What you’re looking at may just seem like a giant hole in the ground—but it’s actually one of the most important projects supporting the future of St. Thomas.

In this update, Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development is joined by Pat Anckaert at the site of the Dalewood Water Reclamation Facility (D-WRF) to explain why the City needs a second wastewater treatment facility, how it works, and what’s being built right now.

As St. Thomas continues to grow, the existing facility near Sunset and Bush Line is approaching capacity. To support new homes, schools, hospitals, and continued community growth, Dalewood WRF is being constructed to handle future wastewater needs—using a modern, multi-step treatment process.

In this video, Pat walks through:
✅Why the Dalewood Water Reclamation Facility is needed

✅The seven-step wastewater treatment process, from screening and settling to bioreactors, filtration, and UV disinfection

✅How microorganisms are used to naturally break down harmful substances

✅What happens to solids, and how nutrients are returned to the natural cycle as reusable fertilizer

✅What the massive excavation on site represents, including secondary clarifiers, bioreactors, and underground conduits

✅How landscaped berms may improve aesthetics, reduce odours, and even support future recreational trails

✅The importance of using local contractors from across Southwestern Ontario

This is a three-year build, with construction underway now and first flows expected around mid-2029. It’s a project most people don’t think about—but one that plays a critical role in modern life and long-term community resilience.

Interested in learning more about how wastewater is safely returned to the environment?
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In part one of the series, we learned more about Stormwater Management. This second installment of the series focuses on Wastewater management, which is one of the most important — and least visible — public services in any community. It works quietly beneath our streets and behind the scenes, treating everything that leaves our sinks, showers, toilets, businesses, and industries before that water ever touches the natural environment again.

In Ontario, wastewater systems are built on a simple promise:
No drop of used water should return to nature without being cleaned, tested, and proven safe.
To uphold that promise, municipalities like St. Thomas operate under strict provincial regulations and use a combination of advanced engineering, real-time monitoring, and ongoing investment in infrastructure.
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Here’s how it all works.

The holidays are coming, and Santa has made a special stop at St. Thomas City Hall—straight from Level 3—for a festive edition of From the Beehive! In this holiday episode, Mike is joined by two very special guests: Douglas (D. Fer), the official Christmas tree of the City of St. Thomas, and City Manager Lisa Higgs, for a warm, lighthearted, and informative conversation about leadership, community, and what's ahead for our city.

​Lisa shares what the role of City Manager or CAO really means, what brought her back home to St. Thomas, and how her personal connection to the community shapes her work. From childhood memories on the north side to steering City Council's long-term vision, this is a chance to get to know the person helping guide the city forward.

🎁 In this episode, you'll hear about:
✅What the City Manager does and how Council's vision becomes action
✅The City’s Strategic Plan, A Brighter Future, and why it matters
✅The two key pillars guiding City operations:

• Excellence in all that we do \
• Being a prepared and resilient team

✅How progress is being tracked—with over 65% of action items already completed
✅What's coming next as City Council continues to review the plan with community input

Want to read up on the City of St. Thomas' Brighter Future? Find it here.

Wrapped in a bit of holiday humour and seasonal cheer, this episode is both a reflection on the year behind us and a hopeful look toward 2026 and beyond.

​👍 If you enjoyed this update, please like, subscribe, and follow along for more From the Beehive episodes highlighting the people, projects, and plans shaping St. Thomas.

Municipal infrastructure incorporates three types of water: domestic, storm, and waste.

Domestic water is the water that comes from our taps and is used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, etc. This is otherwise known as potable water. In St. Thomas, the source of the potable water is Lake Erie. The water is suctioned out of the lake and treated to remove sediment, minerals, and bacteria. That water travels to St. Thomas via a pipeline, is then pumped again, and distributed through watermains that travel under streets across the city. The domestic water in St. Thomas is plentiful, safe, and consistent. The domestic water industry in Ontario is frequently tested and highly regulated to ensure public safety.

Please find more details about our drinking water quality here: Consultant Resources - City of St. Thomas