Water is life. Every drop we use and every stream that flows through our city is safeguarded by dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to ensure clean, safe and sustainable water for all. From the moment it is drawn from our rivers and aquifers to when it is returned to the environment, our water is protected by teams working around the clock.
This World Water Day we are shining a light on the unsung heroes of our water system: the operators, maintenance crews, scientists, inspectors, engineers, contractors and partners who protect Ottawa’s water every single day. Thanks to them, Ottawa’s drinking water quality is one of the safest and most reliable in the world. Here is a snapshot of some of the vital work:
Clean drinking water
- The drinking water services team works to produce and deliver 295 million litres of drinking water each day.
- During 2024, more than 100,000 laboratory and operational tests were conducted to ensure the safety of Ottawa’s drinking water supply.
- Operators maintain over 3,000 kilometres of watermains, 48,000 valves and more than 23,000 fire hydrants to ensure safe drinking water and reliable supply for firefighting.
- Our dedicated team of certified Water Distribution Operators work around the clock to address watermain breaks and perform other essential repairs, ensuring minimal disruptions to residents and businesses.
Stormwater management and flood prevention
- The stormwater management team looks after a wide variety of nature-based and man-made solutions such as ponds, underground storage tanks and drain systems that filter run off, protect local waterways and prevent flooding.
- The stormwater planning team ensures new developments protect local waterways, reducing flooding risks and promote clean stormwater infiltration.
- Conservation authorities and City engineers update floodplain maps for improved flooding and emergency response.
Wastewater collection, treatment and environmental protection
- Ottawa’s wastewater collection system spans 2,796 square kilometres, transporting wastewater from homes, businesses, and industrial sites through a network of sewers, pumping stations, and forcemains to trunk sewers. The wastewater then flows to the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre (ROPEC) for treatment.
- Staff at ROPEC treat over 390 million litres of water every day and remove 200 tonnes of pollutants before it is returned to the Ottawa River.
- ROPEC is not only one of Canada’s largest wastewater treatment plants, it also reduces reliance on external power through its cogeneration system that produces 30 megawatt-hours of electricity daily.
- Ottawa’s lakes, rivers and aquifers are monitored and protected by a team of scientists in collaboration with conservation authorities and the community. Protecting drinking water at the source ensures contaminants don’t reach our water supplies in the first place.
How you can help
We all have a role in protecting and sustaining Ottawa’s water resources. Here are just some of things you can do to reduce your water use and protect our waterways:
- Fix leaks and install water-efficient fixtures
- Install a rain barrel to capture rainwater to use on your lawn and garden
- Properly dispose of prescription drugs, hazardous waste and grease. Do not flush anything but the three Ps – pee, poo and paper
- Keep catch basins and ditches clear of leaves and debris. The fish symbol means the water is going directly to our rivers and creeks
- Change up your home’s landscape using rain gardens and permeable pavements to absorb more stormwater with the help of the Rain Ready Ottawa program.
Visit ottawa.ca to learn more about our water services and programs, and how you can make a difference.