Underground utility locating in Repentigny, from the riverbanks to the Le Gardeur sector

A waterfront city, two former municipalities

The City of Repentigny borders the St. Lawrence River for about 11 km, and its shoreline is divided into 276 parcels, nearly 95% of which are private lots (1). According to the shoreline protection guide published by the City, a bank lined with a stone retaining wall usually rests on mixed fill, ranging from gravelly to clay loam (1). This type of disturbed soil blurs the reading of a buried utility and justifies a survey before digging.

Work on the shoreline is governed by municipal and provincial regulations: before digging near the water, check the applicable rules and authorizations with the City. On the L'Assomption River side, Quebec indicates that flooding occurs mainly during snowmelt, ice jams, frazil ice or rainfall events (2).

The Le Gardeur sector has its own history. The former municipality of Saint-Paul-l'Ermite, created in 1857, took the name Le Gardeur in 1978, and the two cities were merged on June 1, 2002 (3). The sectors therefore developed at different times, and so did private service connections.

What we locate on a lot in Repentigny

• The private water service line between the foundation and the property line (Water line locating)
• Electrical wires to a pool, a shed or lighting near the shore
• Drains and conduits crossing fill behind a retaining wall
• An old buried oil tank before a sale (Tank detection)
• Rebar and sleeves in a slab before core drilling (Concrete scanning)

Before digging near the water

Start with a request to Info-Excavation, which covers public utilities up to the property line. Everything on your side still has to be located by a private service. On a waterfront lot, also check with the City whether your work affects the shoreline or a flood zone, before setting the excavation date. Schedule our visit once the layout of the work is known.

Our services in Repentigny

Before you dig in Repentigny

• Info-Excavation request for public utilities up to the property line.
• Private locating for on-site services: power to the pool or shed, water service line, drain, irrigation.
• Municipal permit to check with the City for work affecting public property.

Frequently asked questions

Does ground penetrating radar work in wet soil near the river? Yes, but the reading varies. Clay or waterlogged soil reduces the depth the radar can reach. That is why we combine ground penetrating radar and radio detection, and the report shows the estimated depths as well as the areas where the signal is less reliable, so your contractor knows where to dig with more caution.

Is Info-Excavation enough for a home in the Le Gardeur sector? No. Info-Excavation forwards your request to the owners of public utilities, who mark their installations up to the property line. Connections installed by successive owners, such as a wire to the garage or an added drain, are not covered. Private locating therefore completes the picture before work begins.

Verifiable references

1. City of Repentigny, "Les bandes riveraines, guide de protection des berges, sensibilisation et aspects réglementaires"
2. Government of Quebec, "Bureau de projets de la rivière L'Assomption"
3. City of Repentigny, Ville 350, "Les hôtels de ville"