Montreal invests $68.6M in major flood prevention push
The city is constructing an underground retention facility in the Southwest borough to store 15 million litres of stormwater during heavy rains.
Montreal is spending $68.6 million on flood prevention as extreme rainfall events become more frequent. The Martinez Ferrada administration approved construction of the Saint-Jacques retention facility in the Southwest borough, an underground structure capable of storing 15 million litres of stormwater and wastewater. The facility will reduce flood risks for residents and limit overflows into the St. Lawrence River during heavy storms.
Construction begins this month and is scheduled to finish by winter 2028. The city is also expanding other flood mitigation efforts, including the recently completed Coubertin Sponge Park in St-Leonard, designed to absorb rainwater before it reaches the sewer system.
Meanwhile, Montreal has increased funding for its RénoPlex program by $2 million, bringing the total budget to $10.3 million for 2026. The program helps homeowners install protective measures against flooding, including flood barriers. City officials say the investments are part of a broader strategy to strengthen infrastructure and help communities adapt to the growing impacts of climate change.
As storm patterns intensify, the city is betting on retention and absorption to keep neighborhoods dry.