Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes when you turn on the tap and water flows effortlessly into your home? In downtown Ottawa, a remarkable heritage site plays a pivotal role in supplying the city with its essential resource: the Fleet Street Pumping Station.

This historic pumping station, which has been servicing Ottawa for the past 150 years, is a vital part of the city's water network. It is not only Ottawa’s oldest water facility but also an engineering marvel that can move up to two-thirds of the entire city’s water supply.

According to Paul Montgomery, the plant manager, "Today, the facility pumps approximately 200 million litres a day of treated drinking water." This crucial water comes from the Lemieux Island water purification plant, utilizing gravity to flow down to the pumping station, ensuring an eco-friendly and efficient operation.

What sets the Fleet Street Pumping Station apart is its unique reliance on hydraulic power rather than electricity. "No electric motors here. It's purely just the power of that elevated water moving through and driving the pumps," Montgomery explains. The water is sourced from the Ottawa River, upstream of the Chaudière Ring Dam, which propels the facility's turbines via a 500-metre-long covered aqueduct directing water from Nepean Bay.

Inside, you’ll find five impressive pumps, each sustained by a water turbine, generating an astonishing 2,400 horsepower in total. This ensures the station’s daily pumping capacity aligns with Ottawa’s water demands, which can peak in the summer at about 450 million litres per day!

Originally built to support firefighting efforts, the station has adapted over time to meet the modern needs of the city, effectively standing the test of time. Gen Nielson, the city’s director of water facilities and treatment services highlights, "It was put in place 150 years ago, and it’s really stood the test of time."

The engineering prowess behind this facility comes from none other than Thomas Coltrin Keefer, a significant figure in Canadian engineering. The original operation began on October 24, 1874, marking a milestone in Ottawa's industrial history. Since then, the pumping station has undergone three expansions, with the first seen in 1888 and the most recent by 1901.

Initially equipped with two triple acting piston pumps, the original pumping capacity was just 27 million litres per day. However, by 1915, the station had grown to include ten pumps of various designs, showcasing how the facility has evolved to accommodate Ottawa's increasing population and water needs.

Today, as Ottawa continues to grow, the Fleet Street Pumping Station remains an essential part of the city’s water management system, blending historical significance with contemporary utility. Experience this hidden gem that effortlessly champions the dual pillars of heritage and modernity—next time you turn on the tap, think about the century-old engineering marvel making it all possible!