Water Commission Park / Waterworks Reservoir

The Waterworks Reservoir is located along the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. Laura passed through this area on her historic walk from Queenston to Decew House. On this part of the trek she was being escorted by the Indian guide(s) who were to bring her to Decew House. She had come upon the First Nations encampment on Decew's Field a shortly before and had explained that she had some important information for Lieutenant Fitzgibbon at Decew House.

A reservoir complex known as the Waterworks Reservoir is found just south of DeCew Road, west of Merritville Highway. The reservoir was initially established as part of the St. Catharines Waterworks in the 1870s to supply drinking water to the growing population of St. Catharines. To create the Waterworks, Beaverdams Creek was dammed in two locations just above DeCew Falls in the late 1870s, and the new municipal water supply was piped down the escarpment to St. Catharines.

The complex is surrounded by the previous Water Commission Park. The park was closed as an attempt to protect the water supply. It was in part a response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and increasing fear by residents and politicions. The park was fenced off however people driving down Decew Rd or over the bridge on Merritville Highway can still see out over the reservoir and park.

The reservoir is located next to the Decew Falls Water Treatment Plant, close to the Morningstar Mill.

See DeCew Water Treatment Plant for more information.

Decew Rd
Thorold, Ontario
L2R 6P7

Latitude: 43.108885
Longitude: -79.2588581


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