The project, which is being paid for by the Montreal Agglomeration, will be done under the supervision of the City of Montreal. It is being completed in two major phases: work at the Côte des Neiges pumping station, and at the site of the new pumping station on Summit Circle.

“The City of Westmount has five water networks that run throughout our borders and one of those serves upper Westmount,” says Andrew Duffield, the City’s senior engineer. “That network is fed by the pumping station on Côte des Neiges, but there’s only one line into Westmount from that station.

“So if there’s a problem with the line, upper Westmount is in a potentially precarious situation with respect to guaranteed water delivery. This pumping station is proposed simply for emergency purposes in the event that there’s a problem with the feed. It will guarantee water delivery by transferring water from another network.”

The Westmount phase of the project will include the installation of a chamber under the Summit Circle roadway and a station towards the slope in an area west of 15 Summit Circle. All components will be installed below ground, except for an electrical panel, two ventilation masts and a hydro pole. Once installed, the pumping station will only operate if there is a problem with the main water feed from the Côte des Neiges pumping station. The work is scheduled for completion by mid-February. A work shutdown is scheduled from Dec. 19 to Jan. 3. During the work, the road between Oakland Avenue and 15 Summit Circle will be closed to traffic.

Closure of water to around five homes in the area is planned on one occasion in January. Residents will be advised in advance should their homes be affected. While no blasting is required, some rock must be removed. The City plans to monitor vibrations with seismographic equipment.

Photo: Martin C. Barry