R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant

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.

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.

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.

The R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant is an amazing and lovely place to visit—especially if you’re interested in Canadian heritage and how Toronto’s water is treated. Best of all, the visit was completely free! I learned so much about how our drinking water is filtered and processed before being distributed across the province. It’s fascinating to see the behind-the-scenes work that keeps our city running smoothly. The building itself is absolutely stunning. It’s a perfect example of Art Deco architecture, with beautiful design and craftsmanship that make it feel like a blend of history, function, and art. The structure alone is worth the visit. Highly recommended for anyone interested in history, architecture, or learning more about the essential services that support our daily lives.

The R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant is one of Toronto’s most underrated gems. Despite being a functioning facility, the surrounding grounds are incredibly scenic, peaceful, and family-friendly. The area is filled with lush greenery, wide open lawns, and mature trees perfect for a picnic, an afternoon walk, or just relaxing with a good view of Lake Ontario. What makes it even more special is the stunning Art Deco architecture of the plant itself. It adds character and history to the space, making it feel like more than just a park it’s part of the city’s heritage. There’s plenty of room for kids to play, and the whole environment feels clean, open, and safe. One of my favorite parts was the small beach access. It’s not a large sandy beach, but it’s peaceful and quiet a great place to sit by the water, skip stones, or enjoy the view. It’s the kind of place where you can really slow down and enjoy nature without the crowds. Overall, this spot is perfect for a laid-back weekend outing. Whether you’re into history, nature, or just want a peaceful place to unwind with family or friends, the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant is absolutely worth the visit.

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 architecture with a touch of history and serenity The R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant is truly one of Toronto’s hidden gems. Not only is it an essential piece of the city’s infrastructure, but it also feels like stepping into a beautifully preserved piece of Art Deco history. The building itself is architecturally breathtaking — grand, elegant, and meticulously designed. The surrounding grounds are peaceful and scenic, perfect for a quiet walk, photography, or simply enjoying the view of Lake Ontario. It’s a unique place where utility meets beauty, and you can’t help but appreciate the care that went into both the engineering and the aesthetics. Highly recommend visiting if you’re into architecture, history, or just want a calm escape with a great view.

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