Water

2018 Achievements

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What's the context? 
We've provided data on our achievements in 2018. If you're looking for additional context on how much overall infrastructure we maintain, check out our overview infographics.

Highlights

Internal Resources for Water Meter Replacement

In 2018, we continued to improve asset management of water meters as we replaced 2,627 out of approximately 38,621 water meters. This program will help us keep meters up-to-date to ensure accurate, reliable metering of the water consumed by our customers. 

After a successful three-year partnership with Neptune Technology Group, in 2018 our meter shop, joined by our services & gas operations group, brought the work to complete water meter changes back inside our organization. The team: back row, from left to right, Janet Stewart, Tammy Hood, Robin Hooper, Ryan Boehme, Richard Rodrigue, Ben Solc and Tim Armstrong; front row, from left to right, Carl Dooher and Bill Young.

Ensuring Reliable Water Distribution and Fire Protection

3,329

 Fire Hydrants Inspected

Out of 3,456

 684

Fire Hydrants
Flow Rated

In 2018, there was a focus on water distribution system maintenance that included valve operation and maintenance, hydrant inspection and maintenance, and water service renewal.

To help support fire protection, a particular focus was placed on inspecting and flow rating fire hydrants. We inspected all fire hydrants, except those that were inaccessible, for example, due to construction. 

The 2018 program employed four summer students, who are provided with the required skills, training and certification, further developing youth employment in Kingston. Pictured is Hayden Hulton.

Infrastructure Upgrades

Tower Street Water Tower

In 2017, we completed an engineering condition assessment on this 60-year-old critical drinking water infrastructure, located on Tower Street.  This included a thorough review of structural elements, current code compliance, foundations, and coatings. In general, the tower was found to be in good condition and structurally sound. In order to protect the steel from corroding and extend the life of the infrastructure, we identified the need to remove and replace the exterior paint.

With the exception of touch-ups, concrete repair and restoration, the work to paint the Tower Street Water Tower was completed in 2018. The tower has been refilled and is back in full operation.

The contractor erected a containment system and used sandblasting to safely remove the exterior paint on the oldest municipal water tower in Kingston, before applying five coats (total) of zinc, epoxy, white urethane and high gloss urethane.

Before and after photos of the work. Fun facts: The tower holds 3,400 cubic metres of water. Approximately 65 thousand linear feet of vertical standards, horizontal ledgers and diagonal braces were used to erect the scaffolding.

Upgrades Complete: James Street Water Booster Station

The $5.1 million upgrades to the James Street Water Booster Station were completed in 2018 and will accommodate 20-year population growth projections.

This booster station conveys water to the system east of the Cataraqui River and is located in the Barriefield Heritage Conservation District. The upgrades were needed to replace ageing infrastructure and ensure adequate supply of water for the East Water System.

Included in the work are a building extension to house new pumps, electrical equipment and other associated infrastructure. Minor alterations were made to the underground infrastructure outside the building, along with a new standby power generator to ensure continued reliability of the water supply in the event of a power outage. 

New Water Main for King Street 

The seven inch (yes that is an oddball size), 340 metre cast iron water main on King Street, from Emily to West, was originally installed in 1895 and had certainly reached the end of its useful life.  To help ensure reliable water service (including for fire protection), this water main was replaced in 2018.  We thank the citizens of Kingston for your cooperation, as this work took place in a particularly busy area. 

Environment: Trunk Water Main Install

A number of new trunk water mains where identified in the Water Master Plan.  With funding from both the federal and provincial governments,  Utilities Kingston moved several of these installations forward,  including a 600 mm main on Taylor Kidd Boulevard, from Bayridge easterly to just short of Old Colony. 

In 2018, the connection was completed through to the Blackburn Mews area, involving an innovative approach using directional drilling equipment. This allowed us to extend the main under a branch of the Cataraqui Creek without disrupting flows, or otherwise creating environmental impact.

Regulation and Legislation

Annual Reports on Drinking Water Quality

Utilities Kingston released the 2018 annual reports on drinking water quality in accordance with Section 11 of Ontario Regulation 170/03. Annual reports outline water quality status at the three water treatment facilities and the water distribution systems operated by Utilities Kingston.

In 2018, we received a 100 per cent rating from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks on our drinking water inspection, which confirms we are meeting the water quality standards. 

Our activities to ensure water quality included the following: 

Cross Connection Control

As of 2018, Utilities Kingston monitors the annual testing and maintenance of nearly 3,500 approved backflow prevention devices, up from 3,000 devices in 2017. These devices are mostly for premises isolation, and some internal protection and residential irrigation. In 2018, 503 new devices were installed in industrial, commercial, institutional (ICI) and multi-residential buildings.

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Community Lead Testing Volunteers

Help safeguard our water, from source to tap

Protecting our drinking water is a shared responsibility. Thank you to our customers who volunteer in the community lead testing program and help keep drinking water safe and clean.

Under the Provincial Regulation 170/03 (Safe Drinking Water Act), the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change requires owners of municipal residential drinking water systems to conduct lead testing of water taken from both plumbing (pipes inside the home or building) and distribution locations (pipes leading to the home or building). The municipality has been regulated to conduct lead testing over the past decade. During this time, Utilities Kingston has typically not found any issues with elevated lead levels in drinking water.

Full Scope Accreditation

In 2018, the required internal auditing process was completed with one minor non-conformance identified. It related to changes to the organizational structure as outlined in our Operational Plan, which is being updated. 

In 2011, we received full scope accreditation for a successful Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS). The issuance of the certificates of accreditation is the final step in meeting the initial requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The accreditation process is ongoing and requires yearly audits that demonstrate continuous diligence in continuous improvement in water treatment and supply.

This accreditation demonstrates that Kingston’s water treatment and distribution systems meet the requirements set out in provincial quality water management legislation. It is a testament to our commitment to water quality and the provision of safe and reliable water to our customers.

Annual Inspections

In 2018, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change completed annual inspections of all the water treatment systems operated by Utilities Kingston. For 2018, we received a 100 per cent rating for meeting the safety, operational, and compliance requirements under Ontario’s drinking water regulations.

Water by the Numbers

Financials

Check out our webpage on conservation to learn about our customers’ accomplishments in saving water.