Popular beach in Montreal's east end has contaminated soil, says Public Health

Montreal's public health office is advising people to stay out of the water at a popular unofficial beach in the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough because the soil is contaminated.

Promenade-Bellerive park along the St. Lawrence River — where residents say they've already been swimming for years with their families — poses "several issues and health risks," according to the health agency. 

In an official report dated July 15, public health officials said the beach's soil, including the soil under the water, is contaminated with lead and benzene, and that the water can easily be tainted by sewage and industrial spills.

"The DRSP recommends the borough of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and the city of Montreal restrict access to the site and not allow swimming until various mitigation measures have been implemented to reduce health risks," the report reads. 

During her last election campaign in 2021, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante had promised to set up a public beach at Promenade-Bellerive park the following year.

The city has already installed beach umbrellas and wooden chairs on the shore, alongside a prominent "no swimming" sign. No sign provided a warning about the poor water quality. 

Borough resident Simon Bélanger said he swims there two to three times a week in the summer, despite seeing the sign. 

"I thought [it was] because of the current, because there are strong currents and for kids it could be quite dangerous … but I never thought it was about the quality of the water," he said.

Bélanger says he feels like he wasn't given the right information. He checked online and saw the water quality at the park was described as "perfectly adequate quality for swimming," in an Oct. 5, 2021 post by Fondation Rivières, a Quebec organization that advocates for public water access. 

What he didn't know is that each time he disturbed the soil beneath his feet, he was kicking up contaminants into the water. 

"I come here and I bring my dog to the water. He drinks the water here all the time — or used to, as of today," he said. "I might have to find a new cool spot." 

'Absolutely still a potential for swimming,' group says

Montreal Public Health says children who put their hands in their mouths and who are more likely to swallow water are more likely to be exposed to contaminants present in the soil and sediments. 

The unofficial beach, located downstream from the Port of Montreal, used to be a dumping ground for industries to dispose of residual materials, which poses a risk of people injuring themselves on shards of glass or metal. 

The office recommended the city add and maintain one metre of clean sand to the swimming area to protect people from contamination. 

But Maëlle Tripon, of Fondation Rivières, said adding sand to an environment that isn't already sandy can modify the ecosystem and affect Copper redhorse fish, an endangered species in the area. It could also be difficult to maintain, she said.

Tripon suggests installing floating docks, which would allow people to avoid contaminated soil when the current is safe enough. 

"So it would allow people to swim without touching the bottom of the river and without stirring up these sediments," Tripon said. 

She also suggests regular monitoring of water quality, which is already being done at Verdun and Beloeil beaches, and closing the beach when the quality is too poor for swimming.

"We think that there is absolutely still a potential for swimming," she said, adding it's important for Montrealers to "finally feel like islanders" with the addition of more public, blue spaces. 

Bigger project to begin in 2028, city says

Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, the city's executive committee member responsible for large parks, says the city cannot move forward with its short-term project. 

"Right now, with the contaminants that we have, it's not possible to just dump a lot of sand and do a beach," she said. 

The city will instead focus on a larger project of completely restoring the banks, with work slated to begin in 2028. 

"We're going to remove the contamination and we're going to do a beautiful bank and people will have access to the [water]," Lavigne Lalonde said. 

"Until then, it's not possible for us to allow people to go swim." 

Officials are now working on moving the beach furniture elsewhere in the park to dissuade visitors from swimming. A new sign warning people of the health and safety risks will also be placed near the beach, but will not restrict access. 

"It's a beautiful park and we're not going to put fences everywhere," Lavigne Lalonde said.