Drinking Water Treatment & Distribution

Drinking Water Week | May 4–10

The City is fortunate to have access to two sources of drinking water: groundwater from a deep aquifer and surface water from Kempenfelt Bay. Before reaching the consumer this water is treated to protect public health. Learn about: 

Drinking Water Sources

The source of the water that comes out of your tap depends on where you live in Barrie. Groundwater comes from groundwater that is extracted from the ground by municipal wells. Surface water is obtained from Kempenfelt Bay through an intake pipe. Access the interactive Water Supply Zones map to determine the source of water you receive.

Water Treatment Processes

Treatment of water depends on its source. Groundwater is naturally filtered through layers of rocky sediment and therefore requires less treatment than surface water. 

Take a tour of Barrie's Surface Water Treatment Plant! Get tour details.

Water Distribution

Water distribution services include transmission watermains, booster pumping, storage, secondary disinfection, distribution watermains, isolation valves, hydrants, service lines, and curb stops. View the water distribution diagram for full detail.

Water Distribution Infrastructure Maintenance

The City ensures that the infrastructure which directs water to your home is regularly ​maintained. As such, the distribution system, consisting of approximately 4,150 hydrants and 686 km of watermain, continues to reliably direct potable water to the community.

Hydrant Maintenance

Yellow hydrants are municipally owned and an important component of the distribution system as they are an access point for drinking water system maintenance activities (watermain swabbing and flushing); they are also used for fire protection. Red hydrants are privately owned, not maintained by the City, and are the responsibility of the respective property owner.

Watermain Swabbing

The City conducts watermain swabbing annually to clean watermains. This is the best way to maintain water quality and increase the reliability of Barrie's water distribution system, ensuring water meets aesthetic quality objectives, and flows freely.

Watermain Flushing

Watermain flushing is a maintenance activity that is performed year-round. It involves running water from two hydrants at the same time. By moving water at a higher-than-normal velocity, scouring occurs inside the watermain essentially cleaning it out.

Typically, households should not experience water discolouration during watermain flushing, however this can sometimes occur. If you notice your water is discoloured, please run the cold water tap on your laundry tub or bath tub for approximately 5–10 minutes to clear any discolouration. If the water is still discoloured after this time, please contact Water Operations: 705-792-7920 or WaterOperations@barrie.caAfter-hours, please call 705-726-4242 and press zero for assistance; appropriate on-call staff may assist you. 

Reports

The City prepares reports in accordance with Safe Drinking Water Act regulations:

Hard copies of either ​document can be obtained under request at the Branch Administration Building, 20 Royal Parkside Drive, during normal business hours (8:30am–4:30pm, Monday–Friday)

Water Meters & Shut-Off Valves

Every customer connected to Barrie's municipal drinking water system is equipped with a water meter and internal shut-off valve. Please ensure your water meter and shut-off valve are always accessible, ready for use in case of an emergency. See full details about water meters and shut-off valves.

Prevent Backflow at Home

Backflow preventers installed on your water outlets ensure that water flows in ONE direction. Through unprotected plumbing connections—such as a lawn irrigations system or hose connections—reverse flow can cause contaminants and pollutants to enter your drinking water system. The Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Control By-law applies to all industrial, commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential properties.

Prevent Frozen Pipes

The pipes in your home can freeze in very cold weather. This can leave you with no water or cause your pipes to burst, leading to damage and expensive repairs.

Bulk Water Requests

The City's Water Operations Branch staff are available to assist residents and contractors with obtaining water in bulk supply.

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Service Requests