Monday, June 29, 2026
Residents in Fort Erie will soon see a new 186-foot (56.7 metre) Elevated Water Tank lining the skyline next month as Niagara Region Water and Wastewater Services replaces the existing water storage facility to increase service to residents and businesses.
The new 9,250-metric-tonne (20.4 million pound) tank will better serve existing users and accommodate future growth in this area of the region. Elevated water tanks store treated drinking water and use gravity to provide reliable water pressure to homes, businesses and fire protection systems. The additional storage capacity will help meet future growth and maintain service reliability across the community.
“We are very excited to be hoisting a new elevated water tank in Fort Erie to accommodate anticipated growth and better serve the community with modern, lead-edge infrastructure for residents and businesses,” said Phil Lambert, director, Water and Wastewater Services, Niagara Region.
The new tank, around the same height as a typical 15-18 storey building, is anticipated to be hoisted in early July on Pettit Rd. Starting early in the morning, it is expected to take approximately four hours, weather permitting. The hoisting is occurring within Niagara Region property and no public road closures or detours are anticipated. Once fully removed, the old tank is expected to be recycled.
“Our Water and Wastewater Servicing Plan played a crucial role in helping us best determine where the new tank should be located to ensure we are servicing the community in the most efficient and effective way. We are currently updating this master servicing plan, which will continue to help us guide where new infrastructure should be implemented to deliver modern infrastructure that supports our ability to provide reliable water and wastewater services in Niagara region for years to come,” added Lambert.
The need for a new tank resulted from a Region-initiated Class Environmental Assessment for a new Fort Erie Elevated Water Tank and Watermain upgrades. The assessment reviewed the existing water system and evaluated suitable sites within Fort Erie for the construction of a new elevated water storage tank and necessary improvements to the existing water system.
Niagara Region updated the Water and Wastewater Master Servicing Plan and a new elevated water storage tank was part of the recommended improvements to the Fort Erie water distribution system. The new elevated water storage tank will combine and replace Fort Erie’s existing water storage systems, which are approaching their end of service life.
This new tank will:
- Improve current pumping operations and allow for more efficient pumping strategy
- Reduce long-term lifecycle costs
- Simplify and optimize system operations through consolidation of multiple facilities
- Provide capacity to the Fort Erie water system required to support projected growth in the area
The existing Central Avenue elevated tank and Stevensville reservoir will be decommissioned after the new elevated tank has been commissioned and is fully operational. It is expected to be in operation by July 2027. The existing Central Avenue Elevated Tank will eventually be decommissioned and removed.
Featured image: (Niagara Region)
