Our Water Supply

Coquitlam provides safe and high quality drinking water to our residents and businesses. Your water comes from the Capilano, Seymour, and Coquitlam mountain reservoirs and is transported to your tap through a system of pipes, pump stations and water tanks. These mountain reservoirs are in protected watersheds where no recreational or industrial activities are permitted.

From Reservoir to Tap 

Enjoy this guided story that shows the journey water takes, and all the steps and people involved to deliver safe and reliable water to our residents and businesses. 

We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-kwuh-tlum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), and other Coast Salish Peoples.

Water Quality

Regulation

Providing clean drinking water is of paramount importance for the health of our residents. Your drinking water is treated in accordance with the federal Drinking Water Protection Act and the Provincial Drinking Water Protection Regulation. The City also follows Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.

Sampling

To ensure your water is of the highest possible quality, over 1,900 water quality samples are taken and analyzed annually. Each year a water quality report is published detailing sampling locations, frequency of testing, and results. Please follow this link to the most current Annual Drinking Water Quality Report (PDF).

What You Can Do

In order to maintain your water quality once it reaches your home you should make a habit of doing the following:

  • Do not drink hot water from the tap.
  • Ensure you have a back flow prevention device on your irrigation system.
  • If using a home filtration system, change the water filters regularly and clean the container often. - The City of Coquitlam does not recommend the use of filtration devices in your home as they are seldom maintained to the manufacturer’s recommendations and can occasionally be the source of bacterial build-up.
  • Monitor your water service line for leaks between the curb and your house. If there are spots on your lawn that are constantly wet or green through the summer months, it could be an indication of a leak in your service which can be a source of contaminants.
  • Regularly remove aerators (small screens found in the faucet head) and clean them with a sanitizing solution (such as bleach).
  • Run your taps for 60 seconds before drinking out of it when it has not been turned on for more than 4 hours.

Tap Map Coquitlam

Looking for a drinking water fountain nearest you? Created by Metro Vancouver, the Tap Map shows the locations of all the public drinking fountains in Coquitlam as well as in other municipalities within the region. The Tap Map is also available on an iPhone app. To view the Tap Map, please visit Metro Vancouver’s Tap Map page.

Billing & Rates

Please refer to our Water Distribution Bylaw for billing structure and current rates.

Water Rates

Information on Coquitlam water rates can be found in the Utility Tax page.

Water Metering

Coquitlam requires any water used in a commercial or industrial applications to be metered and charged on a volumetric basis. In 2023, Coquitlam moved to a seasonal metered water rate structure to help support water conservation, per the City’s Enhanced Water Conservation Strategy.  

Please visit our Metered Utilities webpage for details. 

Leaks

City personnel go out every 3 months to read the meters, which are then reviewed by staff to look for anomalies and possible leaks. If staff notice jump in your average daily consumption you may receive a note on your bill stating “check for possible leak”. If you receive this note, or notice that your average consumption (Consumption/Days) is larger than normal, please perform the following checks on your premise:

  • Check all toilets, urinals, faucets and outside hose-bibs for continuous water use. A toilet that does not seal uses approximately 9 liters of water per minute resulting in a cost of roughly $1,000 every 3 months!
  • Check surrounding property for puddles or heaves in the asphalt or lawn.
  • Commercial grade refrigeration and air conditioning units use water as part of their cooling system. Occasional servicing and maintenance may turn up leaks in the system.
  • Turn off all water fixtures and listen for running water.

If you do not find a leak after conducting the above investigation, but still believe you may have a leak, please contact the Engineering and Public Works’ customer service to receive further instruction or assistance in determining whether or not you have a leak. Although City staff may be able to determine if you have a leak, finding the location can be difficult and it is not a service that the City provides.

Water Meter Specifications

View Coquitlam’s Water Meter Specifications (PDF).