Efforts continue to split water and wastewater sewers in Chatham-Kent.
At a recent Public Utilities Commission (PUC) meeting, board members approved separation work on Selkirk Street and Memory Lane for about $1.7 million, and hired an engineering service to examine another such project for the future.
Clarke Construction won the tender to complete the work.
Combined sewers carry both sanitary and storm flows. Heavy rains can lead to overflows past a pumping station or water treatment plant and directly into the Thames River.
In 2023, according to PUC figures, more than 700,000 litres of mixed sanitary and storm water overflowed into local waterways from about 30 rainfall/flooding events.
Of those instances, 18 were credited to Pump Station 4, which was situated behind the Tecumseh Park band shell. Darren Galbraith, PUC’s general manager, said that station was taken offline and removed last September.
The current phase of work focuses on the sewer separation and reconstruction of Selkirk Street from Van Allen Avenue to Memory Lane, and Memory Lane from Selkirk Street to Grand Avenue East.
Additional sewer separation work/reconstruction along Selkirk Street easterly to Victoria Street is planned for 2026 as part of the continuation of the capital projects associated with the Van Allen catchment area.
As well, HRYCAY Consulting Engineers of Windsor will conduct an analysis for similar work along Cox Avenue and Faircourt Avenue.
Construction on that project is hoped to be done in 2025.
