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Saguenay runs several separate water networks, and their water is very different. In the City's 2025 report, total hardness was 41 mg/L in Chicoutimi, 26 mg/L in Jonquière and Kénogami and 20 mg/L in Arvida. That is soft water. Chicoutimi-Nord, at 71 mg/L, is moderately hard. Water is much harder in La Baie, at 221 mg/L, in Laterrière, at 124 mg/L, and on the Shipshaw network, at 170 mg/L. The report gives one figure per network, so each one is a snapshot rather than a measured range. Two very small networks, Pointe de Sable on Lac Kénogami and the Centre plein air du Portage, are not listed here.
Data last reviewed October 24, 2026.
Saguenay ranks #13 softest of 31 cities in the Canadian Hard Water Report 2026. See the full ranking
In other units
Source: Ville de Saguenay, 2025 annual drinking water quality report (PDF, in French). Data for: 2025, distributed water, one published result. Checked October 24, 2026.
In other units
Source: Ville de Saguenay, 2025 annual drinking water quality report (PDF, in French). Data for: 2025, distributed water, one published result. Checked October 24, 2026.
In other units
Source: Ville de Saguenay, 2025 annual drinking water quality report (PDF, in French). Data for: 2025, distributed water, one published result. Checked October 24, 2026.
In other units
Source: Ville de Saguenay, 2025 annual drinking water quality report (PDF, in French). Data for: 2025, distributed water, one published result. Checked October 24, 2026.
In other units
Source: Ville de Saguenay, 2025 annual drinking water quality report (PDF, in French). Data for: 2025, distributed water, one published result. Checked October 24, 2026.
In other units
Source: Ville de Saguenay, 2025 annual drinking water quality report (PDF, in French). Data for: 2025, distributed water, one published result. Checked October 24, 2026.
In other units
Source: Ville de Saguenay, 2025 annual drinking water quality report (PDF, in French). Data for: 2025, distributed water, one published result. Checked October 24, 2026.
Scale builds fast. Descale your coffee maker and ice machine often, and clean the dishwasher and the washer about every two weeks.
Scale shows up first where water gets heated, so start with the coffee maker.
The dishwasher and the washer need regular cleaning too. One kit covers all three machines.
Only dishwashers with a built-in water softener have a hardness setting. Here is the setting for this water, worked out from each maker's own table.
| Brand | Setting |
|---|---|
| Bosch and ThermadorCanadian models with a softener. H:00 is off. | H:00 to H:04 |
| GaggenauSame ranges as Bosch. The display shows the °E band. | 0-8 to 16-20 |
| MieleSet in °dH. Below 5, Miele says no salt is needed. | 1 to 12 |
| Fisher & PaykelDishDrawer models with a softener. 0 is off. | 0 to 1 |
When hardness varies, Miele says to set the higher value.
Most North American dishwashers, including Bosch models sold in the United States, have no water softener and no hardness setting. With those, use rinse aid and run a dishwasher cleaner once a month.
Sources: Bosch SHX78CC5UC manual, Thermador DWHD661EFP manual, Gaggenau DF481701 manual, Miele dishwasher manual (Canada), Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer guide
Softeners take hardness in US grains per gallon: the figure in mg/L divided by 17.12, rounded up.
| Brand | Setting |
|---|---|
| Nespresso Essenza PlusHardness level, and cups between descalings | Level 0 (4,000 cups) to Level 2 (2,000 cups) |
| Jura E8Hardness setting | 1 °dH to 12 °dH |
Sources: Nespresso Essenza Plus manual, Jura E8 manual, Breville Barista Touch manual, De'Longhi descaling FAQ, Keurig descaling page
Hard water leaves scale on the heating element and the drum, and more detergent residue behind.
Removes limescale, mineral buildup and coffee oils inside your coffee maker.
Descales for better-tasting coffee
Removes mineral buildup and odours inside your ice machine.
Descales and freshens ice machines
Dissolves grease, detergent residue and limescale buildup, and removes odour-causing buildup.
Clears grease, limescale and odour buildup
Breaks down residue and odour-causing buildup inside your washer.
Removes odour and buildup from the drum and hoses
We use the U.S. Geological Survey scale, in mg/L as CaCO₃.
Utilities usually report hardness in mg/L as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), which is the same as ppm. Dishwasher and softener manuals often use grains per gallon or German degrees instead. Here is how they convert:
It depends on your sector. Chicoutimi (41 mg/L), Jonquière and Kénogami (26 mg/L) and Arvida (20 mg/L) have soft water. La Baie (221 mg/L) has very hard water, and Shipshaw (170 mg/L) and Laterrière (124 mg/L) have hard water. Water counts as hard above 120 mg/L.
Each Saguenay network has its own water supply, and hardness depends on the minerals the water picks up along the way. The City's 2025 report measured 221 mg/L in La Baie, about five times Chicoutimi's 41 mg/L.
In La Baie, Laterrière and Shipshaw, yes. Hard water leaves scale in kettles, coffee makers, dishwashers and washers, so descale the coffee maker often and clean the dishwasher and the washer about every two weeks. In Chicoutimi, Jonquière and Arvida, scale builds slowly, but grease, detergent residue and odours still build up, so regular cleaning still makes sense.
For dishwashers with a built-in water softener, each maker's table gives: Chicoutimi network: Bosch and Thermador H:00, Gaggenau 0-8, Miele 2, Fisher & Paykel 0. Jonquière and Kénogami network: Bosch and Thermador H:00, Gaggenau 0-8, Miele 1, Fisher & Paykel 0. Arvida network: Bosch and Thermador H:00, Gaggenau 0-8, Miele 1, Fisher & Paykel 0. Chicoutimi-Nord network: Bosch and Thermador H:00, Gaggenau 0-8, Miele 4, Fisher & Paykel 0. La Baie network: Bosch and Thermador H:04, Gaggenau 16-20, Miele 12, Fisher & Paykel 1. Laterrière network: Bosch and Thermador H:01, Gaggenau 9-10, Miele 7, Fisher & Paykel 1. Shipshaw network (wells): Bosch and Thermador H:02, Gaggenau 11-12, Miele 10, Fisher & Paykel 1. Most North American dishwashers, including Bosch models sold in the United States, have no water softener and no hardness setting. With those, use rinse aid and run a dishwasher cleaner once a month.
Chicoutimi network: 3 grains per US gallon (rounded up). Jonquière and Kénogami network: 2 grains per US gallon (rounded up). Arvida network: 2 grains per US gallon (rounded up). Chicoutimi-Nord network: 5 grains per US gallon (rounded up). La Baie network: 13 grains per US gallon (rounded up). Laterrière network: 8 grains per US gallon (rounded up). Shipshaw network (wells): 10 grains per US gallon (rounded up).
Chicoutimi network: 2.4 grains per US gallon, or 2.9 grains per imperial gallon. Jonquière and Kénogami network: 1.5 grains per US gallon, or 1.8 grains per imperial gallon. Arvida network: 1.2 grains per US gallon, or 1.4 grains per imperial gallon. Chicoutimi-Nord network: 4.2 grains per US gallon, or 5.0 grains per imperial gallon. La Baie network: 12.9 grains per US gallon, or 15.5 grains per imperial gallon. Laterrière network: 7.3 grains per US gallon, or 8.7 grains per imperial gallon. Shipshaw network (wells): 9.9 grains per US gallon, or 11.9 grains per imperial gallon.
Ville de Saguenay, 2025 annual drinking water quality report (PDF, in French). Data for 2025, distributed water, one published result. We update this page when a new report comes out.
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