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Drinking Water By-law

What are the regulations surrounding drinking water in Pointe-Claire? What can I do to reduce my water consumption? Here is all the information you need to know about the by-law and consumption of drinking water.

Highlights: Summary of Key Information

Watering your lawn using an automatic sprinkler system

  • Permitted on even calendar days, from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m., if your address is even
  • Allowed on odd calendar days, from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m., if your address is odd

Watering using devices that are manually turned on and off, without being handheld

  • Allowed on even calendar days, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., if your address is even
  • Allowed on odd calendar days, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., if your address is odd

Filling pool and spa

  • Allowed at any time between April 1 and May 31. After this period, only allowed between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Watering the garden by hand or with a hose equipped with an automatic shut-off device (handheld)

  • Always allowed when it is not raining

Car washing

  • Allowed at any time using a wash bucket or a hose equipped with a handheld release shut-off

Newly planted vegetation

  • New lawns, trees, shrubs, and landscaping can be watered daily, during allowed watering periods, for 15 days following seeding, planting, or sod installation.
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View Key Elements of By-Law

Water Usage Regulations: What You Need to Know

Here are the main points to remember about the new regulation and the different watering methods, as residents of Pointe-Claire:

Watering MethodsWhen is it allowed?When is it not allowed?

Automatic Watering

All watering devices connected to the distribution network and operating automatically.


Examples: Outdoor automatic watering systems and underground irrigation systems
 

If your address number is even, watering is allowed on even days of the calendar, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.

If your address number is odd, watering is allowed on odd days of the calendar, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Outside of permitted watering periods

When the City prohibits it

Manual Watering (by hand)

Any portable watering tool, used manually, whether connected to the City's water or not.


Examples: Rainwater harvesting barrel, hose equipped with a hand-held release closure, watering can

Gardens

It is always allowed to water your garden, flowers, trees, and shrubs when it is not raining

Property Washing

It is permitted to wash your property with water only between April 1st and May 31st, or in case of work (painting, construction, landscaping, etc.). The hose must be equipped with a hand-held release closure. 

Car Washing

It is always allowed to wash your car using a wash bucket or a hose equipped with a hand-held release closure. 

Pool and Spa

It is allowed to fill your pool or spa between April 1st and May 31st. Outside of this period, filling is only allowed between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. 

On rainy days

If the water is used for cleaning a property (cleaning windows, brick walls, driveway, etc.) outside of permitted watering dates

To fill a pool or spa outside of authorized hours

To melt snow or ice on your property
 

Mechanical Watering

All watering devices that must be manually activated and deactivated, without needing to be held by hand during use. 
 

Examples: Manual oscillating sprinkler

If your address number is even, watering is allowed on even days of the calendar, between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

If your address number is odd, watering is allowed on odd days of the calendar, between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. 

Outside of permitted watering periods

When the City prohibits it

Want to develop tips to reduce your consumption? Visit our page on the subject. 

Discover them

Rules on Water Usage for Businesses and Industries in Pointe-Claire

Here are the main requirements for businesses in Pointe-Claire using municipal water: 

Type of Regulations Measure to Take 
Plumbing of Installations
 

 

Plumbing work carried out after June 4, 2024, must comply with the latest versions of the Quebec Construction Code, Chapter III – Plumbing, and the Quebec Safety Code, Chapter I – Plumbing.
Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Compression Systems
Any such system that uses potable water from the City's distribution network is prohibited. Devices installed before June 4, 2024, must be replaced by January 1, 2027.
Replacement, Relocation, and Disconnection of a Water Connection

 

A permit is required for this work. The business must also pay the excavation and repair costs of the disconnection as well as all other costs related to the project. 

This also applies to the installation of connection pipes for automatic irrigation systems.

Automatic Flush Urinals Equipped with a Drainage Tank

It is prohibited to install an automatic flush urinal with a drainage tank that uses potable water from the City's network.

Such urinals must be replaced by January 1, 2027, with manual flush or presence detector urinals.

Car Wash

Any automatic car wash using water from the City's network must be equipped with a functional water recovery, recycling, and recirculation system. 

If not, the current system must be replaced by January 1st, 2027

Energy Source
It is prohibited to use the pressure or flow of the potable water distribution network as an energy source or to power any machine, except in the event of a power outage.

Regulation Sanctions

Residents must comply with this regulation immediately. Anyone who violates the water usage regulation commits an offense and is liable to:

In the case of an individual:

  • A fine of $100 to $300 for a first offense;
  • A fine of $300 to $500 for a second offense;
  • A fine of $500 to $1,000 for each subsequent offense.

In the case of a legal entity:

  • A fine of $1,000 to $2,000 for a first offense;
  • A fine of $2,000 to $3,000 for a second offense;
  • A fine of $3,000 to $4,000 for each subsequent offense.

In all these cases, administrative fees are added to the fine. Larger fines may be imposed depending on the circumstances and the offense committed.

The best way to avoid sanctions is to be well aware of the rules and to follow them daily.

Why a new water regulation?

The City of Pointe-Claire has adopted a new water regulation to comply with that of the City of Montreal, in effect since 2013. But beyond this, this initiative is part of axis 3 of the City's Strategic Plan, which aims for ecological transition and resilience.

This regulation is part of the concrete actions implemented to reduce the ecological footprint of our community, notably by limiting the consumption of drinking water to better protect and preserve this essential resource.

To achieve this, the City needs everyone's participation. By adopting better consumption habits and reducing the amount of water used per household, we contribute to more responsible and sustainable water management across the entire territory.

Information

Phone
514 630-1300, extension 1745
Email
ligneverte@pointe-claire.ca

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