Underground utility locating in Terrebonne, from Vieux-Terrebonne to the new neighbourhoods

A city made up of three former municipalities

The current city was created on June 27, 2001, by merging Lachenaie, La Plaine and Terrebonne, and it occupies the north shore of the Rivière des Mille Îles (1). Its territory covers 158.5 km² and had 119,450 residents in 2020, with a projection of 131,234 residents for 2041 (4).

On the riverbank, the Vieux-Terrebonne heritage site corresponds to a village founded in the first half of the 18th century. It covers about 25 hectares, includes some 210 buildings and contains several archaeological sites listed in the Inventaire des sites archéologiques du Québec (2). Île-des-Moulins, classified in 1973, brings together massive stone buildings and structures for controlling water flow (3).

At the other end of the spectrum, the Urbanova neighbourhood covers 1,220 hectares, half of which is protected for a biodiversity corridor. Under construction since 2013, it is expected to eventually house more than 35,000 residents (5).

What we locate in Terrebonne

• In Vieux-Terrebonne, water and sewer connections modified over successive renovations, often without an updated plan
• Old buried oil tanks near older homes
• In newer neighbourhoods, the power supply to a pool, a shed or yard lighting added after construction
• Drains, irrigation and telecom cables before a fence, piles or landscaping
• In businesses and industrial buildings, conduits embedded in a slab before core drilling or cutting

Planning a survey for your area

In Vieux-Terrebonne, lots are often narrow and the soil has been disturbed for a long time. Ground penetrating radar then helps distinguish a pipe from an old foundation or fill. Since the area is a heritage site, check with the City for the required authorizations before any exterior work.

In the newer areas of Lachenaie, La Plaine or Urbanova, builder plans sometimes exist, but additions made by owners do not appear on them. A survey before digging confirms the actual path.

Our services in Terrebonne

Before you dig in Terrebonne

• 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

My home is new, do I need private locating? Often, yes. Info-Excavation coordinates the locating of public utilities up to the property line, not beyond. The wire powering your pool, your shed or your outdoor EV charger belongs to you and is not marked. We locate it, mark it on the ground and include it in the PDF report delivered to your contractor.

Can you work on a property in Vieux-Terrebonne? Yes. Ground penetrating radar and radio detection require no excavation, which suits older properties. We find buried pipes and objects, then mark them on the ground. The municipal authorizations related to the heritage site remain yours to confirm before the work. Send us the address and the type of project to receive a reply within 24 to 48 business hours.

Verifiable references

1. Commission de toponymie du Québec, "Terrebonne (Ville)"
2. Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec, "Site patrimonial du Vieux-Terrebonne"
3. Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec, "Ensemble d'immeubles patrimoniaux de l'Île-des-Moulins"
4. Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, "Portraits territoriaux, Terrebonne, édition 2021"
5. La Revue, "Terrebonne fait le point sur Urbanova"