Question Period Note: Contaminated Water in Bagotville

What is this Government doing to address the contaminated water in Bagotville?

• Military activities, even when conducted in accordance with regulations at the time, can have an effect on soil and water, and we want to ensure that we minimize the risks.
• During routine environmental monitoring work, chemical substances known as PFAS were detected at CFB Bagotville.
• Out of an abundance of caution, we have informed both the City of Saguenay and provincial authorities.
• Environmental assessments are underway with results expected in the spring of 2024, which will guide next steps.
• We will also work with the city to test the well water of approximately 30 residential properties near the base that are not connected to the municipal water system.
• Additionally, the Government of Canada is providing up to $15.5 million in funding to the City of Saguenay for a short-term solution to address the presence of PFAS in the municipal water supply.
• We are committed to managing the effects of our operational legacy responsibly and doing our part to safeguard the health of Canadians.

PFAS at CFB Bagotville

• PFAS have been found in surface water, sediment, soil, and groundwater on CFB Bagotville property.
• The presence of PFAS at CFB Bagotville is thought to be related to the past use of firefighting foams for training and operations. From 1972 until the early 2010s, National Defence conducted firefighter training with foam. These activities were conducted according to the accepted practices and regulations of the time.
• While water is now used for training, firefighting foams containing PFAS are still used for emergencies as they are the safest and most effective way to extinguish fuel fires. When used, we follow standardized procedures to try to contain the foams and minimize their impacts on the environment as much as possible.

• In November 2023, National Defence announced that the Government of Canada is committing to provide up to $15.5 million in funding to the City of Saguenay for a short-term solution to address the presence of PFAS in the municipal water supply, in response to a request from the City of Saguenay.

  Latest Information on PFAS Environmental Testing

• Groundwater: PFAS levels vary at sampled locations across CFB Bagotville. There is no concentration over the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) criteria for groundwater at the property limit. The CCME is a minister-led, intergovernmental forum that establishes standards for environmental issues of national concern.

• Surface water: PFAS concentrations were detected in surface water along water retention basins at the northern property limit, but at levels below the provincial and federal thresholds to protect aquatic life.
• Soil: PFAS levels vary at sampled locations across CFB Bagotville and in some areas exceed the applicable CCME criteria for the protection of potable groundwater. Testing at the base has monitored for several contaminants, including but not limited to: PFAS, nitrates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), petroleum hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and metals. As the base is on federal land, federal guidelines are used to assess soil results.

• **VegetationV: At this time, we have not tested any vegetation. There are currently no guidelines available in Quebec to determine acceptable PFAS levels in crops and food for human or animal consumption.

  PFAS Testing at Other Bases

• After perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was regulated by the federal government in 2008, National Defence identified sites that are suspected to be impacted by PFAS. National Defence is currently prioritizing site assessments and environmental monitoring at Defence properties based on past and current firefighter operations at these locations.

Quick Facts

• National Defence has invested about $11.6 million in environmental poly- and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) monitoring and remediation activities at CFB Bagotville since 2016.
• PFAS are a group of over 4,700 human-made substances that are used in a wide range of products, such as firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, and textiles.
• PFAS at CFB Bagotville are suspected to be related to the past use of firefighting foam for training and operations, as well as fire suppression foam releases. These activities were conducted according to the accepted practices and regulations at the time.
• The Province of Québec and the City of Saguenay regulate municipal water and are responsible for setting PFAS guidelines for drinking water in the region.
• Quebec Health and City of Saguenay have confirmed that the water at CFB Bagotville is potable.