Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

Utilities Kingston

Kingston residents asked to stop dumping grease down the drain

Kingston residents asked to stop dumping grease down the drain

Utilities Kingston has launched a new video campaign reminding residents and restaurants to stop dumping cooking grease down the drain. The YouTube video shows a utility worker wading through murky, knee-deep water to clear a sewage blockage inside a sewage pumping station. "It's toilet waters and solids, anything going down someone's kitchen sink or coming out of someone's washing machine," said Heather Roberts, director of waste and water services for Utilities Kingston, describing the water in the video.

Kingston council to take a second look at bulk water rate increases

Kingston council to take a second look at bulk water rate increases

The city is to take another look at portions of Utilities Kingston’s 2023 budget. Councillors unanimously approved a motion to defer implementation of a new set of rates. Contained within those rates were increases to bulk water charges and wastewater disposal charges that would translate to big price hikes for some Utilities Kingston customers, particularly in rural areas of the city.

Concerns raised about drinking water as chlorine delivered by rail held up by blockades

Concerns raised about drinking water as chlorine delivered by rail held up by blockades

Hundreds of freight trains are at a standstill across Ontario, not moving because of ongoing rail blockades. One organization has now raised concerns about the impact it could have on drinking water since the chemicals needed to treat it are transported by rail. “We are very concerned actually,” says Cathy Campbell, president of Responsible Distribution Canada. Campbell says large cities and municipalities could run out of chlorine in a week or two.

Sewage flows into river after pipe breaks in Kingston

Sewage flows into river after pipe breaks in Kingston

Some people in Kingston, Ont., were asked to conserve water after a pipe broke Thursday at the River Street Pumping Station, flooding it with sewage. It's expected to be back to normal Friday morning. Utilities Kingston said residents should also take steps to protect their basements from flooding. "We are appealing to the public to conserve water and reduce sewer use to help reduce overflows and protect the environment," said president and CEO of Utilities Kingston president and CEO Jim Keech. Keech said Thursday afternoon they still didn't know what caused the pipe to break. 

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