News Flash

Progress update: Well renewal work restores capacity, and key infrastructure repairs to be finished this fall

Apr 24, 2026

Progress update: Well renewal work restores capacity, and key infrastructure repairs to be finished this fall

Providing sustainable drinking water for the community as it grows is the Region of Waterloo’s top priority. As we address the water capacity constraint in the Mannheim Service Area, this series of updates shares our progress.

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

April 23 Updates:

Renewal work restores capacity ahead of peak season  

Major renewal work on one of the Region’s 100+ supply wells will restore 20 litres per second of water capacity ahead of the peak demand season. The rehabilitation of Well K93 near Ottawa Street and Trussler Road in Kitchener involved adding a steel liner to the well casing, sealed with cement. The liner helps reinforce the casing, which is a tube that protects water quality and the structural integrity of the well. Once the remaining renewal work is complete, the well will be treated and tested before going back into service. 

Progressing on design of pivotal solution

As work continues to prepare the Mannheim Water Treatment plant for the temporary side stream filtration system, Region staff are making significant progress on the design of the system and how it will integrate with the plant. Teams met last week with representatives from suppliers, consultants, and contracting firms to review and gather input into the draft design and plan for building and operating the system. Careful consideration is being taken to ensure the proposed works do not impact the ongoing operation of the Region’s largest water treatment plant. 

Repairs keep supply well in service

As work continues to stabilize the Mannheim Service Area and support growth, repairs on supply well K23 will keep this important water source available. The well, which is part of the Mannheim well fields, will have a pump replaced and transducer installed. The transducer is a device that provides data in real time, enabling the Region to closely monitor the water levels, especially during the summer months.

This work helps stabilize the system in the Mannheim Service Area while other solutions are underway to add new capacity.

April 9 Updates:

Capacity secured while protecting supply

About 30 L/s of new capacity will be permanently allocated to the Mannheim Service Area after Council approved a staff recommendation to rescind the 1980 Wilmot Policy. This transfer helps address the constraint while continuing to protect water supply for growth in Wilmot between now and 2051.  

Key infrastructure repairs to be finished this fall

Repairs that enable the Region to restore and potentially add further water capacity from the Greenbrook treatment plant in Kitchener are anticipated to be completed by late fall. Greenbrook is one of the Region’s oldest water treatment plants and is a designated heritage building. Work is underway to rehabilitate aging equipment that helps purify drinking water, including filters, ultraviolet systems, and the advanced carbon treatment process.

Through optimized use of this equipment, the Region is restoring 80 L/s and aiming to add up to 20 L/s of new capacity from Greenbrook.  Staff are working with consultants, contractors, and vendors to confirm if the treatment system can operate at an increased flow until further planned renewal work is completed.   

Preparation work continues for pivotal solution 

Preparation work at the Mannheim Water Treatment Plant site continues in anticipation of the arrival of the first side stream container. Staff are reviewing the findings of borehole testing at the site where the container will connect to the plant. The test results will inform upcoming work on the concrete pad and the design of the piping system that will connect the container to the plant. 

Short-term forecast will help plan for development 

The Region is developing a short-term forecast of the population in the Mannheim Service Area to inform the ability for development to move forward as the capacity constraint is addressed. The forecast will consider several influences on growth, including socioeconomic and economic factors. Better understanding of anticipated demands from now until 2031 will help inform how to move forward with development in stages and how to allocate new water capacity as it is added.   

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. This 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: