Big barges are out on Lake Ontario near Mississauga and Toronto, and here’s why

For those who’ve spotted the large platform structures out on Lake Ontario just off Mississauga’s waterfront, the answer is no — they’re not drilling for oil. 

Though it looks like they could be performing that function, the curious-looking rigs, which operate on barges, are actually drilling down on the lakebed in search of soil and rock samples, Peel Region officials said on Tuesday.

The region explained it’s continuing a project it started last summer in the same waters “where drilling rigs will operate on barges in Lake Ontario to collect soil and rock samples for testing and analysis.

“The barges are anticipated to arrive between the last week of April and mid-May and remain there throughout 2026,” officials continued in their online update this week. “Workers will be transported daily on and off the barges using safety boats. Residents can expect increased activity in the area, but can be assured the work will not impact water quality.”

The objective, according to the region, is to do work that “maintains and improves Peel’s world-class water systems, allowing us to provide reliable wastewater services to support a thriving community for life.”

To prepare for the city and Peel’s continued population growth, in particular the Lakeview Village development in Mississauga’s southeast corner, “several upgrades are being made to the G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility” located in the area near Dixie Road, officials said.

“One of the planned upgrades is a new outfall pipe that will stretch three kilometres into the lake. An outfall pipe returns clean treated water from the facility back into Lake Ontario.”

The region noted that an important part of providing water and wastewater services to the community is Peel’s water resource recovery facilities.

“These facilities ensure wastewater is cleaned and treated before it’s returned to Lake Ontario,” officials said.

A barge/rig collects rock and soil samples from Lake Ontario in Mississauga. That’s the G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility at upper left.

Peel Region’s ongoing project on Lake Ontario includes drilling and sampling at six onshore and 19 offshore locations. The investigation is necessary to determine ground conditions along the proposed three-kilometre outfall pipe and help staff safely develop the pipe design, Peel officials added.

The region’s rigs also garnered some attention last August in both Mississauga and Toronto, prompting curious residents to ask about the floating structures.

(All photos: Peel Public Works X)