The Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (“Class EA”) process is approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act and allows municipalities to follow a Class EA process when undertaking municipal infrastructure projects. The Portsmouth Pumping Station Flow Direction project is being carried out as a Schedule B undertaking. The purpose of the Class EA screening process is to identify any potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed works and to plan for appropriate impact mitigation. This process includes consultation with the public, stakeholders and review agencies.

In 2013, Genivar (now WSP Canada Inc.) was retained by Utilities Kingston for completion of the Environmental Assessment, Detailed Design, Construction Administration and Commissioning for both the Portsmouth Pump Station Flow Redirection and the Front Road Watermain Interconnection.

The Environmental Assessment is now complete, please see the  links to the report in the table below.  The following summarizes the findings of the Environmental Assessment:

1. The preferred alternative for sustainable servicing is to redirect sewage from the Portsmouth Pumping Station westerly to the Cataraqui Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant. This will allow for additional intenstification within Central Kingston as well as a reduction in bypass volumes along the Harbourfront Trunk Sewer.
2. The new sewage forcemain (from the Portsmouth Pumping Station to the Cataraqui Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant) will be constructed at the same time as the large diameter trunk watermain interconnection. Sizes are to be confirmed during design.
3. The alignment of the forcemain is predominantly with the municipal road right-of-way along King St West and Front Road. A variation from this is recommended in the area of Portsmouth Village where the alignment will deviate northerly along Union to Kennedy and along Kennedy to Aberdeen Park where the pipe will connect with the Pump Station.

See map in side bar.

Click to see a larger map of the preferred sanitary forcemain alignment.

1. The recommended pipe work will be constructed mostly by traditional open-cut methods except in the vicinity of the Little Cataraqui Creek and CNR spur line to Invista, where tunneling will be used to minimize impacts of construction.7

The Environmental Assessment File Report can be found using the links below. 

Detailed design of the Portsmouth Pump Station Facility will be scheduled for completion in 2022/2023 following completion of the Cataraqui Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades project.

The Linear works have been phased with the initial Phase 1, generally described as the "Cataraqui Bay WWTP Servicing - Easement", constructed in 2018.

Update on Phase 2A - November 13, 2024

The second phase of the Linear works has been split into 2 parts with the recommencement of Phase 2A, recently awarded to Gordon Barr Ltd., in November 2024.  This contract will complete the works previously awarded to EBC Inc. in 2021.   Phase 2A includes the installation of the new 1050mm watermain and 600mm sanitary sewer forcemain in the municipal Right of Way (ROW) in Front Road/King Street West from Sand Bay Lane (Front Road Bridge @ Invista) to Country Club Drive.

Utilities Kingston will be working with Barr on the sanitary and watermain project along King Street West and Front Road for the next year.  Work is anticipated to commence in November of 2024, with the bulk of the work anticipated to be completed by the end of 2025.  Construction activities will be progressing throughout the winter.

We recognize that the current construction has caused some traffic impacts and delays and appreciate everyone’s patience as Utilities Kingston works through some key next steps to be able to continue with this critical project. Once completed, the project will enhance Kingston’s waterfront by reducing both the volume and frequency of combined sewage overflows, increase the capacity of our sewage system for new development and enhance the delivery of potable water throughout the City. Utilities Kingston will continue to update the community as progress is made and the project reinitiated.

Phase 2B, includes King Street West, Union Street, and Kennedy Street, from Country Club Drive to Sir John A McDonald (SJAM).  Phase 2B includes the new large watermain, new sewer forcemain, with replacement of gravity sewers and local watermains in the construction corridor.   The City of Kingston is also reconstructing the Portsmouth Avenue and King Street West intersection to incorporate active transportation and Multi-Use Pathways.  Construction will commence following implementation of the Phase 2A construction - Timing to be determined.

Additional information will be added as the design and construction phase continues.

Update November 2024 - Utilities Kingston is recommencing the Phase 2A portion of the project.  The new contract for UK-21-02-B was awarded to Gordon Barr Ltd., and work will commence in November of 2024.  

 Further updates on the project schedule will be provided as construction details and scheduling becomes available.

The approximate construction schedule for this project is as follows.

Linear Section - Phase 1 - Cataraqui Bay WWTP Servicing - Easement

• Construction of this phase is complete.

Linear Section - Phase 2A - Front Road & King Street West, from Sand Bay Lane to Country Club Drive - Current Construction Phase

• The Construction Contract for recommencement of Phase 2A of the Linear Section(s) was  awarded to Gordon Barr Ltd., with construction commencement in November 2024. 

Linear Section - Phase 2B - King Street West, Union Street & Kennedy Street, from Country Club Drive to Sir John A MacDonald Boulevard

• The Construction Contract for Phase 2B of the Linear Section(s) is planned to be tendered when the Phase 2A schedule is updated.

For further information please contact Utilities Kingston or the design consultant (WSP Canada Inc.) at the following addresses: