Understanding Toronto's water
Source: City of Toronto, 2025 drinking water analysis summary (average).
Where does Toronto's water come from?
Toronto's drinking water comes from Lake Ontario and is treated at four water treatment plants before it reaches your tap. It meets Ontario's drinking water standards, but homeowners commonly notice:
- Chlorine taste and odour
- Scale on kettles, taps and shower glass
- Dry skin and hair after showering
- Sediment or cloudiness in older buildings
Older Toronto homes and lead
Homes built before the mid-1950s may still have a lead service pipe. If yours is one of them, the City of Toronto offers lead testing kits, and a reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink is certified to reduce lead in drinking water.
Recommended water treatment for Toronto homes
We recommend systems based on where your water comes from. Your free in-home test confirms the fit before anything is installed.
All Toronto homes on city water
Downtown, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke and East York
Most Toronto homes need two things: softening for scale and carbon filtration for chlorine. The Enhanced Water Softener does both in one tank.
Signs you may need a water filter
- You smell or taste chlorine in your water
- White scale on fixtures, kettles or shower glass
- Dry, itchy skin after showers
- Clothes fade or stiffen quickly in the wash
- Your water heater or kettle has buildup
Nearby cities we also serve
Questions
Is Toronto tap water hard?
Yes, moderately. The City of Toronto reported an average of 119 mg/L (about 7 grains per gallon) in 2025, enough to leave scale over time.
Is Toronto tap water safe to drink?
Yes. It's treated and tested under Ontario's drinking water standards. People add filtration mainly for chlorine taste and smell, scale, and lead in older homes.
Free in-home water test
Find out what's in your Toronto water
We test your water at your home, show you what's in it, and recommend the system that fits.
- Free
- About 30 minutes
- No obligation