News Flash

Progress update: How the Region of Waterloo is addressing the water capacity constraint

Feb 26, 2026

Progress update: How the Region of Waterloo is addressing the water capacity constraint

Providing sustainable drinking water for the community as it grows is the Region of Waterloo’s top priority. We continue to work with partners to address the water capacity constraint in the Mannheim Service Area. These updates will share progress made to ensure a secure, sustainable water supply. 

Email waterupdate@regionofwaterloo.ca to receive regular updates. You can also visit www.regionofwaterloo.ca/watercapacity to see a FAQ and other information. 

Water capacity:   

Region takes pivotal step to add new capacity to Mannheim Service Area

Earlier this month, Council approved funding to fast-track a pivotal step to addressing the Mannheim Service Area water capacity constraint. Innovative modular technology at the Mannheim Water Treatment Plant will allow more water to be treated faster through ultra filtration containers. When all containers are online, they could add up to 300 litres per second (L/s) by next year. The modular technology is a bridge measure until the long-term plant upgrades are complete. 

Infrastructure repairs in Mannheim Service Area will help restore capacity  

The Region continues to expedite repairs to the Parkway reservoir and pumping station and the Greenbook water treatment plant. This will ease pressure on the system in the Mannheim Service Area by restoring capacity (140 L/s).  Repairs to Parkway are estimated to be finished in the first quarter of this year, and Greenbrook is planned to be back online by the fall.

Water expert joins Region to support solutions  

This week, an internationally recognized water utility expert joined the Region on an interim basis to provide strategic oversight of the Water Services teams. Kenneth Brothers will work with the development industry, area municipalities, and the provincial government to accelerate work to address the water capacity constraint. He is a Fellow of the International Water Association, a professional engineer, and an expert in best practices in water utility management. Kenneth held senior leadership positions in municipalities across Ontario and was the Chair of the Regional Public Works Commissioners of Ontario.    

Evaluating additional measures to protect and preserve water supply  

Alongside the Region’s Water Supply Strategy update for 2027, staff will evaluate additional measures available to protect and preserve the region’s existing groundwater supply and wetlands. This includes finding ways to reduce stress on groundwater systems, identifying any gaps or vulnerabilities in policies, and aligning land-use decision making with the science behind source water protection. The Water Supply Strategy update will review current water supply sources, assess future water demands, and investigate possible new water sources to accommodate the region’s population and employment growth projections to 2051.   

Development:  

Working with partners to ensure the region remains open for business   

Staff are working with area municipalities and the development community to ensure the region remains open for business while solutions are put in place. As part of these efforts, staff and the municipalities will develop a risk-based interim approach that will identify the operation thresholds and targets that need to be met to allow development in the Mannheim Service Area to continue.   

In the meantime, construction in the Mannheim Service Area continues for homes with an existing building permit (7,742 units will house more than 14,000 residents). The Region is meeting with developers to review applications and timelines, ensuring projects that don’t add demand to the water system in Mannheim can progress.    

Keeping the development community informed and engaged  

The Development Stakeholder Group formed this month as an opportunity for ongoing dialogue, shared information, and action, as the Region works to address the water capacity constraint. This group includes key members of the development community, as well as area municipalities. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 4.  

Financial:  

Working with partners to fund solutions     

In the coming weeks, the Region will continue to work through solutions, timing, costs, and funding sources with area municipalities, the development community, and provincial partners. A financial update will be shared with Regional Council in May. This update will refine capital and operating cost estimates, reserve and debt impacts, and water rate considerations, and will be built into the 2027 budget process.  

About the water capacity constraint:  

The Region of Waterloo operates a complex water system that relies on groundwater and water from the Grand River, including over 100 wells and 50 treatment facilities. In the fall of 2025, through ongoing work and updates to the long-term strategy for water supply, a capacity constraint in the Mannheim Service Area was identified. The Mannheim Service Area supplies water to Kitchener, Waterloo and parts of Cambridge, Woolwich, and Wilmot. The constraint is based on the Region’s ability to pump, store, treat and distribute water to where it is needed to accommodate future growth, while also considering critical maintenance requirements. The Region is working to accelerate solutions to the constraint and ensure a sustainable supply of water for generations to come.   

Council reports: