Cochrane's water distribution system consists of:
- approximately 150 kms of water mains
- seven storage reservoirs
- ten booster stations
- 19 vaults
- 430 fire hydrants
Every building connected to the Town’s water has a water metre to measure how much water is being used. The meters are read every month. Due to local topography, the distribution system is dynamic and has multiple pressure zones supplying water to various subdivisions. This distribution happens either by natural gravity or booster stations.
Pump stations and reservoirs
A pump station and reservoir provides treated water to an area of own that is at a higher elevation than the service area of the pumps at the water treatment plant.
At the Heritage Hills pump station, treated water from the water treatment plant is pumped into the 3.2 million litre reservoir. From the reservoir, the water is pumped out at a high pressure to supply the community with treated water at a specified pressure. A portion of the Heritage Hills reservoir storage, 1.3 million litres, is designated as fire storage.
The number and capacity of the pumps installed at the pump station is dependent on the required fire flow for the neighbourhood and the projected peak day demand.