From source to sink
Where Nelson water comes from
A plain-language tour of the lakes, rivers, or wells that feed Nelson, the plants that clean the water, and how it reaches kitchen taps. Lab grades for hardness, lead, and pH live on the water quality page.
On the map
Where Nelson water lives
Source waters and treatment plants pinned from published utility names. Open a pin below for the full OpenStreetMap view.
- CityNelson
Municipal service area
- Source waterFive Mile Creek
Source water
- Source waterSelous Creek
Source water
- Treatment plantMountain Station Water Treatment Facility
Approximate pin near Nelson (exact plant coordinates pending)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins are approximate for orientation, not legal survey points.
Deep dive for households
Nelson drinking water starts as surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs). The named sources on the utility record are Five Mile Creek, Anderson Creek (incl. Fell Creek), Selous Creek. That is the water that eventually reaches kitchen taps after treatment, not a separate bottled brand.
Water is cleaned at Mountain Station Water Treatment Facility before it enters city pipes. As of 2023 all sources consolidate here: sedimentation in historic reservoir, UV, and chlorination (sodium hypochlorite).
After treatment, water moves through pumps, storage, and underground mains to reach streets and buildings. Five Mile supplies ~88% via a 1927 pipeline; Anderson and Selous supplement peak summer demand. Anderson booster lifts water ~100 m to Mountain Station.
One detail that makes Nelson water feel local: Five Mile Creek is named for CPR paddle-wheeler mile markers on Kootenay Lake; its 1927 French-steel supply main still anchors the system. Lab grades for hardness, lead, and pH sit on the city water quality page; this overview is about the route the water travels.
Where it starts
Surface water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs, not underground wells as the main draw.
Research confidence: high
Named source waters
- Five Mile Creek
- Anderson Creek (incl. Fell Creek)
- Selous Creek
Treatment plants
These are the buildings that filter and disinfect water before it enters city pipes.
Mountain Station Water Treatment Facility
As of 2023 all sources consolidate here: sedimentation in historic reservoir, UV, and chlorination (sodium hypochlorite).
How it reaches your street
Five Mile supplies ~88% via a 1927 pipeline; Anderson and Selous supplement peak summer demand. Anderson booster lifts water ~100 m to Mountain Station.