The Wilmot Civic Action Network (WCAN) and other local advocates are warning residents in New Hamburg, Ontario, that a proposed large industrial “mega-site” could threaten local groundwater and municipal supplies. WCAN and social media posts flagged drilling and survey activity near municipal wells on Feb. 2–3, 2026, prompting the alert from community groups.
The concern centers on a 770‑acre land assembly in Wilmot Township between New Hamburg and Baden that the Region of Waterloo and the Province of Ontario assembled for a high‑impact industrial use. The site sits over and adjacent to the Waterloo Moraine, a key regional groundwater recharge and filtration feature, and advocates say a high‑water user could stress the connected aquifer system serving nearby communities.
WCAN and allied groups say a major industrial tenant could require permits to take water that amount to millions of litres per day, potentially forcing the community to absorb costly new infrastructure or conservation measures to accommodate the user. Fight for Farmland and other local groups have warned that paving the land would greatly reduce its ability to recharge the aquifer.
Those warnings come against a backdrop of documented regional water capacity limits. Reporting and regional notices in 2023–24 flagged capacity issues in the Mannheim Service Area, which led the Region to pause some new development approvals while reviewing supply constraints—raising questions about how the system would accommodate a large new industrial water user.
The Region of Waterloo and provincial supporters have said the land assembly is intended to attract investment and jobs; Regional Chair Karen Redman has previously defended the approach as necessary for economic growth. Residents and advocacy groups are calling for transparent, public information on any prospective tenant’s expected water use, the results of environmental and hydrogeological studies, and the safeguards that would be put in place to protect local drinking water.
Contacted groups and reporting consulted for this item include the Wilmot Civic Action Network, Fight for Farmland, Region of Waterloo statements and recent reporting by Global News and The Record.
