Many believe that Ottawa residents enjoy some of the best drinking water in the world. We are really lucky to have access to such clean water, but how does it work?
The City of Ottawa uses the Ottawa River as its water source. After a sequence of water treatments, the water changes from dirty and brown to clean and drinkable. These processing plants produce approximately 275 million liters of drinking water each day. Following this, the water is distributed and stored in four elevated water storage tanks and five at-grade storage reservoirs spread across the city. The elevated water storage tanks (water towers) use gravity to provide pressure consistently, reliably, and simply. Due to friction and ground elevations, a decrease in water pressure will occur as you move away from elevated water storage. To fix this, Water Pressure Booster systems are required. These Water Pressure Booster Systems help with water pressure consistency across greater areas.
Well Water?
If your water comes from a well, the water is pressurized in a well pressure tank. These tanks use compressed air to push pressurized water out of the tank and into the home.
If your home uses the City of Ottawa’s water supply.
The water reaches your building through its own water main. Your water main is likely near the edge of your property. The water is still pressurized when it reaches your water main, and this pressure pushes the water from your water main into your home’s water supply lines. The supply line is buried deep under your property so that it won’t freeze and continues to run in the winter.
Inside your home, the water is distributed through your home plumbing system. Some water supply lines will run directly to your valves, faucets, and appliances, while another water supply line supplies water to your Hot Water Tank or Tankless Water Heater. After your water heater warms the water, the water heater supplies the water to your hot water service lines. The hot water service lines run parallel to the cold water lines.
Most faucets in your home will have cold water supply lines and hot water supply lines connected to it. When you run a faucet, you open a valve at the end of one of the supply lines, which allows either cold or hot water to flow. When you’re done and you turn off the faucet, these valves close and prevent any more water from flowing through.
It’s a very interesting system, and its simplicity allows it to remain affordable and reliable.