This week, Utilities Kingston and its contractor G-TEL Engineering will conduct the annual natural gas leak detection program.

The proactive 2015 survey will include inspecting approximately 3,000 gas services and 70 kilometres of gas mains in Areas 1 and 3, as well as all high pressure lines. This area includes the downtown core through to Portsmouth. Our contractor, G-TEL Engineering will survey gas mains and service pipes to check for any leaks. The surveyors do not enter buildings but do walk up the lawn following the gas pipe to the customer’s meter.

Please ensure your gas meters are accessible and clear so we can complete this safety inspection. Thanks for helping!

Natural gas is a safe fuel

Utilities Kingston has been providing safe and reliable gas services since 1847, when it was originally founded as the Kingston Gas and Light Company. The employees of Utilities Kingston are committed to ensuring the safety and integrity of our natural gas distribution system. Our construction and maintenance programs exceed those of set government standards.

Safety programs include:

• Annual gas leak survey for proactive leak detection. For this purpose, our gas service area is divided into six geographical areas. Area 1 (downtown) is tested annually, as are the two main gas feeds to our service area. Areas 2-5 are rotated on an annual basis. Within a five-year period, the service area is tested in its entirety.
• Corrosion control to protect underground pipelines by applying external coatings, supplemented with cathodic protection – a technique that uses a sacrificial metal that will corrode instead.
• Inspection of all new gas services to ensure all customer equipment and appliances have been installed by a TSSA certified fitter.
• Valve maintenance program so that valves are accessible and operable when needed to isolate a section of gas pipe.

 More information is available at our page Natural Gas is a Safe Fuel.