Will groundwater and water from the Grand River be enough to sustain Waterloo region's growth through 2051?
That's the main question on the minds of the region's water and wastewater department as staff begins the public engagement portion of a three-year Water Supply Strategy aimed at ensuring the region has a safe, secure and sustainable water supply through 2051 when the region's population is expected to reach one million.
Threats to the region's drinking water supply as the population grows include road salt use and increased demand straining the system, which includes 80 groundwater wells and a limited supply from the Grand River.
The Water Supply Strategy update will build on previous master plans and will review current water supply sources, assess future water demands, and investigate possible new water sources to accommodate the region’s population and employment growth projections to 2051.
The project will consider a range of technical, environmental, social, and economic factors to evaluate potential options and identify a preferred approach for an updated strategy.
The first virtual public meeting on the strategy is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
The meeting will include project background information and a discussion of the rollout of the Water Supply Strategy Update.
Members of the public are encouraged to share ideas, concerns and what they think is important for to consider throughout this project.
The feedback the region receives, along with the technical studies and advice from experts in the field, will help us make decisions as we develop the strategy.
Anyone interested in attending is asked to register for the meeting in advance to receive the Zoom meeting link.
