(Barrie, ON) – The City of Barrie is celebrating Drinking Water Week from May 3 to 9, highlighting the essential role of tap water in daily life, the infrastructure that delivers it to homes and businesses, and the critical work of water professionals who ensure its safety and reliability.
To recognize Drinking Water Week, Water Operations staff will be providing free public tours of the Surface Water Treatment Plant (20 Royal Parkside Drive) on Wednesday, May 6, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tours will last approximately one hour; please arrive 5 to 10 minutes before the tour begins.
City staff will also be hosting community pop-ups at two locations to provide resources and guidance on practical steps residents can take to help protect Barrie’s drinking water:
- Barrie Public Library - Downtown Branch: Saturday, May 2, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
- East Bayfield Community Centre: Thursday, May 7, 3 to 5 p.m.
Barrie’s water is thoroughly treated, regularly tested, and monitored 24/7 to ensure it consistently meets the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Each year, thousands of water samples are collected and analyzed to ensure the city’s drinking water is safe and dependable. Barrie draws water from both groundwater and surface water sources. The distribution system, consisting of approximately 4,200 hydrants and 695 km of watermain, reliably provides safe drinking water to the community. In 2025, the City produced approximately 14,946 megalitres of drinking water.
Drinking Water Week is an opportunity for residents to learn more about the systems and expertise behind this essential service.
To learn more about Barrie’s drinking water, watch the drinking water treatment and distribution video or visit barrie.ca/WaterTreatment.
