Environment

The Environmental Service has the mandate to issue sanitary installation permits and to ensure that all rules are followed in order to protect the environment and in particular, our lakes.

Frédéric Girard, environment technician
env@sadl.qc.ca

Dominique Jarry, environment assistant
adjenv@sadl.qc.ca

Explanatory cards from the CRE

The Environment Department of the municipality suggests that you consult the little explanatory cards from the CRE Laurentides ("le Conseil Régional en Environnement des Laurentides").   Very well illustrated, these cards will help you understand the ecosystems surrounding us and also the importance of their preservation.

Renaturalization of shorelines

It is now forbidden to cut, mow, prune or destroy any vegetation, including grass, lawn and trees, within the protected shorline area (15 meters) inland from the high water mark. It is also forbidden to use any fertilizers. If the shoreline is not occupied by natural vegetation, measures must be taken within the next 24 months (following the adoption of the new regulation) to renaturalize an area of 5 meters minimum, inland from the high water mark, with herbaceous plants, shrub and trees.

Septic Tanks

Regular emptying must be completed according to conditions of residency: every second year for permanent residents or every fourth year for seasonal occupants. According to the new municipal regulations, each homeowner must provide by the latest (October 15th each year) when the emptying is due, a photocopy of the invoice to prove that it has been done. A minimum penalty of $300 will apply to any offender.

Pesticides and Fertilizers

They are forbidden in our municipality because they are harmful to the environment, especially for the quality of our lakes. Fertilizers augment the quantity of nutriments in our lakes, therefore increasing the number of aquatic plants, algae and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). To keep your grass in good condition and to preserve our environment, we suggest that you simply leave the grass cuttings on the ground once the lawn has been cut. Do not cut your grass too short; a length of 5 to 8 cm is best. This will keep your lawn more resistant and it will become for difficult for weeds to grow.

Tree Cutting

Any person who intends to cut trees must first obtain a permit from the town-planning inspector according to regulation 125.  Please contact our Environment Department to get more information, to learn more on your obligations and in order to obtain such a certificate.

Composting

A complete guide entitled "Le compostage facilité" produced by Nova Envirocom is available on the web : www.recyc-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/upload/Publications/zzzGuide177.PDF

Some "paper" versions are also available at the municipal library. Other information on this subject is also available at the library.

Collection of Domestic Garbage and Recycling Material

The collection of domestic garbage is done each Monday. The collection of recycling material (green bin) is picked up on the first and third Thursday of each month. If you have a brand new house, please call the municipality to request a green bin. If you already have a green bin, but wish to obtain an additional bin, the cost is $95 including taxes.

Blue-green algae

We believe that the most complete and pertinent information on this subject is found on the following website: "Les cyanobactéries dans les lacs québecois : Un portrait de la situation selon les chercheurs du GRIL" Also, you may click on the document at the following site : www.uqam.ca/gril Other documents to provide you with information are located on the website of the "Ministère de l’Ènvironnement": http://www.menv.gouv.qc.ca/eau/flrivlac/algues.htm Please get in touch with your municipality for any information regarding regulations on environmental matters.