toilet

Bowl

• Pour white vinegar (1 to 2cups) into the bowl.
• Add baking soda (½cup).
• Leave for 15 to 30minutes.
• Brush with a toilet brush, especially under the rim where the water pours out.
• Look under the rim with a flashlight. There may be deposits in the small holes the water flows through.
  Use a wood toothpick or an old brush to remove any leftover spots.
• Rinse (flush).

The vinegar and baking soda mixture will help remove the limescale without damaging the porcelain.

Cleaning your toilet tank (very important)

• Turn off your water supply and flush the toilet to empty the tank.
• Spray vinegar on the interior sides and let sit for 10 to 15minutes.
• Brush the entire surface, taking care not to damage the tank lining.
• Rinse and turn the water back on.

Never put bleach inside your tank. It will corrode the parts inside and damage the rubber seals.

Recommended cleaning products

• White vinegar: dissolves limescale, kills mould, non-toxic.
• Citric acid (for stubborn mineral deposits).
• Active oxygen (percarbonate) toilet bowl tablets.

Avoid using blue toilet bowl tablets. The harsh chemicals they contain can damage the components in your toilet over the long run.

Cleaning frequency

• Toilet bowl: Once a week (1 minute).

Toilet tank: Every 3 to 6months.This is a common problem resulting from the growth of bacteria on moist surfaces, which are omnipresent in our environment. The accumulation of these bacteria is called a biofilm. It can be different colours: pink, yellow, orange. The problem is purely aesthetic since these bacteria are not considered to be pathogenic to humans.

Solution: clean the affected surface with a chlorine-based cleaner. You can also add two to three tablespoons of bleach or chlorine pellets to the toilet bowl. Dry the affected surfaces well (shower, tub and sink) to eliminate any trace of moisture. Applying these tips should improve the situation.

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Water Treatment Steps
Water intake	The main water intake supplies the water production plant most of the year. It captures the water near the bottom, in the middle of the Mille-Îles River, then channels it by gravity through a 762 mm pipe to the raw water well. With recent climate changes, the river’s low summer flow increases the concentration of ammonia nitrogen at the point of entry and interferes with the quality of the water, making its treatment more difficult. In order to counter this obstacle, an auxiliary water intake, including two 300 mm pipes and a pumping station were installed in 2008 to capture water at 1.5 m from the surface. In accordance with the Water Withdrawal and Protection Regulation (WWPR), the Town of Rosemère conducted a vulnerability analysis of its drinking water intake in 2021. To learn more, consult the extract of the report in the download section.
Raking and pumping	Water entering the raw water well in this manner goes through a rake that removes coarse particles, branches, leaves and fish. It is then channelled to the flocculation equipment using six low-pressure pumps with a total capacity of 59,000 m3 per day.
Flocculation	This step consists in adding a coagulant and coagulant-aid that will clump suspended matter in order to decant the water. Two mixers ensure the adequate distribution of products.
Decantation	The previously flocculated water enters two ultra-pulsation-type settling tanks where suspended matter settles to the bottom. Once clarified, the water goes through gravity filters while the sludge is diverted to the wastewater plant for treatment.
Filtration	The water is filtered by six gravity filters consisting of a layer of sand and a layer of granular activated carbon. In the final stage of the elimination of suspended matter, the water goes through one of these filters where particles that did not settle at the flocculation stage are removed.
Post-treatment	Once the water has been filtered, three products are injected: sodium hypochlorite to disinfect it, caustic soda to adjust the pH, and zinc orthophosphate to inhibit corrosion related to the waterworks system.
Storage	Once the water has been purified, it is kept in underground tanks for a few hours. The amount of water stored makes it possible to both meet the population’s need for drinking water and provide a reserve for fighting fires.
UV-ray disinfection	The final treatment step, disinfection by UV-ray reactors ensures that water distributed to the population is of excellent quality and meets the standards of the Water Treatment Excellence Program, which exceed those established by the government of Québec.
Distribution	Once clarified, filtered and disinfected, the water is then channelled to the waterworks system by seven high-pressure pumps with a total capacity of 84,500 m3 per day.

Wastewater treatment plant

Serving a population of slightly more than 24,000 (Rosemère and Lorraine), the plant has a maximum wastewater treatment capacity of 80,000 m3 a day. It monitors the bacteriological quality of water from the Mille-Îles River, strictly complying with the standards established by the Department of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy with regards to the quality of waste. To treat the wastewater, the plant relies on the following equipment: two mechanical screen rakes, two grit chambers, two settling tanks, one UV disinfecting system, two digestors, two centrifuges and one process computer.

Contact : 450 621-3500, ext. 4221

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