03 Water
03-1 FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES When our water system was first developed in the early 20th century it was an engineering marvel, but today, potential development around our primary water source and an aging infrastructure make it increasingly challenging to maintain the quality and reliability of our potable water supply. This challenge–ensuring the water we drink is clean and available—will require ongoing investment. The City of Winnipeg will continue to secure our water supply and build critical upgrades to the Shoal Lake Aqueduct, water treatment plant, regional storage facilities, pumping and distribution piping systems and will continue to explore the potential for more sustainable solutions for operating
Sustainable Water and Waste > Water
Potable Water
10
and maintaining the system and preserving what we already have. On an average day, Winnipeggers use roughly 225 million litres (50 million Imperial gallons) but we are still far from reaching the capacity of the Shoal Lake Aqueduct. In fact, in 1990, Winnipeg’s Shoal Lake Aqueduct supplied as much as 300 million litres per day (66 million Imperial gallons per day). Current capacity of the Shoal Lake Aqueduct allows us to deliver approximately 385 million litres per day (85 million Imperial gallons per day). At current usage rates, and with successful citywide water conservation efforts, the Shoal Lake Aqueduct will have the capacity to provide water for the roughly 850,000 people expected by 2031.
Waste Water Resource Protection Resilience
Stormwater Source: AECOM
Source: City of Winnipeg
Winnipeg Aqueduct