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Dead fish in Lac des Battures and in the lake at Lacoursière Park on Île des Soeurs
Ville de Verdun Updates the Situation
Verdun, April 24, 2001 – Ville de Verdun would like to update the situation involving dead fish found in Lac des Battures and in the lake in Lacoursière Park, both located
on Île des Sœurs. To begin with, it would like to reassure Verdun residents, by confirming that the drinking water has nothing to do with the problem. The quality of the drinking
water on the City’s territory is subject to two control systems: it is first checked at the water treatment plant and then, twice a week, it undergoes a second inspection at fifteen
sampling points located on Verdun territory, all in keeping with the standards and requirements of the Environment Quality Act. Residents may therefore continue drinking the water without
any worries.
Moreover, there are no indications that the presence or discharge of chemicals may be the cause of the problem.
The problem was reported for the first time a few weeks ago by Île des Sœurs residents who complained about unpleasant odours. The crew dispatched to the scene by the City
eventually noted the presence of dead fish in the storm drainage system connected to the lake in Lacoursière Park. On April 10, six dead fish were transported to University de
Montréal’s faculty of veterinary medicine in St-Hyacinthe for an autopsy. In the next few days, Ville de Verdun will be receiving the findings of this autopsy, which will
make it possible to diagnose the probable cause(s) of death. It will immediately issue a press release to inform residents of the results.
On April 23, following the spring thaw, Ville de Verdun employees observed the same problem in the lake at Lacoursière Park, where they saw some frogs, two turtles and some thirty
fish lying as well as in Lac des Battures, where some one hundred dead fish were found floating at the surface. Once again, water samples were taken for analysis, and specimens were
sent to the Université de Montréal’s faculty of veterinary medicine in St-Hyacinthe for an autopsy.
Many specialists from the Ministère de l’environnement du Québec, the Montréal Urban Community and the Biosphère, including the very well-renowned Harm
Sloterdijk, are working with Ville de Verdun’s own environment experts to try and quickly find an explanation for this sad ecological occurrence.
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Source:
Monique Guay
Communications Director
765-7045
France Bernard
Senior Engineer – Services techniques
765-7074
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