We are flushing watermains in these areas:
- Curtis Street and Duthie Avenue neighbourhood (December 2025)
Delivering safe and clean drinking water
We deliver over 115 million litres of fresh, clean water every day to Burnaby residents via 720 km of water distribution lines. Our drinking water comes from the Capilano, Seymour and Coquitlam reservoirs. Metro Vancouver manages and operates these reservoirs, ensuring there is no public access to prevent contamination.
The water collected from rain and snowmelt is treated and tested, using a three-phase treatment process, before being delivered to Lower Mainland municipalities for distribution. Additionally, the City conducts more tests to meet the strict water quality standards set by Health Canada. We have 63 dedicated drinking water sampling locations that test over 1,600 samples each year for quality and purity.
Watermain flushing keeps our water clean
To ensure safe, clean, reliable water, we flush and clean the water mains annually–from October until the end of May–and replace or repair them as needed. Flushing is a routine maintenance activity that helps clean pipes, improve water quality and maintain reliable service.
The water remains safe to drink while watermains are being flushed. During flushing, you may notice temporary changes, such as:
- slight water discolouration
- briefly reduced water pressure
- minor changes to taste and odour
To speed up the process, you can run a cold tap for several minutes (preferably a bathtub tap, as it works best) until the water clears. We recommend avoiding laundry during active flushing in your immediate area.
If the water does not clear after running the tap or if you have ongoing concerns, please contact us–we're happy to assist.
Drinking water quality reports and results
You can find copies of our Annual Drinking Water Quality Reports at any of the City's public libraries. Explore the e-copies below for more information
Learn more
- Metro Vancouver offers watershed snowshoe tours. Find out more.
- Learn how BC Water & Waste Association keeps our water clean and safe.
Have questions?
Call the Engineering Department at 604-294-7221.