Major work begins next month and continues for the next several months on aging water mains in the area around Pine and Dr. Penfield, near McGill University and the Royal Victoria Hospital.

That'll also mean inevitable street closures and detours for motorists who drive through there.

"This is the heart of the water system in Montreal," said Richard Deschamps, who's in charge of infrastructure for the city of Montreal's executive committee. He said it's important they start now to replace those water pipes that pump out water to over half a million Montrealers.

"Those pipes are from the 18th century," Deschamps said. The water comes from the McTavish Reservoir, that holds enough water to fill 40 Olympic-sized pools.

"This place has been built up in 1856. So it proves we have to do the kind of work we're going to do."

Deschamps said water supply and water quality won't be affected.

"We won't have any (water) cutoff. If there is a cutoff, people are going to be warned and we're going to try to do that in a way which won't have a negative impact on the institutions all around," Deschamps said.

Work will take place in three phases, beginning October 9 and finishing around the end of next summer, forcing the closure of streets as well as detours in the area. Crews will work from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The 16-million dollar project is a prelude to work on the reservoir that begins in 2014.

A public information meeting on the work will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, September 25 at 7 p.m. at the auditorium of McGill University's Stewart Building, 1205 Dr. Penfield.

For more details on the work and street closures: ville.montreal.qc.ca/chantiers, 514-872-3777, or info-travaux@ville.montreal.qc.ca.