Waterloo Region – Using a revised methodology to calculate remaining water supply capacity for development and protecting operational sustainability, the Region has confirmed a constraint in the Mannheim Service Area. This revised methodology is better suited to a groundwater-based system and more accurately reflects the actual capacity available in the Region’s water system today.

Through on-going work and updates to the Water Supply Strategy, Regional staff identified a water capacity constraint in the service area which supplies water to Kitchener, Waterloo, and parts of Cambridge, Woolwich, and Wilmot. A third-party peer review has verified the Region’s technical findings and change in methodology used to assess capacity for future developments in Waterloo Region.

A combination of factors are impacting water supply capacity, including increasing frequency and duration of infrastructure shutdowns, a shift to increasing year over year water demand, plateauing of conservation efforts, and others.

A sustainable water supply system requires producing enough water to meet current demand and future growth, and having a capacity buffer for periodic repairs, maintenance and emergencies.

The Region of Waterloo is working with partners to identify priority projects, available funding, and ways to streamline approval processes to support new water infrastructure.

New infrastructure will be required for the Region to be able to support the approval of development applications or enter into any new service agreements that create additional demand on the Mannheim Service Area water system.

“We thank our area municipal partners and the development industry for their patience and collaboration during this time,” said Mathieu Goetzke, Acting CAO. “We understand there are unknown impacts on future development, we are working expeditiously towards short and long-term solutions to ensure a safe and sustainable water supply as we grow.” 

This remains strictly a quantity challenge within the Mannheim Service Area and does not affect drinking water quality. There are no immediate impacts on residents, and no need to change water consumption habits.

Information will continue to be provided as it becomes available. Residents can visit the Water Capacity Information Hub for the most up-to-date information.

The full report for January 13, 2025 can be found on our website.

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