Montreal Homeowners Face Costs for Mafia-Built Sewage Defects
Residents must pay thousands to fix illegal plumbing connections ignored by city officials since 2017.
1Illegal Sewage Connections
Thirteen homes on Rue Paul-Pouliot in Pierrefonds have been discharging raw sewage directly into the Rivière des Prairies since 2011. These properties feature inverted plumbing connections, where domestic waste pipes were incorrectly linked to the storm drain network instead of the sanitary sewer system, violating provincial environmental quality laws.
2City Knowledge Gap
The City of Montreal identified the contamination in 2016 through fecal coliform testing and conducted further inspections in 2017. Despite confirming these cross-connections in 413 properties across five boroughs, the municipality failed to notify the affected homeowners on Rue Paul-Pouliot until the autumn of 2025, delaying critical environmental remediation efforts.
3Financial Burden Shifted
Current homeowners are now being ordered by the city to pay for expensive plumbing repairs, costing between $6,000 and $9,000 per residence. If these residents fail to comply with the municipal order to fix the illegal connections, they face additional fines from the city reaching up to $2,000 per property.
4Mafia-Linked Developers
The homes were built by developers associated with the Montreal mafia, specifically Roger Valiquette and Tonino Callochia. Both men were murdered in gang-related violence in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Their company, Les Cours Trafalgar, was officially dissolved by the government in 2021, leaving no legal recourse for the current homeowners to seek damages.
5Administrative Failures
Montreal officials cited contradictory or incomplete information as the reason for the eight-year delay in enforcement. The city claimed that a lack of photographic evidence in initial files prevented them from initiating legal proceedings against the property owners earlier. Consequently, the city refused to grant interviews regarding these specific administrative lapses.
6Legal Challenges Rising
Some residents are fighting back against the city's inaction. Karen Abugaber, a lawyer and affected homeowner, has filed a lawsuit in small claims court, arguing that the city should have acted immediately after the 2016 detection. She contends that timely intervention would have allowed owners to claim repair costs under their home warranties.
7Provincial Oversight
The Quebec Ministry of Environment stated it was unaware of the situation until recently. Spokesperson Frédéric Fournier confirmed that the ministry will now conduct its own verification of the City of Montreal’s actions. If a breach of environmental legislation is found, the provincial government will determine the appropriate legal steps to take.
8Public Health Impact
The ongoing discharge of untreated waste into the river remains a significant environmental concern. Despite the contamination, no warning signs have been posted for the public near the drainage outlets. The incident highlights systemic failures in municipal oversight and the long-term consequences of corrupt construction practices on residential property owners.
Original article: La Presse — Montreal Homeowners Face Costs for Mafia-Built Sewage Defects