Feature story
It’s no secret, the City of Ottawa is committed to delivering clean and safe drinking water to residents. That commitment is shown in the over 275 million litres of drinking water we produce each day. Now, that commitment is preserved as part of Ottawa’s heritage.
On Wednesday, July 10 City Council officially designated Lemieux Island Water Purification Plant as a heritage property. Lemieux Island is on the Ottawa River, approximately two and a half kilometers west of Parliament Hill
When it began operations in 1932, the purification plant represented a major technical achievement as the first water treatment plant in Ottawa, ensuring residents had access to clean drinking water. Its construction marked a pivotal moment in the history of Ottawa’s water supply system.
The Pumping Station, Chemical Building, and Filter Building form the historic core of the plant and are excellent examples of industrial buildings influenced by popular architectural styles of the early 20th century.
Hintonburg Pumphouse
Once the Lemieux Island facility was built, it replaced the Hintonburg Pumphouse, which is another City-owned heritage property that is getting some much-deserved attention this year.
The pumphouse was built in 1899 and provided water to Ottawa residents for 33 years. It was turned into a residence and gatehouse for the new Lemieux Island plant in 1932. In 1987, it was designated a heritage property by the City but was destroyed in a fire in 1989. It has sat in ruins ever since.
After extensive public engagement in May and June of 2023, a design plan was chosen to turn the Hintonburg Pumphouse site into a public park.
Accessible from the Ottawa River Parkway and by multi-use pathways, the pumphouse public space complements the nearby Chief William Commanda Bridge multi-use pathway, the Bayview Innovation Centre and the renewed Laroche Park.
Construction is anticipated to begin in August 2024.
Your heritage property
These important steps demonstrate how the City is committed to preserving Ottawa’s heritage. There are hundreds of heritage locations across Ottawa and we have a number of services to help preserve them. These include:
For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.