Council approves short-term $15M plan to address water issue
Posted Feb 9, 2026 05:46:13 AM.
Last Updated Feb 9, 2026 10:40:41 AM.
A snap special council meeting on Friday approved $15 million from regional reserves to support a new water filtration system to help the region’s water capacity problem.
Councillors discussed the plan that would see an Oakville-based company create the system, with hopes the temporary containers will help pull more water, faster, while upgrades at the Mannheim Water Treatment Plant are underway.
Regional staff said the decision had to be made quickly, since the containers are in high demand.
Staff added one container up for grabs was already sold, and delaying a decision could mean waiting even longer.
Delays are the last thing councillors said they wanted when it comes to addressing the water supply issue, with development already on hold as a result.
Regional Chair Karen Redman has called the situation “one of the biggest challenges facing our region.”
“This pilot program shows that Council is moving as fast as we can on solutions that increase capacity, protect our communities, and support growth, while we work on longer-term repairs and infrastructure projects in partnership with our municipal and provincial partners,” added Redman.
The hope is to eventually have four of the massive containers installed and operational by July next year. By that time, staff hope the program will add up to 300 l/s of water to the Mannheim service area.
The first container will be brought in in the spring and installed by June.
In the meantime, addressing the water capacity concerns continues.
Acting CAO Mathieu Goetzke said staff will continue to evaluate all potential solutions and “create more capacity for future growth.”
