A cleaner St. Lawrence on the horizon?

To fish or to dip your toe into the St. Lawrence without worries of getting sick or infected.

That's the aim of the city of Montreal's 200-million dollar project to disinfect its wasterwater.

The wastewater flushed into the St. Lawrence is about 40% disinfected - thanks to an outdated process using less potent chemicals that can't eliminate newer, more toxic pollutants in industrial waste and pharmaceuticals being tossed down the drain. Back in the late 80s, when the water treatment plant was built, a Quebec government moratorium prevented the city from using chlorine to treat and disinfect the water, out of environmental and health concerns.

Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay says he wants to bring that  level up to 90% with a 200-million dollar ozone disinfection plant, ozone being less harmful to fish and plants than another potential treatment, ultra-violet rays, which costs slightly less.

"Eventually they'll be able to swim in the St. Lawrence River. And more than that, the people who use kayaks or surf or other vehicles on the water won't be afraid to fall in the water."

And he's confident the Quebec government will kick in most of the cost. So is Bruce Walker of the environmental group STOP, who says the plan is excellent news for the water of Montreal and its neighbours.

"I can't see them saying no."

Even if it does get the greenlight, it'll take at least another five years to be built.