City says water is safe in Montreal suburb after residents complain about yellow colour

The City of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac says the tap water is safe after receiving several complaints from residents about a yellow or brown colour.

Yellow water. Sediment. Clogged filters.

These are just some of the issues residents of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac are having with their drinking water, and many say they’ve been complaining to the city for years.

“We bathe our little baby in the tub every day. So, every time we fill it up, we see the yellow water,” said resident Tommy Mourdoukoutas.

Two years ago, Mourdoukoutas noticed his water was yellow. He said when he complained to the city, workers took samples and shared a theory.

“This is a consumption issue, too many people using the water at the same time,” he recalled.

And so the yellow water continued, sometimes with sediment. He’s followed up with the city several times, but never gets answers.

According to the city’s website, the municipal water supply is groundwater that, while hard, the city says is safe to drink.

But Mourdoukoutas recently found online community groups with more residents complaining about the same issues — people like single mother Roxanne Pepin.

Since moving to Sainte-Marthe two years ago, she’s had to buy special shampoo for hard water. Her appliance filters clog, and her laundry stains yellow.

Now, she says she’s moving out.

“For me to have to take our laundry and somewhere else, it’s a hassle. It’s really to the point now where it’s affecting our lives daily,” Pepin said.

‘Brown and mucky’ water

Giorgia Abbiasini says for years mineral deposits have clouded her drinking water and built up in her shower head within days of changing the filters.

“Since January, the water pressure has decreased drastically. And the water, especially coming out of the water head is, like, brown and mucky,” Abbiasini said.

CTV News reached out to the city for an interview on Tuesday. Shortly after that, Sainte-Marthe assured residents on social media that the water is safe to drink and no boil-water advisory is in effect.

In a press release, the city says it’s a recurring issue in spring, but it’s worse this year, adding experts are working on the water treatment plant, and the city says it expects things to improve by the end of the week.

It also notes that overuse of water from filling swimming pools and watering lawns makes the problem worse.

“Over-consumption increases the flow of water in the network, causing natural deposits in the pipes to become suspended,” the city said.

The city also says it plans to invest $15 million over the next few years in a drinking water reservoir and upgrades to its water treatment facility.

Mourdoukoutas says inspectors emailed him Tuesday, saying they’re going to test his water again.

“I mean, they could tell me it’s safe, but to me, when I see this, I just think that no parent wants to put their child into yellow water,” Mourdoukoutas said.

Though for now, he says he doesn’t have much choice.