R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant

A picturesque location with so much calm and beauty all around. Looking for a walk or to have some peaceful times alone or with loved ones, a place to visit. The views are amazing with beach access available. The time stops at this place as it’s so quiet and the only sound is of wind and water.

Smashing IT! 🎥😎🎥 Definitely a pleasant surprise. I recently spend the whole day at the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant and I had the most amazing time. It's situated on top of a hill over looking the glorious and magnificent Lake Ontario. There's so many amazing viewing options. Lower, bottom of the hill or on the upper levels. This is a great place to plan a nice picnic with the family or as a get away from the hectic chaotic world. The amazing view of Lake Ontario will have you thinking you're actually looking out over at the Mediterranean Sea. I was lucky to visit it on a Full Moon. With the natural light of the full moon bouncing off the lake, it was definitely a site to see. What's marvelous about the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant built in 1932 it's Toronto's largest and best preserved art deco buildings. The R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant serves as Toronto's source of drinking water. 20% of our drinking comes from the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant. It's a technological and scientific marvel. Some further history. Key Aspects of the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant: Location and Function: Situated at the foot of Victoria Park Avenue, it takes in raw water from Lake Ontario and converts it into safe, potable drinking water for Toronto and parts of York Region. History: Constructed in the 1930s and opened in 1941, it was named for Rowland Caldwell Harris, the Commissioner of Works from 1912 to 1945. Architecture and Nickname: Designed by architect Thomas C. Pomphrey, its stunning interior and exterior are a significant example of Art Deco architecture, earning it the nickname "The Palace of Purification". Capacity: The plant can produce up to 950 million litres of water per day, supplying roughly one-third of Toronto's drinking water. Historic Significance: Recognized as a National Historic Civil Engineering Site and a Designated Heritage Building, the plant is an important part of Toronto's history and infrastructure. Situated at Queen Street East along the Beaches. Just take the Queen Street Car to the last stop. So if you're in the mood for a nice get away with stunning views then definitely head on out to the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant! The views are absolutely stunning and breath-taking!

Such a beautiful place! I recently visited this spot and absolutely loved it. It’s perfect for photography and a great place to spend quality time with family. The view of the beach is stunning, and there’s plenty of space to sit and relax on the grass. I spent around 1-2 hours here, and honestly, I didn’t even realize how quickly the time passed. Highly recommended for a peaceful and refreshing experience!

A hidden gem in Toronto!!! Loved the hike here and the gorgeous expansive views of Lake Ontario. It also has tiny picnic areas. And beautiful are Deco architecture of the water treatment plant itself. There was a lot of wedding photography and some birthday parties happening here as well.

The building itself is massive, grand, and hard to miss—an architectural marvel that’s both beautiful and imposing. If you’re a fan of historic buildings, you’ll love just standing and admiring it. There’s a large open yard in front where people were playing with their dogs, and plenty of green space around for a quiet picnic—saw lots of folks relaxing on blankets. A long concrete walkway leads you down to the beach, and from there you can also access the Silver Birch Beach and the start of the boardwalk that runs through Balmy Beach and Kew Beach all the way to Woodbine. It’s free to walk around, and everything is clean and well maintained. The beach nearby had quite a few dead fish (not sure why), but it’s still a peaceful place to sit by the water and take in the view or snap some photos. The only downside—and why I’m giving 4 instead of 5 stars—is the parking. Nursewood Road, which runs beside the building, is permit-only parking, and I saw multiple people getting ticketed. There’s very limited parking nearby, so plan accordingly. Still, a fantastic place to explore if you’re into architecture, history, or just looking for a beautiful walk by the lake.

Stunning grounds - I highly recommend checking out this unique Toronto spot during Doors Open Toronto. The grounds are beautiful, well maintained, and feel like an escape from the city. Almost feels like you’re by the ocean. The buildings themselves are usually closed off to the public, but if you attend on Doors Open, you’ll receive access to the two main buildings. Almost all of the architecture is preserved from the opening date. It is grand and spacious - marble walls and bronze-effect fixtures. Even if you don’t get to visit the buildings, this is a beautiful spot to picnic, read, or just enjoy solitude by the water year-round.

Very friendly workers. Get your tour near the end of May! Gorgeous architecture. Nice place to walk too at the west side of woodbine beach next to the balmy beach club. Not smelly very cool to peek inside. My video shows a little peek. The grass and area is very well maintained. We are in good hands 🥰

Surprisingly scenic for a utility site! The RC Water Treatment Plant offers a peaceful and refreshing environment surrounded by nature. It’s a great spot to sit, relax, and soak in the calmness — perfect for a quiet solo escape or a chill hangout with friends and family. There’s plenty of roadside parking, and you can even find free spots if you’re willing to park along the nearby streets. Another bonus: a few cozy cafes are just around the corner, making it easy to grab a drink or a bite after your visit. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area and looking for a serene place to unwind.

I can't believe I have never visited this historical site near the waterfront! Constructed in the 1930's, it is also known as "The Palace of Purification." It still produces approximately 30% of Toronto's drinking water, and is capable of doing so at almost 950 million litres a day! The Romanesque architecture is stunning, and a photographer's dream! This inside is not open to the public (except for Doors Open Toronto), but the location and surrounding areas have been used for many films and TV series. I timed my visit to watch the sunset, and was amazed at how quiet and peaceful the area is. I felt transported to a vacation destination in Europe! The sunset wasn't as vivid as I hoped, but the evening skies were unbelievably blue. I think the sunset views are best seen closer to Toronto Island. We found complimentary residential street parking just a few minutes away, but the moment we entered the grounds, there were TONS of mosquitoes (this was in the summertime)! Make sure you use bug repellent. Strangely enough, we didn't get bitten! I think it was due to the sunscreen we still had on! We're definitely returning to see how this looks in the wintertime! Note: There are no washrooms facilities available

Going to a water treatment plant probably sounds very weird but it's actually a very pretty place! We missed the time to go inside the building, but even just walking around the outside is enjoyable. The view of the lake is excellent. Finding parking is a bit tricky on the open door day. Probably not as hard on a regular weekend.

Peaceful and beautiful place to get a nice lake view. It's easy to achieve by street car.

If I told you that when I want some alone time, I go to a water filtration plant and plomp down on a patch of grass, what would you think? Stop looking at me that way! Where are you going?!? Okay, context. The R.C. Harris Water Filtration Plant is, to my eyes, one of the most beautiful spots in Toronto. On a nice day, there's no better place to sit on the green, grassy slope tucked behind one of my favourite examples of Art Deco giving life to what might otherwise be a building as appropriately boring as the idea of a water filtration plant. There's a reason it's been immortalized by Micheal Ondaatje - one of Canada's most celebrated authors - in his book In the Skin of a Lion. For the philistines among us (me), it also made an appearance in Robocop! All with good reason. That slope tucked behind the awe-inspiring building? It looks over Lake Ontario, which, if you're not paying attention, can easily be mistaken for an ocean. It has gotten busier over the years, so here's a tip. If you want to experience it in all its glory, go when the weather is a little bit cooler, say in the fall. You'll get all the impact and feeling of the place, and also get to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. Pro-tip: this is the perfect date destination for a romantic walk/picnic. Let the cool wind blow your hair back while you realize you might've over-salted those cucumber sandwiches.

Is it a palace, fortress, maximum security prison or could it be an insane asylum? Even though the imposing structure has been portrayed in movies as all of the above, this striking facility is actually the RC Harris Filtration Plant. This plant has been filtering water from Lake Ontario and converting it to clean water for the residents of Toronto and North York for over 70 years. It is Toronto's largest water treatment plant and operates 24/7 to process 113,450 million litres of water a year. It is not only functional but also beautiful. Located in the picturesque Beaches neighborhood, it is surrounded by large areas of well trimmed grass, multiple lookout points, and a a small secluded beach with a tiny pier. Built in the "Art Deco style with Romanesque Revival and Modern classical elements": it's constructed out of "stone, brick and metal and limestone carvings, with marble and bronze on the interior" - urbantoronto.ca The grounds are open to the public and are a perfect place to find some solitude: feel the cool breeze from the lake, take off your shoes and walk in the grass or the sand, hold hands with your loved ones and gaze out onto Ontario Lake. With this magnificent edifice as your backdop, you know it's time for a selfie.

Interesting spot that marks the western end of the Beaches on Queen Street. Gorgeous property, although it is being worked on now so lots of it in not accessible. Some cool stairs along the south west corner of the lot. Great for run if you want to work up a sweat. Place opens up during Doors Open Toronto most years..apparently the decor inside is tremendous! Also, a great place to park beside (along Neville Pk S) when the baby is asleep and you want some shade

my 300th review :) i was fortunate to be one of the first people on the grounds for the doors open last year to see this beautiful facility, suppling 47% of toronto's drinking water, this facility has been dubbed "the palace of purification" and is a huge marvel to see. this bi-level facility features quite alot of details towards it, encompassing an edge of the city feel, the lowest level of buildings holds the massive pumps that bring in the water from lake ontario and pumps it up the hill to the "holding tanks" with the capacity to do a daily average of 406 million litres. this facility was completed at the end of 1941 and increased capacity in 1955 to a holding capacity of 910 million litres. in 1992 it was deemed a national historic civil engineering site. to see the actual process of the purification of water is amazing to see on such a live scale. was an absolute blast to visit this facility and see how it works. an absolute field day for a photographer. check out my photos