Preliminary solutions identified to address Mannheim Service Area water issue

Waterloo Region – Working with partners and industry, the Region has identified several preliminary solutions to address the current water issue within the Mannheim Service Area.  

In addition to the preliminary solutions, the Region is accelerating repair and maintenance work, and major infrastructure investments.   

The Region is also seeking Provincial support to fast-track environmental assessments, permits and design reviews.  

Construction of buildings with existing permits and servicing agreements will continue as we work with our area municipal partners to find ways to advance development.  

While the Region works through solutions, we are unable to support new commitments in the Mannheim Service Area at this time. 

“This is the top priority for Regional Council,” said Karen Redman, Regional Chair. “We are acting now and working closely with our municipal and provincial partners to move solutions forward. This is about accelerating projects that will restore capacity, strengthen our system, and provide clarity and confidence for our community.”    

Solutions include:  

• Piloting new modular technology at the Mannheim Water Treatment Plant  
• Adding infrastructure, such as a new pumping station  
• Reallocating water supply  
• Expanding existing well supply  
• Immediate investment to repair existing infrastructure  

“We recognize the urgency and I want to reassure the community that we are leaving no stone unturned on our path forward. We are committed to a collaborative, solutions-based approach that harnesses expertise from across Waterloo Region,” said Acting CAO, Mathieu Goetzke.  

Several working groups that include industry experts, municipal partners and the development community will be collaborating on  solutions to restore operational resiliency and add capacity to the system.  

The system constraint is based on the Region’s ability to pump, store, treat and distribute water to where it is needed in order to accommodate future growth, while also considering critical maintenance requirements.  

“I want to remind the community that there are no issues with water quality. I also want to emphasize that currently, there is enough water to meet the needs of residents in Waterloo Region, but the system has limited capacity remaining for planned and unplanned repairs and shutdowns,” added Goetzke. 

Residents can access the full list of preliminary solutions and stay up to date on the Region’s website: regionofwaterloo.ca/watercapacity     

Additional information is also available for the development industry through the Region’s website: https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/watercapacity-development/ 

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