By Ruby Pratka
Local Journalism Initiative
Town officials in Waterloo say the municipality’s current water network is sufficient to respond to growing demand “without major investments in the medium term” but current water resources won’t last forever. According to studies commissioned by the town, the water treatment plant could reach capacity within a five to 11-year horizon, assuming a construction rate of 150 new housing units per year.
In February, the municipality mandated engineering firm Tetra Tech to evaluate the capacity of its drinking water and water treatment systems. Currently, 5,333 people are connected to the water network. Studies presented at a public meeting on Dec. 3 indicate that the town’s water filtration plant, built in 2001, and the three underground wells and two reservoirs that supply it can serve more than 960 additional homes – just over 2,000 people. The sewage treatment facility on Rue Allen should be able to safely handle waste from 1,365 homes. Town officials had hoped the facilities could serve 2,738 additional homes.
“Although the facilities are adequate for the current population, significant upgrades will be necessary to meet future needs. Given that the [water treatment plant’s] production capacity limit will be reached within five to 11 years and that this horizon could be shorter if some of the assumptions made prove more restrictive, it is recommended that the city conduct a feasibility study to determine the work required to meet future demand for drinking water production,” the author of the two studies, engineer Philippe Chouinard, warned.
Mayor Jean-Marie Lachapelle presented the findings in a positive light at the Dec. 3 meeting. “Water is an essential and precious resource in a context of growth like that of Waterloo. It is crucial to understand exactly where our limits are,” he said, adding that the town needed a “clear picture of the water situation” as it began work on its next urban plan. “The goal of the analysis was to determine how many residents our current infrastructures could serve while maintaining water quality. The studies confirm that the town has enough water for its current needs, and we have significant room to manoeuvre to welcome new residents.”
Director general Louis Verhoef presented the data from the two studies, explaining the processes in place to aerate, filter and disinfect the town’s drinking water. He noted that consumption had gone down by 28 per cent since 2009 despite the rising population, due to the patching of leaks, replacement of outdated equipment and changes in residents’ water use habits. He estimated that the plant was functioning at 66 per cent of its current capacity. “For the moment, neither the drinking water nor the sewage plant is an obstacle for our development,” he said.
Verhoef said the municipality planned to install a backup manganese filter in the water treatment plant and continue proactively testing water for PFAS (the “forever chemicals” found in some fire retardants) in response to public concern and strengthening provincial norms. Upgrades to the system will be funded in part by a “development fee” which companies or people requesting building permits for new builds will have to pay starting in 2025.
He added that the town had not made a decision on whether to reintroduce a proposed water counter requirement for residences, which was scrapped amid a public outcry this summer. “That will eventually be a question for council,” he said.