For Immediate Release
2001-09-21
For further information contact:
Mayor Isabel Turner, 546-4291 ext. 1400
Paul MacLatchy, Manager, Environment Division, 384-1770 ext. 134
Jim Keech, President, Utilities Kingston, 546-1181 ext. 2226
UPDATE ON SANITARY WASTE
BEING DIVERTED TO STORM SEWER:
ANONYMOUS TIP LEADS
WORKERS TO PROBLEM
As a result of a tip that was received by the Ministry of Environment on Thursday, September 20, the City of Kingston has found a “serious blockage at a
previously unidentified overflow point” that resulted in diversion of sanitary waste to the storm system.
In response to the tip, Utilities Kingston workers undertook a dye test to determine where sanitary sewage was flowing.
While the property under investigation was found to be correctly hooked up, a blockage in the sanitary sewage system was
detected a few blocks downstream as workers traced the trail of the dye through the sanitary and storm systems.
The blockage was successfully removed late yesterday afternoon and the system function has been significantly improved.
According to Utilities Kingston officials, the overflow structure was not recorded anywhere, and it could have taken several
more days of manhole-to-manhole testing to find that overflow without the lucky tip.
In an interview taped for First Capital News earlier Friday morning, Utilities Kingston's Jim Keech and City manager of
environment Paul MacLatchy updated Mayor Turner on the pollution control action plan, in effect since 1992, that addresses
ongoing concerns about water pollution along Lake Ontario.
According to Keech, 60 per cent of the pollution control plan has been implemented.
The following provides a summary of the City's Pollution Control Action Plan.
Sewer Capacity Upgrades
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King St. W. from Country Club Rd. to Portsmouth Pumping Station
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King St. W. from Centre Street to Beverly Street
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Collingwood Street – upstream of trunk
Pumping Station Capacity Upgrades
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Portsmouth station increased capacity (26,800 to 47,500 cubic metres per day
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O’Kill pumping station increased capacity (50,000 to 62,200 metres per day
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North End pumping station design underway
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River Street pumping station preliminary design underway
Sewer Replacement and Local Separation
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22 of 31 projects identified have been completed
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Ongoing annual reconstruction projects including separation of combined sewers
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Cataraqui River Crossing capacity increase - preliminary design underway
Combined Sewer Overflow Control Measures
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11 of 15 projects completed
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Review effects of Portsmouth pumping station improvements
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Harbour Front Trunk Sewer overflow control project draft RFP complete
Storm Sewer Outfalls
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Year 2000 Pollution Control Plan update, with implementation of inspections, sampling and monitoring by Environment division.
The candid interview regarding Kingston’s aging infrastructure and pollution control action plans can be seen on Tuesday,
September 25, at 7:00 p.m. on First Capital News.
The interview features Mayor Isabel Turner in conversation with Utilities Kingston’s Jim Keech, Manager of Environment
division Paul MacLatchy and Dave Vivian, a sub foreman with Utilities Kingston.
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