Winnipeg’s Water HistoryWinnipeg’s Water History

From the Source to the Tap!

• In the late 1800’s, Winnipeg had it’s In the late 1800’s, Winnipeg had it’s first water service!first water service!

• “Watermen” began hauling and delivering untreated water from the Assiniboine River using oxcarts.

• This water eventually became too polluted This water eventually became too polluted by the City’s sewage to be safe to drink.by the City’s sewage to be safe to drink.

Maryland Bridge (taken 1928). This is the place where water was withdrawn by the watermen.

• By 1900, the City had begun to use By 1900, the City had begun to use groundwater wells as a source of watergroundwater wells as a source of water

A dirty well.

• These were These were often polluted often polluted too.too.

• In the early In the early 1900s, the 1900s, the population of population of Winnipeg was Winnipeg was growing very growing very quickly.quickly.

Main Street circa 1911

• People began to get sick, and some died of People began to get sick, and some died of typhoid fever spread by dirty water.typhoid fever spread by dirty water.

• A professor named Charles Slichter A professor named Charles Slichter studied Winnipeg’s water problems studied Winnipeg’s water problems and thought up three solutionsand thought up three solutions

Dig more wells North of Winnipeg

Build a pipeline from the Winnipeg River (Eastern Manitoba)

Build a large aqueduct from Shoal Lake (a huge lake on the Manitoba-Ontario border)

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Charles Slichter

Classroom VoteClassroom Vote

Which option would you choose? Which option would you choose? Drill wells for groundwater north of the cityDrill wells for groundwater north of the city

Build a pipeline from Winnipeg RiverBuild a pipeline from Winnipeg River

Build an aqueduct from Shoal LakeBuild an aqueduct from Shoal Lake

• At first, City council decided the aqueduct At first, City council decided the aqueduct from Shoal Lake was too expensivefrom Shoal Lake was too expensive

Winnipeg’s old City Hall

• People living in Winnipeg were People living in Winnipeg were against council’s decision against council’s decision

• ““We are willing to pay for clean We are willing to pay for clean water!!”water!!”

• A new mayor, Thomas R. Deacon A new mayor, Thomas R. Deacon (1913), let the citizens of Winnipeg (1913), let the citizens of Winnipeg vote on the new water source.vote on the new water source.

• The Shoal Lake aqueduct won by a The Shoal Lake aqueduct won by a landslide!landslide!

Thomas R. Deacon

• The aqueduct from Shoal Lake runs The aqueduct from Shoal Lake runs through 137 kilometres of through 137 kilometres of wilderness to reach city reservoirswilderness to reach city reservoirs

• The Greater Winnipeg Water District Railroad The Greater Winnipeg Water District Railroad was built to transport workers and supplies was built to transport workers and supplies for the aqueduct’s constructionfor the aqueduct’s construction

• Construction took 4 years, and Construction took 4 years, and ended up costing $17 million (a ended up costing $17 million (a LOT of money in those days)LOT of money in those days)

• The aqueduct is made of concrete and The aqueduct is made of concrete and covered with soil so the water doesn’t freezecovered with soil so the water doesn’t freeze

The Railway and the The Railway and the AqueductAqueduct

Turn on the Tap!Turn on the Tap!

• Water from Shoal Water from Shoal Lake began to flow Lake began to flow from Winnipeg taps from Winnipeg taps in April, 1919.in April, 1919.

• There have been no There have been no outbreaks of outbreaks of disease from disease from drinking water drinking water since then.since then.

• The Deacon Reservoir stores water at the The Deacon Reservoir stores water at the end of the aqueduct (near Fermor Ave., just end of the aqueduct (near Fermor Ave., just outside the Perimeter Hwy.) so enough is outside the Perimeter Hwy.) so enough is available for everydayavailable for everyday

New Water Treatment PlantNew Water Treatment Plant

• On December 10, 2009 Winnipeg’s new On December 10, 2009 Winnipeg’s new $300 million, state-of-the-art water $300 million, state-of-the-art water treatment plant was put into action.treatment plant was put into action.

Design concept (computer Design concept (computer generated)generated)

The Plant Today (actual photo)The Plant Today (actual photo)

• The water treatment plant is the largest project The water treatment plant is the largest project the Water and Waste Department has done since the Water and Waste Department has done since the aqueduct in 1919.the aqueduct in 1919.

About the same About the same size as……size as……

Area of 12,000 ftArea of 12,000 ft22

the MTS Centre!the MTS Centre!

Treatment ProcessTreatment Process

• The plant is expected to last about 75 yearsThe plant is expected to last about 75 years• It can treat 400 million litres of water per day It can treat 400 million litres of water per day • Water can still be treated during a long power Water can still be treated during a long power

outageoutage

• The treatment process includes the use of The treatment process includes the use of ultraviolet light and chlorine to kill bacteria ultraviolet light and chlorine to kill bacteria and other organisms that cause disease.and other organisms that cause disease.

UV disinfection chamber

Water Water Treatment Treatment

PlantPlant

• Pumping stations throughout the City bring Pumping stations throughout the City bring the water through a series of pipes to our the water through a series of pipes to our taps.taps. Taché