Drinking water quality in Sutton
The Town of Sutton wishes to comment on the results of drinking water analyses carried out in ten Quebec towns, including Sutton, by the local organization Vigilance OGM, which have been reported in several media. Although the results show the presence of glyphosate to be several times higher than European standards, the quality of the drinking water supplied by the town's two water systems (village and mountain) is strictly monitored and fully complies with Quebec government standards.
According to the information provided by Vigilance OGM to the administration, the water sampling in Sutton was carried out in 2023 at a single location in the village, and therefore only concerns the village aqueduct, which draws its water from the water table. According to the organization, “the water analyses carried out by Vigilance OGM were carried out during the spraying period, when there is heavy pesticide use. The data therefore do not reflect year-round concentrations in drinking water, but are rather a snapshot of a specific moment in time.”
Important! These analyses have nothing to do with the closure of the water source on Route 215 which, by a combination of circumstances, had to be shut down at the same time as the articles appeared. This drinking water source is not connected to the village water supply system. Iit was closed on October 8, because it presented a manganese level slightly higher than the standards accepted by the government, as explained in our
news item of October 8, 2025 .
Pesticide regulation under way
The Town of Sutton has no intention of ignoring the warning and questions raised by the Vigilance OGM campaign: it intends to collaborate with the organization on future tests. The issue of pesticides has been high on the municipal agenda for several months. In early 2025, the municipal council entrusted the Environmental Advisory Committee with the task of overseeing the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Based on their report, a by-law is currently being drafted by the administration. It will be presented to the next council members for adoption.
In parallel with our efforts, the question of acceptable pesticide levels in drinking water must be addressed on a national scale, since it is the government that sets the limits, which our municipality respects to the letter.
In the meantime, we would like to reassure the public that the drinking water distributed by our two aqueduct networks complies with standards and is fit for consumption.
For transparent information :
Vigilance OGM – Du glyphosate dans les eaux potables testées (October 6, 2025)
Vigilance OGM – Cocktail de pesticides dans nos eaux potables (October 14, 2025)
Vigilance OGM – Rapport de l’analyse des pesticides dans l’eau potable (automne 2025)