Lead Subsidy Programme: replacement of private water services

Encourage homeowners to replace their private lead or galvanised steel water services in order to:

• Reduce the exposure to lead in the drinking water
• Extend the usable life of the building’s water connection
• Improve residents’ quality of life
• Conform to the MAMH requirements for a lead action plan

The City’s Lead Action Plan proposes a 25% subsidy, up to $2,500 (taxes included) per home for the replacement of private lead or galvanised steel service pipes.

In accordance with the Municipal Aid Prohibition Act, eligibility will be initially based on the following criteria:

• The building and water service must be located within the territory of the City of Westmount.
• The building must have been constructed in or before 1971.
• The building must have 8 units or less.
• At least 50% of the building surface area must be used for residential purposes:
  • Buildings used exclusively for commercial purposes or intended to serve transient clientele are not eligible for this subsidy.
  • Buildings converted into residential or mixed-use buildings less than 20 years ago are not eligible for this subsidy.
  • Buildings built after 1971 are not eligible for this subsidy.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the subsidy programme, the following requirements must be met:

• A portion or the entire length of the private water pipe must be made of lead or galvanised steel.
• All lead or galvanised steel pipes between the City’s valve and the private building must be replaced.
• Plumbing work must be performed by a member of the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec (CMMTQ)
• The necessary work and plumbing permits must be obtained from the City.

Documentation Required for Eligibility

To guarantee eligibility for the subsidy programme, property owners must also provide the City with the following documents:

• Proof of the presence of lead or galvanised steel pipes (signed attestation by a CMMTQ-registered plumber with supporting photos).
• Photos of the landscaping before the work is carried out.
• Confirmation from a CMMTQ-registered plumber that the entire private water service has been replaced.
• Copy of the plumbing permit issued by the City.
• An itemized list of all work done with all supporting invoices.

Eligible Work

• Removal and replacement of the private water service.
• Excavation.
• Plumbing work.
• Backfilling.
• Restoration of the property to its original condition, including landscaping.
• Landscaping elements such as modifying the existing landscaping, changing materials, or adding new plants following the water service replacement are not eligible for the subsidy.
• Excavation work must be carried out by a specialized contractor with an RBQ license.
• Plumbing work must be performed by a member of the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec (CMMTQ).

Eligible Costs

• Cost of materials purchased.
• Cost of equipment, tools, and labor required to perform the eligible work (taxes included).

Corrective Work

If corrections or additions need to be made to the work after the subsidy has been granted, it is understood that this additional work will not be eligible for a new subsidy.

Eligibility Period

The subsidy application form must be submitted to the City for approval within 12 months of the completion of work on the private portion of the lead or galvanised steel water service. Subsidy requests will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be accepted until available funds are exhausted for a calendar year (period between January 1 and December 31).

2023 Exception

Exceptionally, lead and galvanised steel service replacements completed between January 1 and December 31, 2023, will be accepted under the 2024 subsidy programme, subject to the availability of funds. Subsidy requests will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis

• Fill out the subsidy application form on the Citizen Portal.

• Submit the following documents along with the subsidy application form:

  • Proof of ownership: Current year’s municipal tax bill or deed of purchase.
  • Authorization letter (if applicable): A letter from the property owner authorizing a representative (individual) to sign the form.
  • Detailed contractor invoice: A sufficiently detailed invoice from the contractor who replaced the private portion of the lead supply line.
    OR
    Material purchase invoices: Invoices for the purchase of materials needed to replace the private portion of the lead supply line.
  • Proof of lead or galvanised steel pipes: A signed attestation by a CMMTQ-registered plumber with supporting photos.
  • Proof of replacement date: Proof of the date the private lead or galvanised steel water service was replaced.
  • Before and after landscaping photos: Photos of the landscaping before and after the replacement work is completed.
  • A copy of all permits issued for the work.
  • Additional documentation: Any other documents deemed necessary by the Engineering Department to process the application.