From the Beehive E151 - Woodworth Pumping Station

Big Hole, Bigger Plans: Inside the Woodworth Pumping Station Build 🚧

Mike catches up with Pat Anckaert on site at the Woodworth Pumping Station to see how construction has progressed since our last visit, and things have changed fast. What was an empty lot in front of the building is now a massive excavation in progress, held back by a pile-and-lagging shoring system engineered specifically for this tight, space-constrained site.

Pat walks us through the internal bracing system replacing traditional tiebacks, the 20-metre steel struts keeping the walls secure, and the surprisingly delicate process of digging a hole this deep (hint: it involves a mini excavator, a big steel bucket, and a lot of chain work). We also get the full picture on why this station matters. It will service every sewer north of Highway 3, unlock future potential for Yarmouth Yards, and add capacity for St. Thomas as the city continues to grow, engineered with the next 20 to 30 years in mind.

Some fun numbers for the curious: five pumps, three at 300 horsepower and two at 100 horsepower (for reference, your pool pump is about 1 horsepower), built by local manufacturer Gorman Rupp, with a total capacity of 1,000 litres per second. That's enough to drain Pinafore Lake in a single day.

Plus, a quick look at what's coming up in St. Thomas this month:
🍻 Downtown Oktoberfest - September 19, 2 to 9:30 at Talbot & Ross, featuring the Jim Cuddy Band and a drone show
🍽️ Bridges - SBEC's celebration of local food businesses and the Small Business Awards- Get your tickets now!
🧡 Orange Shirt Day  - September 30, beginning with a flag raising at City Hall