The Capacity of and Constraints on Water and Wastewater Systems in the Greater Golden Horseshoe: Report on Phase I

This report contains the results of a feasibility study focusing on growth management in Ontario's Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) that was designed to answer two questions:

  • What data are available to assess the capacity of and constraints on existing and planned water and wastewater systems relative to the availability of fresh water and the assimilative capacity of the region's inland water systems?
  • Using the available data, what types of data products and tools can be developed to better inform the allocation of growth across the Greater Golden Horseshoe?

The feasibility study is intended to be part of a three-phase project. In Phase 2, researchers would integrate and analyze existing data on water and wastewater systems identified in Phase 1, as well as on environmental and financial constraints related to servicing growth, with the goal in Phase 3 of creating a decision-support tool to inform a more rational approach to allocating growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, particularly in communities that are not directly serviced by the Great Lakes. This report addresses Phase 1 only.

This research was supported by a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs. The views expressed in this publication are the views of The Neptis Foundation and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Ontario.