Providing sustainable drinking water as the community grows is the Region of Waterloo's top priority. As we address the water capacity constraint in the Mannheim Service Area, these updates share our progress.
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Excavation begins for side stream
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Construction crews began excavating at the Mannheim water treatment plant this week to prepare for the concrete pad and supports. This work will take a few weeks as crews need to ensure none of the electrical or piping underground is disturbed. The pad will hold the first mobile water treatment unit that’s part of the side stream solution. When brought online, it will provide additional water capacity.
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Progress on Greenbrook repairs
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The rehabilitation of aging tanks at the Region’s oldest water treatment plant are complete as we continue to repair and modify key infrastructure at Greenbrook. Improving the performance of the equipment will help restore up to 80 L/s and add up to 20 L/s of new capacity by the end of the year.
The Region is also determining next steps on how to keep water flowing out of Greenbrook while replacing most of the treatment equipment, which is nearing end of life. Watch the video to learn more about the work underway and planned for this plant.
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Short-term growth forecast released
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A growth forecast that helps understand anticipated demands for new water supply shows the population in the Mannheim Service Area is estimated to grow by 34,500 by 2031. That equals about 17,500 homes and represents 85 per cent of the region’s population growth. The forecast considers factors like global economic uncertainty and federal immigration policy, and trends in the housing market. It is part of the data set informing the framework that will determine when staged development can safely proceed. Read the full report.
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Expanding water saving programs
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The Region will expand water saving programs to help address the water capacity constraint. WET programs for residents, industry, institutions and commercial water users will be expanded to help meet the demand. The Region will also review the water conservation bylaw to see where further improvements can be made. Waterloo Region has one of the lowest water usage rates per capita in Canada, but conservation remains an important mitigation strategy as it helps maintain and protect our complex system. The report with recommendations came out of a working group assigned by Council to explore options for enhancing conservation measures to help address the water capacity constraint.
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June 3 Council reports now online
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The reports going to Regional Council at the June 3 Special Council meeting are now online:
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About the water capacity constraint
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The Region of Waterloo operates a complex water system that relies on groundwater and water from the Grand River, with 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 service area supplies water to Kitchener, Waterloo and parts of Cambridge, Woolwich, and Wilmot. The constraint is a limit on the Region’s ability to pump, store, treat, and distribute water needed to support future growth, while having capacity for critical maintenance requirements. We are working to accelerate solutions to ensure a safe and sustainable supply of water for generations to come.
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