Winnipeg Treatment Plant Opens

This morning, Winnipeg’s Mayor Sam Katz toasted the official opening of the City’s new drinking water treatment plant—a facility that took 10 years to plan and design and four years to construct.

Located at the Deacon Reservoir just east of Winnipeg, the drinking water treatment plant is the largest infrastructure project the Water and Waste Department has undertaken since the aqueduct was constructed 90 years ago.

“Since December 2009, thanks to this new state-of-the-art drinking water treatment plant, Winnipeg homes and businesses have been tapped into treated water that meets and exceeds the guidelines set out by Health Canada,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “As Mayor, I am very proud that our tap water is at its highest quality level ever.”

Treated water began making its way through the network of water mains into Winnipeg homes and businesses last December. With the initial operating phase completed, the plant is now considered officially opened.

Some facts about the new plant:

• In addition to improved drinking water safety, residents can expect their tap water to be clearer and smell and taste better. The taste and odour episodes experienced in past summers due to algae growth should be markedly reduced.
• The new plant is approximately 12,000 square metres in size (about the footprint of Winnipeg’s MTS Centre) and is highly automated.
• With normal upkeep and maintenance, the plant is expected to last about 75 years, is capable of treating 400 million litres of water per day and will meet current and anticipated drinking water quality guidelines.