Saguenay Joins Century Club for Century-Old Water Infrastructure

DIPRA Regional Director Sam Ghosn presented the certificate to Gabriel Grenon, the city's head of environmental hygiene and parks, marking the recognition of Saguenay’s long-term commitment to resilient materials. The pipe, laid over 119 years ago, is still functioning without the need for frequent maintenance. According to Grenon, the durability of the original cast iron remains a practical asset for the city’s current operations.

DIPRA President David Cole noted that the village’s foresight serves as a blueprint for modern water management. While many North American utilities rely on legacy cast iron, engineers increasingly turn to Ductile iron—the modern successor—when planning for the next century of infrastructure. The Century Club, established in 1947, currently counts over 550 U.S. and 35 Canadian utilities among its members, with even more prestigious status reserved for systems surpassing 150 years of continuous service.