Construction flows at Pierrefonds water plant

Pierrefonds/Roxboro bourough and the Montreal agglomeration council held a small press conference last week to announce the renovation and expansion of the Pierrefonds/Roxboro water plant on Gouin Boulevard.

"Pierrefonds' (population) is getting bigger," said borough mayor Monique Worth, explaining the plant needed to augment its capacity in order to carry out all of its demands.

According to Sammy Forcillo, Montreal Executive Committee member and head of infrastructure, roads and water management files, the capacity of the Pierrefonds plant is expected to rise up to 400,000 truckloads of potable water. "With tons as unit of measurement it's a little difficult to understand," he said with a laugh.

Christian Khayat, lead engineer of the Pierrefonds water plant inspection project, said there are about 35 trucks that come and go on the dusty roads of the construction site per day, on average.

Forcillo said total cost of plant renovations will be about $55 million, with $13 million for the expansion of the current reservoir, $16 million for the creation of a new one, and $25 million to bring the plant up to date with provincial jurisdiction.

Worth said the plant has been in need of an update since 2001. "We've been talking about this for years," she said.

The Pierrefonds water plant serves several municipalities on the West Island, including parts of Senneville, and all of Ile Bizard/Ste. Geneviève.