Water quality: good start for LaSalle pools

The results of microbiological tests of water samples, taken between May 11 and June 28, in 70 of the 74 outdoor pool installations, seven of which can be found in the LaSalle borough, prove that they conform to established standards. One hopes that will continue to be the case until the end of summer.

These tests were conducted by the City of Montreal's technical expertise department and accredited companies by the Environment Ministry. On LaSalle territory, it was confirmed that the pools at Hayward, Lacharité, Leroux, Ménard, Ouellette and Raymond parks conformed to ministry standards.

In August of 2006, LaSalle residents were flabbergasted to find out that a Bio-Medco lab study had forced the closure of 48 Montreal pools. Four out of seven LaSalle pools were among the 20 worst offenders, with Ménard and Lefebvre judged the most dangerous.

After that fiasco, the LaSalle borough took it upon itself to guarantee the water quality of its pools, going as far as adopting remedial measures and procedures that are stricter than those of the Quebec government. It invested close to $300,000 to ensure the operation's success.

* Replacement of filters and filtering mediums at all seven pools, as well as installing 7 seven feed pumps.

* Physio-chemical tests conducted every two hours, rather than every three hours. Non-compliant test results or incidents that may deteriorate the quality of water and expose pool users to contamination will result in the closure of the pool concerned.

* More efficient water analysis apparatus and scrupulous compliance with the sampling methods prescribed by the government.

* More advanced microbiological tests carried out every week.

* Pool users will be able to consult the results of the tests.

* New toilet paper dispensers and new soap dispensers.

Swimmers must take a shower before entering the pool and after applying sunscreen. They will have to wipe babies and young children before they enter the pool, using the toilet tissue from the tissue dispensers. Make sure that babies always wear a leak-proof diaper (on sale at the entrance to the pool) and definitely not urinate or spit in the pool.

The Quebec government adopted new regulations on the water quality of pools and other artificial basins, which came into effect on January 1, 2007.