Beaconsfield increases fines for drinking-water scofflaws

Low consumption patterns could spark investigation by city officials

Beaconsfield will slap people with heftier fines if it is discovered municipal devices supplied to measure the consumption of drinking water have been tampered with.

“We are aware that there are people who are trying to beat the system, so we hope the fines will discourage them,” Mayor Georges Bourelle said. “We look for unusual consumption patterns. If it’s a hot summer, for example, and a water meter is registering an unusually low consumption of drinking water, it is flagged and an inspector pays a visit to see if the (device) is properly connected.”

The hike in fines also applies to people who contaminate the water system. A homeowner will be fined $1,000 for the first offence, $1,500 for the second offence and $2,000 for a subsequent offence.

Buildings that are not individual residences, such as office buildings or commercial enterprises, will be fined $2,000 for the first offence, $3,000 for the second offence and $4,000 for a subsequent offence.

The bylaw on the use of drinking water gives city workers and inspectors the right to access private property to check drinking-water devices supplied by the municipality. The city has the right to request drawings of the building ’s interior water-pipe system which connects to the city ’s water supply as well as operating details about an appliance or piece of equipment which is connected to the city water supply.

Fines have also been increased for people who contravene any one of the regulations listed in the bylaw, be it for watering the lawn outside of regulated hours, failing to equip an automated watering system with the required sensors or placing a watering device so that water runs onto a neighbouring property.

The fine for contravening a regulation for individuals is $100 to $300 for the first offence, $300 to $500 for the second offence and $500 to $1,000 for a subsequent offence. The fines for other buildings, be it office buildings, businesses or multi-unit buildings, are $200 to $600 for the first offence, $600 to $1,000 for the second offence and $1,000 to $2,000 for a subsequent offence.