Waterloo Regional councillors review water capacity solutions for Mannheim Service Area

Mannheim Reservoir and Pumping Station in Kitchener on Dec. 4, 2025. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)

The Region of Waterloo says it is taking immediate steps to address a future water capacity crisis.

At a meeting on Wednesday night, councillors reviewed preliminary options for the Mannheim Service Area, which covers most of Kitchener, Waterloo, Woolwich Township and parts of Wilmot Township.

They included:

• 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

The region released a report in December which identified a potential water capacity problem during a review of its supply strategy. Specifically, they noted the Mannheim Service Area did not have enough water to support the community’s predicted population of one million residents by 2051. There were no concerns about supplying current residents.

Officials also explained they would no longer recommend approvals on new developments projects within Mannheim Service Area until a plan had been put forward.

“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,” the region wrote in a media release.

On Wednesday, council reviewed their options.

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

Officials also said they were pursuing various paths to address the issue.

“In addition to the preliminary solutions, the region is accelerating repair and maintenance work, and major infrastructure investments,” they wrote in the release. “The region is also seeking provincial support to fast-track environmental assessments, permits and design reviews.”

More to come.