Clancy requests moratorium on water-taking permits in Waterloo

March 5, 2026

KITCHENER — Aislinn Clancy has written to the Minister of the Environment requesting a moratorium on industrial and commercial water-taking permits in the Waterloo Region.

“Our region depends heavily on groundwater,” the letter reads. “About 80 per cent of our water used in our homes, schools, businesses and industries comes from underground sources. These aquifers are the backbone of our daily life and local economy, but right now, they are under pressure.”

Waterloo Region has formally declared a water capacity issue and implemented a development freeze within the Mannheim Service Area, which covers most of Kitchener, Waterloo and Woolwich Township, as well as parts of Cambridge and Wilmot Township. New development has been paused. Despite the strain on the system and the Region’s response, provincial water-taking permits that would service industrial operations like gravel mining have not been paused.

“Approving industrial and commercial water-taking permits would put further strain on an already-stressed water system,” said Clancy. “The Ministry should support these local efforts by placing a temporary moratorium on industrial and commercial water-taking permits in the Region, and re-evaluate any Category Three applications that could risk contamination of the drinking water supply.”

“Our region needs provincial leadership to guide demand management of our water to prevent decisions that risk negative impacts on residents, farms, industry and our construction sector now and in the future.”

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