Below you will find information on the current status of studies in the Engineering and Operations department.

The City of Port Colborne is responsible for water distribution to approximately 19,200 residents. The City's current Water Distribution System Infrastructure Needs Study (WDSINS) was completed in 1996; the majority of the recommended capital upgrades have been implemented.

The City of Port Colborne is initiating a 2012 WDSINS that will investigate alternatives for a long range capital and operating plan for the City's potable water distribution system.  The City is committed to developing a comprehensive plan that will incorporate all facets of the management, expansion and funding of the potable water distribution system over a 25-year timeframe.

The WDSINS will provide the City with strategies necessary to manage infrastructure improvements and growth in the most effective and efficient manner. The study will also identify the individual projects required to complement these strategies, and prioritize these project based on need.

This study will be conducted in accordance with the Master Plan Approach of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) process. An integral component of this study will be public consultation with various interested stakeholders.  A Public Information Centre (PIC) will be held early September 2012 to provide information regarding the study findings on existing conditions of infrastructure, future growth potential, and water flow requirements. Details will be advertised as the study progresses. Input received will be considered in the preparation of the study document.

 A second public meeting will be planned early 2013 to present the final study.

 A mailing list for notification purposes is being prepared. If you are interested in being placed on the mailing list, or if you have any questions, please contact either of the individuals listed below:

Ms. Danielle Anders, P.Eng, M.A.Sc.
Project Manager
Associated Engineering
Suite 208, 110A Hannover Drive
St. Catharines, ON  L2W 1A4
Tel.:  905-346-0990 ext. 246
Email: andersd@ae.ca

Mr. Jim Huppunen, A.Sc.T.
Manager of Engineering Services
City of Port Colborne
66 Charlotte Street
Port Colborne, ON  L3K 3C8
Tel.:  905-835-2900 ext. 221
Email: jimhuppunen@portcolborne.ca

Notice of Project Commencement

How can I get involved in this project?     How can my opinion be heard?

As part of the WDINS, the City of Port Colborne would like to hear from its water customers.  Input is important to this project, as customer feedback is crucial to producing a meaningful and well-rounded study.

 Customers can get involved in the following ways:

 1.    Attend a public information centre to ask the project team questions and provide  input to the project.

 2.     Complete the online Water Customer Engagement Survey

 Water Customer Engagement Survey

 The City of Port Colborne wants to hear from YOU!

 A confidential Water Customer Engagement Survey has been created to solicit feedback from all customers of Port Colborne on their satisfaction towards water system service delivery.

 Please visit the website indicated below. The survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete and your responses are very valuable to the project.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/portcolbornesurvey

The City of Port Colborne is undertaking a study to assess potential industrial sites within the urban and rural boundaries of the City of Port Colborne.

 This will be a comprehensive approach to land use and infrastructure planning within the study area, and will involve a process of problem/opportunity identification, alternative solution identification, inventory of the natural, social and economic environments, an evaluation of alternative solutions and the selection of a preferred solution. 

 Public consultation is a key component of the integrated planning and environmental assessment process. During the course of  the study there will be an opportunity for you to provide input to the City of Port Colborne as they collect comments and information regarding this project in accordance with the requirements of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act and the Planning Act. A public meeting will be scheduled at a key point in the project. The date, time and location of the meeting will be posted on this website and in the local newspapers.

In conjunction with the Regional Municipality of Niagara, the City of Port Colborne is committed to reducing unnecessary sewage treatment costs, the potential for basement flooding, and combined sewer overflows, by reducing infiltration of storm water to the sanitary sewage collection and treatment system through its Extraneous Flow Reduction Program. It is estimated that the City spends approximately $ 1 Million each year treating storm water in the sanitary system. These costs are directly absorbed through the City's water and sewer rates.

Sewer Use By-Law

City of Port Colborne Council acting on recommendations from Senior City Staff recently passed a Sewer Use By-Law in support of the Extraneous Flow Reduction Program, making participation in the program mandatory for private property owners to allow City Staff, or those appointed by the City, to inspect private sewer services and private property for sources of extraneous flow.  The purpose of the private service inspections is to assess the condition of the private sewer lateral on your property and determine if any repairs or modifications are necessary to disconnect any sources of rain water. Should the inspection indicate that repair work is necessary, financial assistance is available through the new Sewer Use By-Law , and is anticipated to be sufficient to cover most, if not all costs.

 Extraneous Flow Reduction Program - Phase Three - Nickel Area

The City is now starting the third phase of its Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Program in the area serviced by the Nickel Street Sewage Pump Station, as illustrated by the map to the right. The I&I Program will involve an inspection of the sanitary sewer connection of each home or business within the study area, and disconnection of sources of I&I, such as sump pumps that discharge to the sanitary sewer. Retrofits work will include disconnecting sump pumps from the sanitary sewer, and re-directing them to grade or to the storm sewer. The inspections and retrofit work will be completed at no cost to property owners.  In support of its commitment to reducing inflow and infiltration, the City passed a Sewer Use By-law (No.5228/134/08) mandating the disconnection of sump pumps, foundation drains and other such sources, from the sanitary sewer system. To encourage public participation in the program, the by-law includes provisions for financial assistance to complete the necessary repair or retrofit work.  Participation in the I&I Program is mandatory. Residents and property owners in the study area are asked to contact Danielle Anders at Associated Engineering (905-346-0990) to schedule an inspection of their sewer connection. Residents and property owners who require repairs to conform to the Sewer Use By-Law will be contacted by Associated Engineering upon completion of the inspection program. For additional information please contact either of the individuals listed below:

Ms. Danielle Anders, P.Eng.
Inspection Coordinator
Associated Engineering
110A Hannover Drive
St. Catharines, ON L2W 1A4
Tel.: 905-346-0990 ext. 246
Email: andersd@ae.ca

Mr. Jim Huppunen, A.Sc.T.
Manager of Engineering Services
City of Port Colborne
66 Charlotte Street
Port Colborne, ON L3K 3C8
Tel.: 905-835-2900 ext. 221
Email: jimhuppunen@portcolborne.ca

Notice to Property Owners in the Nickel Street Area

Resident Letter

Fact Sheet #1

Fact Sheet #2

Report 2012-3 CSO Management Plan Application for Funding

Extraneous Flow Reduction Program - Omer Pumping Station Study Area Ongoing

The Omer Area, illustrated to the right, has been identified by the City and residents alike as having a history of severe basement flooding issues. The objective of the I&I program is to find and eliminate all sources of rainwater entering the sanitary sewer system, thereby reducing he potential for basement flooding.

As the first step in the I&I program, the City has recently completed a detailed inspection of its sanitary sewers within the Study Area, and has found several sources of infiltration that will be repaired in the near future.

The City now asks all residents and property owners in the Study Area for their participation and cooperation in the I&I Program, as the next step involves any necessary repairs on private property, to prevent rain water from entering the sanitary sewer pipe.

All residents and property owners within the Study Area will be contacted to schedule any necessary repairs resulting from the previous property inspection. Further details and contact information will be provided directly to affected property owners.

All work related to the program will be done at no cost to the property owner.

An additional program was started in the Summer of 2011 which has been focused on determining the condition and capacity of the storm sewer system in the Omer Area.

Report 2011-19 Update on the Omer Pumping Station Area Extraneous Flow Reduction Program

 Arena Pumping Station Study Area    

The Arena Area study is now complete. A final report was presented to Counil on November 28, 2011 noting that a successful reduction in extraneous flows was achieved. Cost savings in the Arena Area will amount to approximately $115,000 annually.

We would like to thank all residents in the Arena Area who have participated in this project.

Report 2011-17 Update on the Arena Pumping Station Area Extraneous Flow Reduction Program