Input Sought on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Wastewater Treatment

Published on: 2020/01/22 - in Releases

RELEASE — Utilities Kingston is supporting the Kingston Climate Action Plan and needs your input. Help us find ways to:

  • enhance wastewater treatment plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
  • capture and make local use of the biosolids and biogas that are beneficial products of wastewater treatment processes.

Come provide your feedback on the proposed Kingston Biosolids & Biogas Master Plan at a public information centre, taking place Thursday, Jan. 30 from 4 to 7 p.m., at 85 Lappan’s Lane.

“We continue to lead the way in environmental protection. Our wastewater treatment plants are some of North America’s most environmentally progressive and responsible,” says Jim Keech, President and CEO of Utilities Kingston. “This initiative will help us pursue innovative solutions to further reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment, while reducing organics sent to landfill in Kingston.”

Help us reduce GHGs and create renewable natural gas for local use

The wastewater treatment process offers a great opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) because it produces methane gas (biogas) from digesting organic solids. Methane is 35 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas if simply released to the atmosphere.

This Master Plan recognizes the methane produced through wastewater treatment is a renewable resource and proposes to enhance its production so that it can be captured and used as a substitute for petroleum natural gas. The creation and use of this renewable natural gas could reduce community GHG emissions significantly.

We need your input on the proposed Master Plan

The public information centre will offer information on the proposed Master Plan and the expected impacts – such as noise, odour, traffic, etc. – associated with pursuing the plan.

Residents will have an opportunity to learn about and provide input on the following:

  • Capital costs and potential timelines.
  • Proposed locations for biogas production, including the Cataraqui Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility, Ravensview Wastewater Treatment Facility or a third brownfield site, such as the municipal land adjacent to the snow dump on Perth Road, also called Knox Farm.
  • End-uses for the biogas: Options to be considered include use of the renewable natural gas for electrical generation, heating, purifying for pipeline injection or vehicle fuel.
  • Adding organics to produce more biogas: The project also considers whether to include organic material as “feed” to enhance the production of biogas and whether to obtain material from an existing company or construct facilities to receive and prepare organics for processing.
  • Exploring options for managing biosolids: Currently, Utilities Kingston disposes of biosolids by applying dewatered solids to land. This provides a benefit to the agricultural community as the material is an organic fertilizer with beneficial micronutrients. The project will review the long-term viability of this program, while considering options for further drying the material to create a fertilizer or other end uses such as feedstock for cement kilns.

How your input will be used

Utilities Kingston is conducting this consultation as part of the third phase of the work on this project and is developing a Master Plan in accordance with Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act and Regulations. Your input will be considered and reflected in the final report.

More information


Release: Utilities Kingston via City of Kingston
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (cc)