Report an environmentally harmful event

Last updated March 28, 2024
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Have you observed something that seems abnormal relating to air, a waterway or a sewer in Montréal? Do you think that suspicious emissions or discharges occurred? Let us know and we’ll take care of it.

Examples of things to report

  • Unusual colour in a waterway
  • Dead fish floating on the water surface
  • Illegal discharges in a sewer or waterway
  • Particles in the air
  • Smoke
  • Odour of solvents in surrounding air

Submit a complaint

You will need to provide the following information:

  • Your full contact information
  • Name and address of the establishment or the specific location of your observations
  • Description of event
  • Time, duration and frequency
  • Unpleasant effects, if any
  • Other organizations you have already notified about the situation

For immediate action, in case of grave injury, poisoning, smoke, fire or an emission that could require evacuation of people, contact 911.

Discharge into water or a sewer

Sampling of wastewater discharged into waterways and sewers is done regularly. This permits the determination of whether the company is respecting discharge standards. 

During these inspections, particular attention is paid to the following:

  • Effluent treatment systems
  • Discharge prevention devices
  • Respect for discharge permit and approval conditions
  • Any new pollution source that could require improvements to pollution monitoring systems

Air emissions

The City regularly inspects most establishments that generate atmospheric emissions. The frequency of inspection varies depending on:

  • Risk and scale of emissions
  • Toxicity of substances emitted
  • Potential harm

Communication channels

By phone

Submit a complaint

514-280-4330