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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Concrete pad design wraps up at Mannheim
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Design of the supports for the water treatment units at the Mannheim plant is almost complete. Steel beams will support the concrete pad that the four units will sit on, as each weighs about 100,000 pounds. The units are part of a temporary side stream system that will use advanced technology to filter solids from the water while upgrades to the plant are complete. Watch the video below to learn about how a side stream system works.
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Updating the groundwater interference policy
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The Region will be updating the Policy and Procedures for Responding to Groundwater Interference Complaints, after hearing from residents. The Policy outlines how the Region addresses concerns that municipal well pumping may be impacting private wells. Staff will assess the current policy, do an industry scan, and carry out community engagement on any recommended changes before bringing it back to Regional Council in August for their consideration.
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Planning underway for Grand River water supply
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A solution that will bring up to 100 L/s of new water capacity online is getting underway. With several unused supply wells already present in the east end of Kitchener, the Region is determining the best way for upgrades and new infrastructure to be built.
Right now, staff are inspecting the wells to see how much work will be needed to bring them back into service. This project is expected to be completed by 2032.
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Design of Maple Grove treatment plant set to begin
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Next month, the Region will begin the design of a water treatment plant for the Maple Grove area of Cambridge that would add up to 42 L/s of new capacity.
The wells and treatment system would come online in phases with the first well and water treatment plant completed by 2030.
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A notice will be posted to the Region’s website to let the public know that an addendum to the Environmental Assessment for the project has been completed and reconfirmed findings from the original assessment. Private well owners in the area will also be notified.
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Timeline plots path to stability and sustainability
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View a timeline of the work underway to build a more stable, sustainable water system in the Mannheim Service Area (click on image below to enlarge).
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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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