2021 Achievements

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What's the context? 
We've provided data on our achievements in 2021. If you're looking for additional context on how much overall infrastructure we maintain, check out our overview infographics.

Improving Community Infrastructure: Major Facilities Upgrades

Cataraqui Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant: Meeting Growth Demands

In 2016, we embarked on a necessary project to expand and upgrade the Cataraqui Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant. This project will help to increase plant capacity, improve the quality of treated wastewater, and upgrade equipment to increase the plant’s capacity from 38,800 to 55,000 cubic metres per day, to meet the demands of projected population growth.

In 2020, Utilities Kingston adopted the role of General Contractor for this work. Our employees are committed to the successful and safe completion of these upgrades, while reducing disruption to our customers and nearby residents.

Highlights in 2021: 

• Constructed new headworks building (Phase 2), including new grit classifiers, process air blowers, and odour control unit.
• Reconstructed Primary Clarifiers 1 and 2, meeting the project milestone of all plant flow through the four newly reconstructed primary clarifiers and the new biological aerated filter facility. 
• Reconstructed the existing chlorine contact tank to increase plant disinfection capacity.
• Upgraded mechanical and electrical components, including ductwork, cable trays, heating systems, process piping, and new power and control systems. 
• Completed a successful ferric chloride coagulation pilot project to manage hydrogen sulfide production generated in the process of wastewater treatment. 
• Site-wide architectural improvements including new roofing, siding, doors and building finishes.

Days Road Sewage Pumping Station: Ensuring Service Reliability

In March, Utilities Kingston and our contractor Peak Construction began construction at the Days Road Sewage Pumping Station. This project will continue until 2023.

Focus in 2021 was on excavating the new wet wells and pumping facility, along with pouring  concrete for foundations and tankage.  Additionally, the new electrical building was completed, temporarily supplying power to keep the existing pumping station running and ensuring the continued reliability of services.  

Days Road is a critical facility, conveying roughly 90 per cent of the sewage generated within the western portion of the City of Kingston. Many station components are reaching the end of their expected service life and need to be replaced to ensure continued reliable service.  Additionally, the capacity of the station will be increased to accommodate future growth and development within the service area.

Improving Community Infrastructure: Linear Upgrades

Sea Wall Rehabilitation

One of the City’s key trunk sewers travels along the shoreline between Emily Street and Maitland Street in downtown Kingston, conveying sewage from approximately one-third of the population of the old city.  It is protected from rising lake levels and storm surges by a concrete sea wall through this area, that was originally built in the early 1950’s. After many years, the wall had been extensively damaged by ice and erosion and needed repair.  Through the Government of Canada Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, Utilities Kingston coordinated this work with shoreline and beach improvements being completed by the City of Kingston. The wall was completely rehabilitated and structurally reinforced while maintaining its symbiotic relationship with the adjacent recreational waterfront.

Upgrades to Portsmouth Sewage Pumping Station and Front Road Water Main

Utilities Kingston is embarking on a multi-year project to redirect the flow of sewage from the Portsmouth Sewage Pumping Station and interconnect the Front Road watermain. 

In 2021, the two vertical access shafts and deep tunnel portion of the project (under the CN Rail spur line and the Cataraqui Creek) were completed.

Project benefits:

• more efficient operation of the municipal wastewater treatment system by reducing the distance sewage travels by over eight kilometres.
• energy savings, by reducing the number of times sewage is pumped from three times to only once.
• reduced combined sewer overflows in the system in downtown Kingston.
• additional capacity to help facilitate intensification and development in City Central.
• improve operational flexibility and system performance of the water distribution system.

Water and Sewer Work on Johnson Street Ensures Safety and Reliability

 The City of Kingston and Utilities Kingston are improving the road, and water and sewer utilities in the area of Johnson Street. In 2021, the portion from MacDonnell Street to Palace Rd was completed. This work is needed to replace aging and end-of-life infrastructure to ensure the continued safety and reliability of water and sewer services. It involves reconstructing water main and sanitary sewers throughout the entire area.

Preventative Plumbing Program

For the tenth year, Utilities Kingston offered the Preventative Plumbing Program to customers, helping to reduce the risk of sewage back-ups and basement flooding in neighbourhoods. Since the program began in 2012, $4.2 million in financial assistance has helped 2,293 Kingston homeowners, including with the removal of 251 illegal connections to the sanitary sewer.

Over the last decade, the program has built trust, reputation and an increased awareness, which is reflected in its uptake. In 2020, the program helped 195 home owners, reduced from previous years due to the health and safety concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic. An amount of $440,904 was invested to assist home owners through this program.

Here are our 2021 program results: 

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Sampling Wastewater for Sewer Surveillance

In 2020, we partnered with KFL&A Public Health and Queen's University to help make Kingston's sewer surveillance dashboard available online in 2021. This partnership provides for trends of infection and early detection, giving even earlier warnings of increased virus risk in Kingston.

Our treatment operators sample wastewater at Cataraqui Bay and Ravensview Wastewater Treatment Plants, and in 2021 the sampling frequency was increased from three times per week to daily. We are excited to play this essential part in advancing the science of sewer surveillance for early detection of the COVID-19 virus in Kingston.

Wastewater by the Numbers

Financials