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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Interim Risk-Management Framework approved
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The Interim Risk Management Framework approved by Council will allow development to safely proceed as fast as possible and unlock enough capacity to meet forecasted growth over the next five years. Through the framework, the Region will strategically time repairs for when there is enough available water to serve residents and move growth forward. Capacity would be allocated to Area Municipalities starting at the end of September, based on the Allocation Policy approved by Regional Council on May 6. Council will further discuss the operational resiliency target and Form 1’s (that allow system connections for growth) at its next meeting on June 17.
Additional direction from Council to support development as well as the stability and sustainability of the Mannheim Service Area includes:
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- An approach to site specific transfers of capacity in specific service agreements will come forward by July 8th. This approach would help developers align capacity with market demand.
- A report exploring forward-looking service agreements to address development proceeding in the near term that does not require water capacity until a future date will come forward on June 17.
- Involving the development community in conservation measures to help protect the water supply; and
- Engaging the Ontario Clean Water Agency to review and provide input into the water capital plan.
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Finalizing operating plan for side stream
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Staff are finalizing the operating plan for the temporary side stream treatment at Mannheim. This includes refining details such as how often the filters will need to be cleaned (backwashed) and how much water will be sent to waste as a result. In addition to testing over time, these refinements will help confirm how much capacity will be available. Watch this video to learn more about how we determine the amount of water that can flow through a treatment system daily.
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In the meantime, supports for the concrete pad have been delivered as excavation continues at the Mannheim Water Treatment plant this week. This work requires precision, as crews need to ensure the steel supports can be placed without disturbing the electrical or piping underground. The concrete pad will hold the first mobile water treatment unit that’s part of the side stream solution.
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Renewal work wraps up ahead of summer
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Important renewal work on Well K93 near Ottawa Street and Trussler Road in Kitchener is wrapping up ahead of summer. This work involved replacing aging assets, including the pump. The well will be treated and tested before going back into service. This project is among several projects underway to help stabilize the water system in the Mannheim Service Area.
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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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