Water Network

Work on the watermain network may occasionally require a temporary interruption of the drinking water supply. For planned work, affected residents and businesses receive a notice indicating the expected duration of the interruption and the instructions to follow before, during and after the work. In the event of an unplanned interruption, a boil water or do-not-consume advisory will be distributed promptly to the affected area.

If you receive a notice from the City of Westmount, please read it carefully and follow the instructions provided. Notices with a yellow, orange or red header indicate a precautionary boil water advisory, while a notice with a blue header confirms that the advisory has been lifted.

Types of Advisories

Preventive boil-water advisories are issued as soon as there is a pressure drop in the system. This can occur for various reasons, including planned maintenance work and unexpected development, such as a water main rupture or power failure.

When this happens, residents are asked to boil water before consuming it until laboratory testing confirms the quality of the drinking water; this usually takes about 48 hours (see sampling procedures).

If the test results are negative, the boil-water advisory will be lifted and citizens may trust the quality of the water for drinking.

Regulatory boil-water advisories, although rare, are issued when regular testing indicates the presence of bacteria. Residents in the affected areas must then boil their water until they receive notice that the situation is back to normal.

Sampling Procedure

• Water samples are gathered as quickly as possible in all affected areas and sent to a certified laboratory for testing;
• A 24-hour incubation time is required to complete the tests;
• If the results are positive, the boil-water advisory will remain in effect and more samples are collected and sent for analysis. This process is repeated until results are negative.
• If the results are negative, a notice is sent to residents in the affected area lifting the boil-water advisory.

Notifying Residents

When fewer than one hundred residences are affected, City employees will deliver door hanger cards door-to-door. A second notice is delivered the same way to announce the end of the advisory period. Residents are also encourage to create their account and sign up to notices from the City via the Citizen Portal

In order to carry out work on the water main network, the distribution of drinking water may be interrupted for a short period in your area.

As a preventive measure, following work on the water main, the City of Westmount asks the public to boil the tap water for at least one minute before consuming it or to use bottled water.

If you experience coloured water, it is recommended to run the tap water for at least five (5) minutes from a bathtub or a washbasin to remove any possible sediment.

As soon as the boil-water advisory is lifted you will receive a similar notice. We regret any inconvenience caused by this preventive measure

In order to carry out work on the water main network, the distribution of drinking water may be interrupted for a short period in your area.

As a preventive measure, following work on the water main, the City of Westmount asks the public to boil the tap water for at least one minute before consuming it or to use bottled water. 

Use only boiled water or bottled water for:

• drinking
• brushing teeth
• making ice cubes
• preparing food
• washing dishes by hand

You may use water that has not been boiled for:

• using the dishwasher (make sure they are properly dried)
• doing laundry
• taking a shower or a bath (children should be supervised to make sure they do not swallow water during bathtime)

If you experience discoloured water, it is recommended to run the tap for at least five (5) minutes from a bathtub or a washbasin to remove any possible sediment.

As soon as the boil-water advisory is lifted, you will receive a similar notice. We regret any inconvenience caused by this preventive measure.

Following the Preventive Boil Advisory notice, the City of Westmount announces the end of the boil advisory period.

Tests carried out in conformity with Québec Environment Ministry standards indicate that the water in your sector is safe to use for drinking and all other purposes. We recommend that you take the following precautions :

• run the water from all faucets and drinking faucets and drinking fountains for at least one minute ;
• flush hoses and run outdoor taps by flushing or running them for at least one minute.

We regret any inconvenience caused by this preventive measure and thank you for your cooperation during this period.

Lead Elimination Action Plan

The City of Westmount is committed to proactive intervention to ensure the quality of drinking water on our territory. The City's Lead Elimination Action Plan includes replacing old lead pipes in the public network, and helping residents identify and replace lead pipes on private property, as these affect the quality of drinking water. 

Since taking ownership of the water network from the City of Montreal in 2006, Westmount has been actively replacing lead services through the annual capital works programme as well as through the Public Works’ annual water maintenance programme. Progress can be viewed on an interactive map. 

Learn More

Lead Elimination Action Plan

Residential water testingPrivate water service replacement subsidy

Should you have any questions about the sampling results at your home, please contact the Engineering Department at 514 989-5377.

Community Action Towards Sustainable Rainwater Management

The Hydrological Cycle

The hydrological cycle is the journey water takes as it circulates from the land to the sky and back again. The construction of homes, extensions and roadways converts porous terrain into impervious surfaces, altering the natural hydrological cycle. The increased volume and flow rate of uncontrolled runoff can lead to groundwater pollution and property damage due to flooding and erosion.

Westmount Underground

Public Works and New Legislation

In Westmount, stormwater and wastewater are combined into a single system. Increased runoff can lead to sewer overflows and an overtaxing of wastewater treatment facilities. When rainwater flow surpasses the municipal system’s capacity, local buildings are flooded.

Citizens applying for construction permits for new buildings, major additions and landscaping will be required to submit a stormwater management strategy which demonstrates that post-construction runoff will not exceed pre-construction levels.

Green Roofs

Green roofs absorb rainwater, provide insulation and help lower urban air temperatures. Before creating a green roof on an existing building, the structure must be evaluated by a qualified engineer to ensure that it can support the additional weight.

Permeable Surfaces

The most effective way to control stormwater runoff is to create and maintain permeable surfaces as close as possible to the source. Porous surfaces trap suspended solids and filter pollutants. Effective choices for driveways, walkways and patios include pervious concrete, porous asphalt, paving stones or concrete pavers.

Vegetated Swales

Vegetated swales are sloped, low-lying areas designed to capture and treat storm water. The swales collect stormwater runoff and allow it to soak into the ground at a slower rate. Specialized native plants help treat the stormwater by absorbing pollutants and filtering suspended solids.

Rain Barrels

A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores rainwater from downspouts and rooftops for future use watering lawns and gardens. During summer months, nearly 40% of domestic water is used for garden maintenance. Rain is naturally soft and devoid of harmful chemicals. Call 514 989-5390 to learn about the City’s rain barrel rebate programme.