Some areas of the Grand River watershed are more likely to experience low water conditions or to be more seriously affected by dry weather.
This can be a result of the geography of the area or the demands on the water source by water users such as farm irrigators, municipalities, commercial operations and others.
This portion of the Grand River goes from Shand Dam (Belwood Lake) to Brantford. It includes parts of Wellington County, Waterloo Region and Brant County. This is the most heavily populated part of the watershed and water demand is high. There are two drinking water intakes (Waterloo Region and Brantford) and many wastewater treatment plants. Water is released from our reservoirs to maintain minimum flows during the summer and fall.
Water levels in the Upper Speed River are naturally low in the summer because it depends on rainfall for much of its flow. Flows are more consistent in the Eramosa River, which is fed, in part, by groundwater springs and seeps. The City of Guelph sometimes takes water from the Eramosa River to supplement its municipal drinking water supplies. The Speed River also receives effluent from wastewater treatment plants in Guelph and Cambridge. Water from Guelph Lake augments natural flows during the summer and fall.
The Nith River drains the western part of the Grand River watershed in Waterloo Region as well as Brant and Oxford counties. In the northern part of the river, water runs off the land quickly so flows can rise and fall quickly. Demand for water is high in the southern part of the river where farm irrigation is common.
Mill Creek begins south of Guelph and flows through Cambridge to the Grand River. Demand for water from groundwater is high because of municipal wells, aggregate pits and other commercial and industrial operations.
McKenzie Creek and its tributary, Boston Creek, drain parts of Brant County, Six Nations Territory and Haldimand County before flowing into the Grand River at York. The area is primarily rural and demand for water for irrigation is high.
Whitemans Creek and its tributaries, Horner and Kenny creeks, drain parts of Oxford and Brant counties. Soils are sandy so there is a high demand for water for farm irrigation. Low water conditions can have a significant impact on the health of fish and other aquatic organisms.
Two special studies focused on agricultural water use and provided advice on steps farmers can take to manage water use and reduce demands on the streams and groundwater system.
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