By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Richmond is taking proactive steps to protect its drinking water sources with a new five-year plan aimed at preventing contamination. The initiative, backed by a $29,750 grant from the provincial government, ensures the town meets updated environmental regulations while safeguarding its underground water supply.
“The goal of the grant was to develop a plan to protect our potable water sources,” said Richmond Directeur général et greffier-trésorier Rémi-Mario Mayette in a recent interview. “We have three municipal wells located in the canton, and we need to make sure they remain uncontaminated. That means keeping chemicals, agricultural activity, and other potential pollutants away.”
According to a press release, Richmond sources its drinking water from underground wells rather than surface water, making contamination prevention crucial. The plan includes measures such as monitoring activities near the wells, limiting industrial and agricultural use in designated protection zones, and working with stakeholders like the Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ) to mitigate risks from road salt. Specific objectives include sealing or elevating wellheads above the 100-year flood line, tracking nearby road activity, and implementing well protection measures. Richmond is also aiming to reduce per capita water consumption to align with provincial averages and has assessed risks associated with activities within the protection zones.
“There’s a railway in the area as well, so we need to ensure the railway company is aware of our concerns,” Mayette explained. “If there were a spill or accident near the wells, we’d need to be notified immediately to prevent any impact on our water supply.”
