The overall bacteriological quality of the riverbanks in 2022–2024 is rated as moderate to poor, as only 5 out of 16 sites (32%) are suitable for recreational use. Water quality varies from site to site but deteriorates significantly downstream of the Montreal metropolitan area.

This status represents a deterioration since the 2017–2019 report, where it was rated as moderate, which could be explained by a higher proportion of samples collected after heavy rainfall events. Analyses of all data since 2003 have also provided a better understanding of the effect of rain and tides on exceedances of direct contact criteria.