Information paraphrased from Winnipeg.ca

Where does Winnipeg’s Drinking Water Come From?

We get our drinking water from Shoal Lake, which is located on the border between Manitoba and Ontario. Shoal Lake was chosen as the best source of water supply for our city in 1912, and that is still true today.

• Water flows from Shoal Lake to Winnipeg by gravity through a 135 kilometre long aqueduct (concrete pipe).
• The water is stored in Deacon Reservoir, a large reservoir that can hold 8.8 billion litres, enough water to supply Winnipeg for about 20 days.
• Water passes from Deacon Reservoir to three smaller reservoirs and pumping stations in different areas of the city.
• Each day, we deliver an average of 215 million litres of water to approximately 270,000 Winnipeg homes and businesses.

Is Winnipeg’s Drinking Water Safe?

The drinking water in Winnipeg isn’t any more unsafe than most areas – meaning it’s ok to drink.  However, it doesn’t always live up to guidelines for turbidity, odor, or Trihalomethanes. For a full report on Winnipeg’s drinking water quality – check out the full report.