Summary#
On August 24, 2026, Montréal city council unanimously set its position for the agglomeration council on extending eight existing chemical-supply agreements for 12 months, through December 31, 2027. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the extension is intended to maintain supplies needed to treat drinking water.
- The agreements cover eight chemical lots for the Atwater, Charles-J. Des Baillets, Pointe-Claire, Pierrefonds, Lachine and Dorval drinking-water plants.
- The suppliers are Solutions en traitement des eaux Kemira Canada, Sel Windsor Ltée, Sodrox Chemicals Ltd and Brenntag Canada inc.
- The city council’s position is to authorize $7,306,239.90, taxes included, for the extensions, plus $1,095,935.98, taxes included, for possible quantity changes. The total is $8,402,175.88.
- The original agreements were awarded through public call for tenders 24-20603, which received nine bids. The materials do not say whether the selected bids were the lowest compliant bids.
What it means for you#
- Residents: The decision concerns supplies for drinking-water treatment. It does not directly change water service rules or create a new service for residents.
- The agglomeration: If the agglomeration council approves the position, the eight agreements would continue through 2027. Supplies are delivered as needed by the plants.
- Suppliers: The four named suppliers have accepted the extensions. The agreements include price-adjustment mechanisms.
- Taxpayers: The spending is to come from the Service de l’eau operating budget and is borne by the agglomeration.
Money#
The proposed extension and quantity-change budget total $8,402,175.88, taxes included.
- The $7,306,239.90 extension amount is $6,670,914.70 after federal and provincial tax rebates, according to the staff summary.
- The additional $1,095,935.98 is a 15% budget for quantity changes; actual supply is on demand.
- The resulting total for the agreements is stated as $25,206,527.60, taxes included.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not say how much of the quantity-change budget will actually be used.
- Suppliers for lots 4, 7 and 10 did not accept extensions. City staff say those products are to be included in a new call for tenders, but that tender is not part of this decision.
Case for#
- City staff say the chemicals are needed to treat drinking water and maintain continuous plant operations.
- Extending the agreements avoids an immediate new tender for these eight lots and keeps their existing terms, including price-adjustment rules.
Case against#
- A possible trade-off is that the eight lots are extended under existing agreements rather than put to a new call for tenders now.
- The decision authorizes a substantial amount, but the materials do not show how much of the quantity-change budget will be spent.