Update: City completes contaminated soil and slag removal at Kenilworth Water Reservoir

HAMILTON, ON – In addition to the City’s ongoing efforts to complete rehabilitation work at the Kenilworth Water Reservoir, the City successfully wrapped up contaminated soil removal early last month, and is now in the final phase of addressing slag that was found under the soil cover earlier this year.

As part of the slag removal process, the City’s consultant removed an estimated 2,100 m3 out of an estimated 2,300 m3 of slag from the concrete surface of the reservoir. As part of that effort, a portion of the consolidated slag material was found to be bonded to the reservoir structure requiring more aggressive removal methods. In communication with Public Health and the local Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP), Hamilton Water staff have identified that the remaining slag material will be left in place in order to avoid potential damage to the structure, and because it was determined that remaining slag will not pose a threat to water storage housed within the confines of the concrete reservoir structure below it.

In addition to the completion of contaminated soil and slag removal, remaining rehabilitation work at the Kenilworth Water Reservoir includes:

• Placement of clean soil to cover the reservoir
• Joint repairs to the exterior of the reservoir
• Column repairs to the interior of the reservoir

The rehabilitation project and the associated lane restrictions are expected to wrap up by December, 2022.

Quick Facts

• As part of this project, 100 per cent of contaminated soil was removed from the reservoir and 91.3 per cent of slag material was removed from the reservoir.
• Since the initial discovery, the City has continued to regularly test the drinking water at the Kenilworth Water Reservoir to ensure that it remains safe.