Thursday, December 18, 2025
The Department of National Defence (DND) is providing an additional $29.9 million to support a temporary water treatment solution addressing PFAS contamination in Saguenay, bringing total federal funding for the project to about $45.4 million.
The funding is being delivered through an amendment to an existing contribution agreement between DND and the City of Saguenay, originally signed in 2024. The initial agreement committed $15.5 million toward a short-term solution to address the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) in municipal water near Canadian Forces Base Bagotville.
DND said the total funding will be administered over a 10-year period and will allow the temporary treatment system to continue operating while longer-term solutions are pursued.
PFAS contamination has been identified in surface water, sediment, soil and groundwater on CFB Bagotville property. The substances are believed to be linked to the historical use of firefighting foams during training and operations at the base from 1972 until the early 2010s.
“Today’s announcement reflects a continued investment in safeguarding the health of Canadians,” Defence Minister David J. McGuinty said in a statement. He added that DND will continue working with the Government of Quebec and the City of Saguenay to address water quality concerns and the environmental legacy of military operations.
Saguenay Mayor Luc Boivin said collaboration with the federal government has been constructive and focused on achieving a permanent solution. He expressed optimism that a long-term fix could be in place in the coming months.
DND said it remains committed to working with municipal and provincial partners and to communicating transparently about efforts to address PFAS impacts near CFB Bagotville.
