For Immediate Release
2004-10-22
For further information contact:
Jim Keech, President and CEO, Utilities Kingston, (613) 546-1181, ext. 2217
UTILITIES KINGSTON ASSURES
CUSTOMERS OVER QUALITY
OF DRINKING WATER
Utilities Kingston has received several inquires about the City's drinking water from residents who report being
approached by a door-to-door sales company which questions the quality of Kingston's water supply.
The company is reported to be selling home water filtration systems.
Utilities Kingston wants to assure its customers they can be confident in the City's water system - a system that serves
approximately 124,000 people who live, work and play in the City of Kingston each day.
There are a series of filtration, treatment, monitoring and backup systems in place to continually supply high quality
drinking water to every home within the urban area of Kingston.
Drinking water system reports, that detail how the systems operate, are submitted to the Provincial Ministry of
Environment each year. Ontario has one the strictest set of standards. Kingston continually meets and exceeds these
standards.
The reports are available to the public at City Hall, the 1425 Midland Avenue and 211 Counter Street municipal offices,
and online at www.utilitieskingston.com/waterquality.
The purchase of a home water filtration system, while not necessary for a safe supply of drinking water, remains the
choice of the homeowner.
Excerpt from the 2003 Annual Drinking Water Systems Report, Kingston East - Description of the Drinking Water System
Zebra Mussel Control - When the water temperature rises above 10 degrees C (above this temperature zebra mussels are
active), pre-chlorination takes place at the mouth of the intake. This protects the intake from becoming encrusted with
zebra mussels which would restrict the flow of water through the intake.
Pre-Chlorination - The purpose of chlorination is to provide disinfection. 12% Sodium Hypochlorite is applied to the raw
water in solution form.
Screening - A revolving screen in the suction well of the low lift building removes any large debris such as weeds, fish,
etc.
Low Lift Pumps - These pumps lift the water from lake level to the main plant. There are two headers from the low lift
building directing the water to the mixing tanks.
Coagulation/Flocculation - Aluminum Sulphate (alum) is added to the water as it leaves the low lift building at a rate
of 10 mg/l. Particles in the water are attracted to the alum.
Mixing Tanks - Water flows rapidly in these tanks in a spiral motion, allowing proper mixing of the chlorine and alum
with the water.
Settling Tanks - These are large tanks designed to reduce the velocity of the water allowing the heavier floc particles
to settle out. They also provide detention time, allowing the chlorine time to achieve disinfection.
Filters - Six Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) rapid sand filters remove the particles which did not settle out in the
settling tanks as well as compounds which cause tastes & odours. Water flows through the filters to a clean water
reservoir called the clearwell.
Backwashing - Filters are washed daily to remove any particulates they have collected over the previous 24 hrs. Cleaned
water from the clearwell is pumped backwards through the filter and the top layer of the filter is agitated during the
backwash by spraying water on to it to break up any large particles.
Post-Chlorination - Sodiume hypochlorite is added to the water as it enters the clearwell to provide a 'chlorine
residual' which remains throughout the distribution system. This ensures protection to the point of the customers tap.
Highlift Pumps - Five high lift pumps with capacities ranging from 19,500 to 45,500 m3/day pump treated water
from the clearwell into the distribution system.
Standby Equipment - Diesel driven pumps are maintained to provide a continuous supply of water during power failures.
These pumps provide enough capacity to meet fire-fighting requirements as well as normal flows during power outages. A
diesel generator provides electricity to run metering and lighting in the water plant.
Reservoir And Pumping Station - Located at third Ave, this reservoir has a capacity of 22,700 m3. Water is pumped into
this reservoir during the night and out of it during the day.
James Street Booster Station - This station pumps water into the distribution system east of the Cataraqui River.
Fluoride is added as a requirement of DND Kingston. As well, sodium hypochlorite is added to ensure adequate residuals
in this part of the system. The city east system has three elevated tanks for storage.
Elevated Tank - With a capacity of 3400 m3, the elevated tank's main purpose is to provide system pressure
and to act as a buffer to pressure fluctuations.
Distribution System - Approximately 80,000 people are supplied with water from the Kingston Central Water Treatment
Plant. There are approximately 250 km of water mains, and over 1200 fire hydrants in the system.
Excerpt from the 2003 Annual Drinking Water Systems Report, Kingston West - Description of the Drinking Water System
Zebra Mussel Control - When the water temperature rises above 10 degrees C (above this temperature zebra mussels are
active), pre-chlorination takes place at the mouth of the intake. This protects the intake from becoming encrusted with
zebra mussels which would restrict the flow of water through the intake.
Screening - A revolving screen and a coarse screen in the suction well of the low lift building removes any large debris
such as weeds, fish, etc.
Low Lift Pumps - These pumps lift the water from lake level to the main plant. There is one header from the low lift
building directing the water to the flocculation tanks.
Floc Tanks - Devices called flocculators agitate the water in these tanks allowing proper mixing of the chlorine and
Polyaluminum Chloride (PACl) with the water. The dirt particles in the water will join together with the PACl to form
larger particles called floc.
Filters - Three Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) rapid sand filters remove the floc particles formed in the floc tanks,
as well as compounds which cause tastes & odours. Water flows through the filters to a clean water reservoir called the
clearwell.
Backwashing - Filters are washed regularly to remove any particulates they have collected. The filter is air scoured to
break up any large particles, and clean water from the clearwell is pumped backwards through the filter to wash it.
Post-Chlorination - Chlorine gas is added to the water as it enters the clearwell to provide a 'chlorine residual' which
remains throughout the distribution system. This ensures protection to the point of the customers tap.
Highlift Pumps - Four high lift pumps move treated water from the clearwell into the distribution system, reservoir and
elevated tank.
Standby Equipment - Diesel driven pumps are maintained to provide a continuous supply of water during power failures.
These pumps provide enough capacity to meet fire-fighting requirements as well as normal flows during power outages. A
diesel generator provides electricity to run the necessary operational components of the water plant.
Reservoir - There is a reservoir at the plant site that holds approximately 14.0 million litres, and another located in
the Industrial Park storing approximately 9.0 million litres.
Elevated Tank - With a capacity of 1.0 million litres, the elevated tank's main purpose is to provide system pressure
and to act as a buffer to pressure fluctuations.
Distribution System - Approximately 44,000 people are supplied with water from the Kingston West Water Treatment Plant.
There are approximately 180 km of water mains, and over 1300 fire hydrants in the system.
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