In 1978, the Québec Government launched a $6-billion program whose objective was to connect all sewered municipalities to wastewater treatment facilities. The Québec Wastewater Treatment Program was gradually implemented, but gained momentum in the mid 1980's. The program is now reaching completion and the objective should be met by 1999. As of 1996, the wastewaters of 80% of the sewered population are treated, compared to less than 2% at the onset of the program. In the meantime, major pollution reduction efforts were undertaken by the pulp and paper industry, whose impact on watercourses is significant in the province. On the agriculture side, the Québec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food initiated in 1988 a program for the construction of manure storage tanks. Meanwhile, the use of chemical fertilizers levelled off and began to decrease around the beginning of the 1990's.

When compared to the water quality data of the Global Environment Monitoring System (United Nations Environment Program, see Fraser et al.1995), whose data bank is established at the National Water Research Institute, Burlington, Ontario, and whose program is coordinated by scientists of that institution, our data show that the water quality of Québec rivers is better than in most industrialized states. In particular, Québec rivers appear to be better oxygenated and to receive less nitrogen and organic loading than European and other North-American rivers.

The financial and technical efforts devoted to wastewater treatment and pollution control in Québec have led to significant reductions in loadings and general improvement of water quality. Considering the past and present state of the rivers, the potential for further recovery and eventual multiple use of our streams is very good. Water is likely to be one of the strategic resources of the 21st century. Endowed with great water resources, both in terms of quantity and quality, Québec enjoys, and is likely to retain in years to come, an enviable position.

This paper was abridged. The full article contains substantial monitoring results and five charts showing trends in Phosphorus, Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite, Turbidity and Coliform Bacteria.