The City of Montreal is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to replace lead pipes that deliver water to homes.
The project has now doubled in cost – Montreal now expects to spend about $540 million.
The city said the hike is because the techniques they chose when they started the project are now obsolete.
“Sheathing allows the city to save money overall in its repair strategy as it needs excavation, but it alters the estimated budget to replace lead pipes,” said city officials in a statement to Global News.
The city also originally thought it could change lead pipes as workers repaired roads and water mains.
As it turns out, most homes they need to work on are not where road work was scheduled.
READ MORE: Montreal wants to replace 60,000 lead pipes by 2026, tells residents to check tap water
Though the city insists the lead levels are not dangerous, representatives said they must do the work to comply with provincial standards.
The province has lowered the permitted amount of lead that is allowed in the drinking water.
Who’s going to pay?
Not only does the city need to comply, but home owners do too; and they will need to front the costs of replacing lead pipes on their property.
“We’re just calling for the Quebec government to pay. It’s not only this issue where the Quebec government can change standards and download the cost on municipalities,” said NDG city councillor Peter McQueen.
“It’s very important that Quebec help out Montreal in terms of the $600 million project and help out the property owners.”
“Maybe Quebec can step in and pay, give a subsidy to the owners of the buildings and houses so that they can ensure that they can do their bit at the same time that the city does the street. Otherwise it makes no sense.”
The city’s goal is to replace the pipes leading to 60,000 homes by 2026.
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