Waterloo Region – The Region of Waterloo Water Supply Capacity Allocation Policy has been developed to ensure a fair, simple and fully transparent way to transfer water supply capacity to area municipalities in the Mannheim Service Area to support future growth, as water becomes available. 

The policy outlines that the Region of Waterloo will allocate “bucket capacity” of water to area municipalities, with area municipalities having the primary role of committing water supply capacity to site-specific developments in their municipalities. 

Developed with input from the water capacity constraint working groups, new water supply capacity will be allocated to area municipalities proportionally based on forecasted population and employment growth within the Mannheim Service Area. 

Initially, the allocation will occur quarterly as new capacity is identified through the Interim Risk Management Framework and will shift to less frequent intervals as water supply capacity for each municipality becomes abundant enough to consistently exceed local demands.  

Community projects having a Region-wide impact will be identified by Region staff, in consultation with area municipalities, and brought forward to Regional Council who may consider reserving water capacity for these uses.  

The Region of Waterloo Water Supply Capacity Allocation Policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it is working as intended, and will be updated as needed to be efficient and streamlined. 

Building permit approvals continue where no additional water demand is required. Additionally, schools, child care and religious institutions are able to proceed and certain types of commercial and institutional development can proceed provided no additional demand is generated. 

In the majority of Cambridge and Wilmot (Baden, New Hamburg specifically) and all of North Dumfries, Wellesley, and other areas outside the Integrated Urban System, approvals continue as they have been.  

More information on the Water Supply Capacity Allocation Policy can be found at: 
www.regionofwaterloo.ca/watercapacity-development

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