Water Month flows with education and action
Deborah Powell
Local Journalism Initiative
Published on www.pontiacjournal.com on June 18, 2025.
OUTAOUAIS – The Outaouais watershed organization for the seven rivers, L’Agence
de bassin versant des 7 (ABV des 7), is holding a series of activities throughout June
to celebrate Water Month.
“Focusing on the theme of pollution and water quality—issues central to today’s environmental concerns—these problems have a direct impact on human health, aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity. Water pollution, whether caused by plastics, chemicals or industrial activity, jeopardizes access to clean water and threatens our collective future. It is more crucial than ever to take action to preserve this vital resource,” reads the group’s publicity material for the month.
Two webinars were held June 4 and 10. The first featured Catherine Hallé from CEGEP Outaouais’ Environmental Health and Biodiversity Research Centre (SEBO), who spoke about microplastic pollution. That pollution is “everywhere, literally,” with major sources including vehicle tire wear, paint, city dust and particles in water from washing clothes. Hallé’s current research focuses on analyzing Gatineau’s water before and after treatment. “We need a clear portrait in order to decide on solutions,” she said, noting that she is not against plastic, but advocates for more sensible use. She encouraged reducing single-use plastics—including sequins and glitter in some crafts—installing washing machine filters, and avoiding bottled water, which she said contains “lots” of plastic particles.
Elizabeth Grater, science programs coordinator for Ottawa Riverkeeper, spoke about the Road Salt Monitoring Program the group has run for the past five years. Research shows that road salt persists in the environment and can reduce biodiversity and a waterbody’s ability to self-purify. Riverkeeper has been working with the City of Ottawa on salt management and plans to collaborate with the City of Gatineau as well.
Quentin Liautaud, ecology projects director for the City of Gatineau, presented the city’s newly developed five-year water management plan during the June 10 webinar. Its goals include protecting aquatic ecosystems, ensuring a sustainable drinking water supply, promoting optimal use of rainwater, and improving wastewater management and treatment.
Maria José Maezo, agroenvironment counsellor with ALUS/UPA Outaouais, was the second presenter on June 10. She explained that helping farmers adopt erosion control measures and protect waterways is central to the program’s work. Optimizing water management is one of the goals in Quebec’s 2020–2030 Sustainable Agriculture Plan, but, she emphasized, “all objectives relate to water.” The ALUS program supports producers with technical advice, financing for planting projects, and annual payments for land stewardship. A video featuring Kristine Amyotte of Beck Family Farms in the Pontiac showed an example of such a project. Maezo also described the water recycling system at the Judd family’s Gladcrest Farms, where ALUS helped plant mixed vegetation around the filtration basins earlier this year.
Another Water Month event is a guided tour at the La Blanche Forest Ecological Reserve east of Gatineau, focused on water, to be held June 19. A final webinar on innovative water treatment technologies is scheduled for June 20.
ABV des 7 is a non-profit organization created in 2004. Its mission is to protect, improve and promote the water resources within its territory, through sustainable development and collaboration with all key stakeholders. The organization’s territory includes the Dumoine, Noire, Coulonge, Quyon, Gatineau and La Blanche rivers, as well as the section of the Ottawa River between them.
