For Immediate Release
2006-01-18
Cindie Ashton, Communications Officer, 546-4291, extension 3116 (cell 329-3462)
MEDIA ADVISORY: COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW TANK TOUR
Who: Kingston Mayor Harvey Rosen, Utilities Kingston President and CEO Jim Keech and staff will be onsite to take you inside the Combined Sewer Overflow tank and explain how this tank will significantly reduce the amount of untreated stormwater and wastewater released into the Cataraqui River during heavy rainfalls.
What: This is a very unique opportunity to go inside a newly constructed Combined Sewer Overflow tank before it is put into service.
When: Friday, January 20, 2006 at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Emma Martin Park, located at the corner of Cataraqui and Orchard streets. Meet at the east end of Cataraqui Street.
Media Note: It is mandatory that CSA approved footwear be worn at the facility. Hard hats will be available at the site.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In 1992, the City developed a comprehensive Pollution Control Plan to address water pollution issues and the capacity limitations of the sewage collection system.
The plan led to a long-term strategy for dealing with water pollution along the waterfront and recommended a number of infrastructure improvement projects. In 2000, the plan was reviewed for progress and reevaluated the current priorities, in particular, combined sewer overflows.
Many homes, in older parts of the City, are serviced by a combined storm and sanitary sewer system. These combined sewers transport both household wastewater and rainwater.
During heavy rainfalls these combined sewers can become overloaded causing backups into basements and in extreme cases forcing Utilities Kingston to release the untreated wastewater and stormwater into local waterways.
A number of combined sewer overflow tanks have been installed across the downtown in recent years at the bottom of West, Lower Union, Gore, Earl, William and Clarence streets. Construction of the final two underground tanks identified by the Pollution Control Plan, one in Emma Martin Park and the other near the King Street Water Facility, is nearly complete.
- The tanks store excess stormwater and wastewater when the combined sewer system becomes overloaded, decreasing the amount of untreated water released into local waterways.
- The Emma Martin Park tank has an approximate capacity of 12,000 cubic metres - or 120-150 swimming pools full of storm/wastewater.
- Work began on the Emma Martin Park CSO tank in October of 2004. The tank will be in service by late-March.
- The Combined Sewer Overflow tank was installed under Emma Martin Park at a cost of approximately $7.9 million.
In addition to the Collingwood/King and Emma Martin Park Combined Sewer Overflow tanks, there are a number of other projects within the Pollution Control Plan that Utilities Kingston is working on or has completed in order to reduce the amount of untreated water released into local waterways. All totaled these projects will cost approximately $150 million.
Recent related projects include:
- The Harbourfront Trunk Sewer twinning is complete and will increase the capacity to transport wastewater from the combined sewer system.
- Upgrades continue at the River Street Pumping Station to accept the increased capacity of the Harbourfront Trunk Sewer and to become the final connection to pump the sewage into the new sewer pipes placed beneath the Cataraqui River.
- Once the upgrades are completed at the River Street Pumping Station, the sewer pipe installed beneath the Cataraqui River will transport the wastewater to the Ravensview Water Pollution Control Plant. The pipe was installed in the summer of 2004.
- Upgrades at the Ravensview Water Pollution Control Plant will increase capacity, add a secondary treatment process, provide additional treatment equipment, and update the plant odour control and electronic systems.
- Upgrades at the O'Kill and Portsmouth Sewage Pumping Stations have modernized the facilities and increased their capacity.
- Later this year, upgrades at the North End Sewage Pumping Station will also modernize and increase capacity at this facility.
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