Cambridge Council approves Water Allocation Policy to support housing and growth

Cambridge remains open for business, and the Region of Waterloo's water allocation framework further supports the City's growth and development objectives by providing greater clarity, predictability, and a clear path forward for how available water capacity will be allocated to support housing, employment, and investment opportunities within the Mannheim service area.

The City of Cambridge has been working closely with the Region of Waterloo and area municipal partners to establish a clear and consistent approach to managing available water capacity while continuing to support growth across the community. The proposed Water Allocation Policy will provide a transparent process on how water capacity is allocated and prioritized among development projects, ensuring decisions are based on community benefit and long-term planning objectives.

"Cambridge remains committed to supporting housing construction, economic investment, and sustainable growth," said Mayor Jan Liggett. "Developing a clear and transparent water allocation framework will help ensure that limited water capacity is managed responsibly while prioritizing projects that best meet the needs of our community. This approach will inform decision-making and help us continue supporting residential and commercial/industrial uses, building a vibrant and growing city." 

The framework will consider several factors, including community need, infrastructure capacity, environmental considerations, and project readiness, to support fair, efficient, and consistent decision-making. The City continues to process and review development applications so projects can be positioned to move forward as water capacity becomes available.

As a result of Council discussion, the proposed Water Allocation Bylaw was amended to include: a quarterly report from staff regarding the volume and progress of applications and any changes to water capacity, notice to Council of development applications that have existing valid service approvals or municipal commitments, lower priority for high water users, and a six month report back to Council offering a fulsome review of the program.  Council retains the authority to make updates to the Water Allocation Policy as appropriate.

Further information regarding water allocation and growth management initiatives is available through both the City of Cambridge and the Region of Waterloo websites. The finalized policy was approved by Cambridge City Council during the July 21 meeting.  More information can be found here.