East Kingston Sewer Twinning

Utilities Kingston has initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study for the River Street Pump Station Twin Forcemain Extension and Ravensview Trunk Sewer Twinning. As this project may impact federal lands, the project team is working with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to ensure that screening requirements under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) are also met.

The Ravensview Trunk Sewer is a large gravity sewer main that represents a critical and essential link in the sanitary sewage collection system as it conveys all sewage from the Central and East portions of the City of Kingston to the Ravensview Wastewater Treatment Plant. As identified in the recently completed Sewage Infrastructure Master Plan for the City of Kingston Urban Area, the Ravensview Trunk Sanitary Sewer is deteriorating and requires remedial action, lacks redundancy and has poor access for maintenance. Consequently, the study will develop a strategy and confirm the preferred approach for providing continuous, safe and efficient sewage conveyance for this vital link.

The recently installed twinned section of the River Street Sanitary Sewer Forcemain (Cataraqui River crossing) currently terminates on the eastern shore of the Cataraqui River, after which it continues as a single forcemain. The study will assess options for completion of the twinning of the forcemain and rehabilitation or replacement of the remaining section of original single forcemain. Given the interconnected nature of the forcemain and the Ravensview Trunk sewer, the two infrastructure needs must be evaluated concurrently.

The study is being planned under Schedule B of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (October 2000, as amended in 2007). Phase 1 of this process involves identification of the problem or opportunity to be addressed by the project.

Phase 2 involves development of alternative solutions to address the problem or opportunity. The alternative solutions will be evaluated to identify a preferred solution that minimizes impacts on the natural and social/cultural environment while optimizing capital and operating investments.

Public and agency consultation is a key element of the Class EA process. Two Public Information Centres (PICs) will be held and project information will be available on Utilities Kingston website http://www.utilitieskingston.com.

A mailing list for notification of project activities and PICs is now being compiled. If you wish to receive notification of the Study activities, or if you have any questions regarding the study, please contact one of the people listed below or send an e-mail to SewerTwinning@UtilitiesKingston.com Comments are welcome at any time during the study.