Montreal asks residents to cut water use amid emergency aqueduct repairs
City is shutting down a primary water main beneath Atwater Avenue for urgent work as two other major conduits are already offline.
The City of Montreal is urging residents to reduce water consumption over the coming weeks as emergency repairs are carried out on a major aqueduct beneath Atwater Avenue.
Inspections determined that a primary water distribution pipe requires urgent intervention. Work is expected to begin within days and will require temporarily shutting down the water main for several weeks — precisely when two other major conduits in the city's water network are already offline for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The timing is tight. Summer is Montreal's peak water-demand season, putting additional pressure on the system just as capacity is already strained. To ease the burden, the city is suspending water-intensive operations including continuous pipe flushing, preventive sewer cleaning, and fire hydrant flow testing. Decorative fountains without recirculation, street washing, and non-essential outdoor watering will also be reduced or paused.
Residents are asked to comply with drinking water regulations, reduce lawn watering, skip outdoor cleaning, and adopt daily conservation measures. The city will prioritize repairing leaks quickly to minimize loss. Additional restrictions, including a potential watering ban, could be introduced depending on how conditions evolve.