Region of Waterloo Chair talks looming water shortage

CTV’s Krista Simpson sits down with Region of Waterloo Chair Karen Redman to talk about what is being done to address a looming water shortage.

As the Region of Waterloo continues to stare down a potential water shortage, the regional chair said a lot of work is being done to address the capacity concerns, but solutions have to be sustainable.

“We’re not leaving any stone unturned, and all options are on the table, but they have to be safe,” Region of Waterloo Chair Karen Redman told CTV News during an interview on Thursday. “We realize that we have to protect the quality of water while moving ahead as quickly as possible. So it’s complicated.”

Redman’s comment came the day after a marathon council meeting on Wednesday where numerous representatives urged councillors to end a development freeze. The move was made after the issue in the Mannheim service area was identified in December.

“The urgency here cannot be overstated because we are already seeing capital leave the region,” Larry Masseo, policy advisor with the Waterloo Region Home Builders’ Association said. He warned that once investments leave, there are no guarantees they will come back.

• TIMELINE: Water capacity concerns in Waterloo Region

During the council meeting, regional staff laid out a proposed framework for short to medium-term solutions that could see development projects resume in September. Industry spokespeople said that date is too far in the future.

When councillors suggested changes to the framework put forward by staff, the Interim Commissioner of Water and Wastewater Services, Kenneth Brothers, spoke up.

“You’re putting yourself in a precarious situation of risk to the system, deferral of form ones and delay of development,” Brothers said.

“I can’t say this any more clearly to you as a professional, giving you professional advice from your staff.”

Finding balance

During an interview with CTV News on Thursday, Redman said council is facing the difficult task of balancing several interests when it comes to the water capacity issues.

“Any way forward is not without risk. So, the balance is, how do we move forward quickly by ensuring the quality of our water for citizens and for additional building?” she said.

She said the way forward must include work with municipal partners and water experts.

“This has to be research and expert-driven, data-based decisions,” Redman said. “It’s complicated and there are a lot of interests. We need to find that balance.”

In the meantime, the region has accelerated some projects that will add more clean water to the system and millions of dollars from the capital reserve fund have been spent to bring in expert help.

On Wednesday, councillors voted to ask the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) to conduct an independent review of the region’s capital plan and provide feedback.

Some councillors also worried that the region’s reputation has suffered due to the water problem. Redman said she hopes, in the long haul, people will judge the region based on how it navigated the issue.

“We have looked at a new way of measuring groundwater because 80 per cent of our potable water is groundwater. We know that we are very complicated. For the vast majority of our water system, it is integrated, but it’s not totally integrated. We have over 100 wells in the Mannheim service area,” Redman explained.

“We also have aging infrastructure. It’s been a bit of a perfect storm.”

When asked if the decision to freeze development was the right one, Redman said she feels encouraged that the building community is still engaged with the region.

“They haven’t lost interest. They continue to come to meetings where we ask for their, opinions, we ask them to help, problem solve. So, I would tell you that it’s been a really good process.”

Redman said the region is confident there will be a solution but cautioned it will take some time.

“There’s that expression if you want to go quickly, you go alone. If you want to go far, you take people with you. So, we’re looking at the long-term health of our water system and navigating solutions that are sustainable.”