If the importance of a project to a community can be determined by the number of people on hand for a ribbon cutting, then you’d have to agree that bringing Wellfield number eight online was a major step forward for the Township of North Dundas. Tinkess Photo

WINCHESTER – The newest water source for the Township of North Dundas is now operational. Well field #8, located North of Winchester on Lafleur Road is now providing the Township with an additional 20 litres/second, which will provide capacity to sustain the current water demand while also helping to service the Township’s requirements for future growth. The Township continues to work with hydrogeologists, Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), and community partners to ensure adequate water is supplied to the system at all times.

This project was partially funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, a joint federal and provincial government grant with the federal government contributing $1.9 million dollars and the province contributing $1.6 million dollars toward the project. The remainder of the funding will continue to be raised through water rates, and future capital connection charges within the Villages of Winchester and Chesterville.

The official ribbon cutting for the new facility took place on Mon., May 11, 2026, with members of Council, North Dundas administration and the various partners who played a role in seeing the project to its successful completion on hand for the event.

Mayor Tony Fraser highlighted the opportunity that this added capacity brings to North Dundas. “This will allow the developers to do what they wanted to do in North Dundas,” said Mayor Fraser. “They’ve been clamouring, knocking at our door for years waiting for this to happen. The extra units of water that can be available for development is certainly encouraging.”

Nicholas Bray, President of Louis W. Bray Construction, who have been instrumental in several projects in North Dundas spoke of the feeling of déjà vu he felt.

“We did this in Chesterville, what, two years ago,” queried Bray.  “Same design team, same contractors, same team from Aqua, North Dundas. It’s always a joy to come support your guys’ projects and get them across the finish line.

“I will say, sometimes these projects feel a little, these ribbon cuttings feel almost underwhelming, because so much of the stuff is underground, and the effort that goes on underground,” continued Bray. “It’s a joy to be working with everybody. We’re very much aware of the constraints you guys have and trying to keep up with the growth demands in the area, and we try to do what we can to keep you guys on schedule with what you need to deliver, to keep residents and potential residents happy. I have nothing but good things to say about working with you guys.”

Danielle Ward, Director of Environmental Services with the Township of North Dundas spoke of the partnership the Township has formed with the team that helped bring this project to completion. “I want to thank Council for their support for this project and making sure we had enough funds to do the work,” said Ward. “Obviously, Bray has been with us for a few projects now, helping us to get to where we need to be.

“I also want to say thank you to Aqua for always being dragged into all our projects but making sure they get across the finish line and making sure they operate well. So, thank you to the whole project team, and we’re happy to add this to our operating capacity. So excited to get more houses built to pay for it.”

In 2020, The Township of North Dundas initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) to assess the current and future requirements of the North Dundas Drinking Water Supply System over the next 20 years.

The EA examined the reliability and redundancy of the communal water system, and the anticipated demand increase due to planned residential expansions and growing industrial needs in Winchester and Chesterville.

Following a Public Information Centre (PIC) on Dec. 15, 2022, the preferred servicing alternative was confirmed to be the installation of a new groundwater well on Lafleur Road, as well as seeking supplemental water sources. These sources include continuing investigations for additional well sites, and consideration to connect to the South Dundas Drinking Water system through a watermain along County Road 31.

To put things into context, From the centre of Winchester (the Ontario Provincial Police detachment) to the well site on Lafleur Road is approximately 11 kms. The distance from the shores of the St. Lawrence River in South Dundas that same point in Winchester is 24 kms.

As much as this is good news for developers looking to North Dundas for a place to grow, Mayor Fraser wanted to accentuate that this is also good news for the people and businesses who already call North Dundas home.

“We need to get the message out there because there’s too many people who haven’t heard the message that we are anticipating the water,” said Mayor Fraser. “They haven’t heard the message that it’s officially in the system, and growth for the next number of years, is going to be looked after.

“We do have other projects in the background that are going on, larger projects. We see that we’re going north by Nash. We anticipate that growth in North Dundas will really, really increase. The demands will increase as the pressures in the city of Ottawa become greater for growth. The next project will be considerably larger than this, but this is the necessary one to get us to the next large project.”

With its proximity to the City of Ottawa, Winchester and its small-town lifestyle have already attracted the attention of developers, the obstruction to growth being the capacity of its water system. With the addition of Wellfield Eight, that obstruction has been mitigated in the short term, giving the community the time it needs to continue to investigate a long-term solution.