Island Water Filtration Plant Commemorative Plaque, 2015
File information | File dimensions | File size | Options |
Original JPG File | 8400 × 6000 pixels (50.4 MP) 71.1 cm × 50.8 cm @ 300 PPI |
5.5 MB | Restricted |
Low resolution print | 2000 × 1429 pixels (2.86 MP) 16.9 cm × 12.1 cm @ 300 PPI |
667 KB | Restricted |
Screen | 1120 × 800 pixels (0.9 MP) 9.5 cm × 6.8 cm @ 300 PPI |
277 KB | Restricted |
Resource ID
5167
Access
Open
Address
446 Lakeshore Avenue, Toronto, ON M2J 1X9
Credit Line
Heritage Toronto
Date of Creation
2015
Historical Themes
Innovation and Technology, Public Works, Towns and Villages
Program Category
Historical Plaques
Rights
Heritage Toronto
Time Period
1900-1953, 1954-1998
Caption
Island Water Filtration Plant Commemorative Plaque, 2015
Description
Three successive water filtration plants were built on this site. The original plant, designed by engineer Allen Hazen and completed in 1912, was the first water purification facility in the City of Toronto. From 1914 to 1917, a larger plant was built to replace it. Both facilities played a critical role in the reduction of waterborne diseases, including typhoid fever, that killed hundreds of people in the 1880s and 1890s. The filtration plant was guarded during both World Wars to prevent possible sabotage of the city’s water supply.
The original plant filtered lake water through layers of sand and gravel before piping it to the city through a tunnel under the Toronto harbour. A few of the 1917 buildings are still in use as part of the present water treatment facility, which was built from 1975 to 1977. Cold water from the plant helps regulate the temperature of city buildings connected to the Deep Lake Water Cooling system.
Marker lat / long: 43.613409, -79.380941 (WGS84)