Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The Region of Waterloo has approved a new water supply capacity allocation policy in order to to transfer water supply capacity to area municipalities in the Mannheim Service Area.
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, a Region of Waterloo release said.
New water supply capacity will be allocated to area municipalities proportionally based on forecasted population and employment growth within the Mannheim Service Area, it added.
Initial allocation will occur on a quarterly basis 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, the release said.
Building permit approvals continue where no additional water demand is required and schools, child care and religious institutions can proceed. 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,” the release said.
More information on the Water Supply Capacity Allocation Policy can be found at:
