As part of Doors Open Toronto, I toured the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant, which is not only the most beautiful water treatment plants I have ever visited, it is one of the beautiful buildings I have ever visited period. Colored stone and brass are everywhere. It was built in Arts Deco style, and in my opinion as an engineer, lays tribute to the importance of what the plant does, providing clean water to Toronto. It has two galleries with huge windows to allow viewing of the filtration chambers. In front of these windows are gorgeous stone tables with simple bronze control levers. The plant itself sits on hill overlooking Lake Ontario, where it gets its supply of water to clean.
R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant: filtration building on right, pumping station on left in foreground
View of Lake Ontario from filtration building
Filtration building gallery, windows on side allow views of filtration chambers
Pylon in filtration building indicating time and filter backwash conditions
Gauge on pylon
Filter chamber control table
Filter chamber control panel
Filtration chamber
Filtration chamber, not currently in use
Pumping station
Signal panel in pumping station indicating status of pumps
Sign reads “Original 1950s cone valve restored and ready for reinstallation
Inside the restored cone valve