City of Woodstock - Public Works

Although designated a potential town site in 1798, Woodstock was not settled until 1800 and it was not until 1851 that it was established as a town. In 1901, Woodstock was established as a city.

Originally the Woodstock Council’s Committee on Public Works, along with the City Engineer, was responsible for the construction and maintenance of drainage sewers within the town boundaries. Early sewer systems were built of timber, often being bored out logs that were laid underground. Unfortunately such systems of pipes were problematic as the timber was likely to sag and water could become foul and infested with insects. Moreover, as the town’s population continued to increase the current timber system was seen as objectionable to handle the increase of waste from the water closets draining into the sewers. Because of this the timber sewer systems were replaced by circular brick sewers which could handle the removal of surface water and the increase of household waste as well as the introduction of a domestic water supply in the 1880s. These systems of sewers would drain into the River Thames, Cedar Creek and closed ponds belonging either to the town itself or private factories. However, by the early 1900s treatment facilities were operational in Woodstock and were operated by what was eventually known as the Woodstock Public Utilities Commission.

Presently, maintenance of the sanitary and storm sewer collection system is the responsibility of the City’s Public Works Department. As of 2012, the sanitary sewer system consists of approximately 165 km of sanitary sewers ranging in size from 6" diameter to 42" diameter with approximately 13,000 units connected to the system. The storm sewer system consists of approximately 100 km of storm sewers ranging in size from 6" diameter to 96" diameter and approximately 2,900 catch basins. These systems are no longer made of timber or brick, but are designed using reinforced concrete, metal and plastic materials. In addition, the City of Woodstock is serviced by one Water Pollution Control Plant which provides both primary and secondary sewage treatment with efficient affluent discharges to the Thames River, which must meet M.O.E.E. guidelines for water quality.

Woodstock, ON