New approaches to key projects will bring more water online faster

Region of Waterloo staff have identified new approaches to provide additional capacity to the Mannheim Service Area earlier and at a lower cost. Based on council directives and additional information collected in recent months, the Region has identified a plan to move an estimated 25 L/s of water demand from the Mannheim Service Area to the Middleton Service Area. This reconfiguration will be three years faster, cost $8.1M less, and be permanent compared to building the temporary CAM 2W pumping station. 

The Region is also proceeding with an alternative solution that will deliver more water from the Parkway Water System. A blending approach will allow 10 L/s more water to be online in 2027 and cost an estimated $1.8M. This will save $2.9M and be delivered two years earlier compared to the option of building a new water treatment process.   

After allocating an additional 15 L/s from Wilmot to the Mannheim Service Area on an interim basis, and after bringing more water online faster than anticipated, the 15 L/s will no longer be needed after January 2027, at which point it will be available to be used to support growth in Baden and New Hamburg.  

The Region continues to explore all options to address the capacity constraint and find efficiencies where possible.