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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In the April 9th issue: 📆
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Capacity secured while protecting supply
Key infrastructure repairs to be finished this fall
Preparation work continues for pivotal solution
Short-term forecast will help plan for development
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Capacity secured while protecting supply
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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.
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Key infrastructure repairs to be finished this fall
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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.
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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.
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Preparation work continues for pivotal solution
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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.
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Short-term forecast will help plan for development
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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.
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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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