World Water Day is the International Day of Recognition established to raise awareness about access to clean water and good sanitation practices. In Ottawa, we are fortunate to have a world-class water system with safe and healthy water, a reliable distribution system and innovative and environmentally responsible treatment and management systems.
Did you know?
- We perform 100,000 tests on drinking water each year to ensures it is safe and clean each time residents take a sip.
- You can fill your 750 ml reusable water bottle 400 times for just $1.
- More than 10,400 km of pipes keep the water flowing throughout our City.
- Our biosolids program is taking the nutrients out of wastewater and turning it into a product that can be safely used to support agriculture and food growth in our community.
- Our stormwater ponds are not only beautiful additions to our communities and homes for wildlife, but also critical tools to support water management and drainage.
The Infrastructure and Water Services Team supports the city’s water system right from identifying the need for new water infrastructure, to building the system to carry the water through to the delivery of clean water and removal and treatment of wastewater. This dedicated team of experts manages the municipal water system, 24 hours a day – always with resident safety front of mind.
The City Needs Your Help!
Keeping Ottawa’s water system working effectively takes all of us working together. While much of the work the City does happens without you even knowing it, little steps taken every day can keep our system safe and functioning. You can help to protect and support our water system by:
- Keeping Ottawa’s rivers clean and free of waste.
- Only flushing the 3 Ps – pee, poo and paper – down your toilet.
- Cleaning wipes, hygiene products and flushable wipes belong in the garbage – not the toilet.
- Disposing of kitchen grease in your green bin and NOT down the drain to avoid clogged pipes that could cause your basement to flood and create disgusting fatbergs in our system.
- Properly disposing of contaminants like paint, oil, pharmaceuticals and chemicals instead of putting them down the drain, in catch basins or ditches.
- The materials collected in our roadside catch basins and ditches goes directly to the rivers and can be harmful to people and the environment.
Ottawa has something to celebrate – not just on World Water Day, but everyday.
