City extends water-leak detection contract

Summary#

Montréal city council unanimously approved its position in favour of extending Pure Technologies ltd.’s contract for 24 months to detect leaks in major water pipes using an intrusive method. The decision would add $963,470.31, taxes included, bringing the stated total contract amount to $2,518,898.68, taxes included. City staff say the goal is to continue inspecting critical pipes and support reliable drinking-water service.

  • The extension covers the intrusive detection method only, with a target of inspecting about 15 kilometres of pipe.
  • The added amount includes $875,882.10 for services and $87,588.21 for contingencies (money set aside for unexpected costs).
  • The original contract was awarded to Pure Technologies ltd. after a public call for tenders that received three bids. This extension uses a renewal option in that contract.
  • The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.

What it means for you#

  • Water service users: The inspections are intended to find leaks and help the city plan preventive repairs. They do not guarantee that pipe failures will be prevented.
  • Residents and businesses near inspection work: The contractor must use appropriate road signs and equipment for confined spaces, locate detected leaks on the ground, and provide GPS locations, videos and inspection reports.
  • Public water system: The extension targets about 15 kilometres over 24 months, from July 2026 to June 2028. The non-intrusive method in the original contract is not being renewed; Pure Technologies no longer offers that service, and city staff say they will examine alternatives.

Money#

The proposed extension costs $963,470.31, taxes included; city staff report a net cost of $879,776.82 after federal and provincial tax rebates.

  • The agglomeration would pay the full cost from the operating budget of the Direction de la gestion des actifs.
  • The amount includes $87,588.21 in contingencies. Payment for services is based on unit prices and the quantities actually completed.

What is unclear#

  • The materials do not identify which 15 kilometres would be inspected or explain how those pipes will be selected.
  • They do not say what alternative will be used for non-intrusive inspections, or when it will be chosen.
  • The inspection may identify problems, but the materials do not set out what repairs would follow or their cost.

Case for#

  • City staff say the city lacks the specialized staff and equipment to do this work itself, and that the renewal would help it continue inspecting critical pipes.
  • Staff say earlier inspections helped identify pipes needing preventive repairs. Continuing inspections could help the city plan interventions before some failures occur.

Case against#

  • The extension targets about 15 kilometres, while the city’s main water-pipe network exceeds 800 kilometres. The materials say 34% of the network has been inspected, so much of it would remain uninspected.
  • City staff acknowledge that inspections cannot predict a pipe’s behaviour under every stress or guarantee that failures will be avoided.
  • The non-intrusive service will not continue under this contract, and the materials do not specify the alternative method or its cost.