SAINT-LAZARE – The town of Saint-Lazare has announced a $330 million grant from the provincial government to fix a bizarre problem that dates back to the 1970s.
Back in the day, a few families in Saint-Lazare owned several plots of adjacent land along Côte-Saint-Charles.
One group lived near the intersection with Sainte-Angélique, the other near the intersection with Bugle Call Street.
Either because of lax enforcement or because the town at that time simply allowed them to do it, about two dozen households got a backhoe and simply dug their own pipe to a private well, circumventing the town’s public water supply.
“Let’s just say they got connected to the system,” said Robert Grimaudo, the town’s mayor.
“It’s causing issues with the water quality.”
With most of the homes now under new ownership, most residents in those areas seem to agree the homes should be connected to municipal water.
The question, however, is how much it will cost the homeowners to do that.
“Any improvement is going to cost me money,” said Geoffrey Collar, who lives near the corner of Forest and Bugle Call.
Some residents pointed out that they feel like they’re paying for something they already get anyway.
Nevertheless, many note that town water is better quality already, and the upcoming work will include needed fire hydrants along those roads.
Grimaudo said he will talk to residents about the infrastructure work on Feb. 10.
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