Public Works

Public Works is responsible for two divisions.

• Maintenance and repair of all City owned paved and unpaved roadways.
• Water and Sewer Distribution

STORM DRAINAGE

Storm Drainage continues to be a challenge with the rapid growth of our community. With growth and weather issues this department has to plan ahead and be prepared to handle the responsibility of the maintenance to drainage systems such as storm water pipes, catch basins, ditches and canals. Clearing and cleaning of ditches not accessible by equipment is performed by hand labor utilizing the City forces as well as migrant labor.

STREET MAINTENANCE

Street repairs continue to be major concerns of the public. The Public Works Department works continuously to keep City streets in good condition. Maintenance of the City streets includes asphalt repairs, pothole repairs, and street sweeping.

The street sweeping operation extends beyond City owned streets to include all paved streets owned by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, within the City limits. All streets are swept three times per year. Maintenance of the sidewalks on these streets consists of repairing cracks, holes, gapes, and levelness.

WATER AND SEWER INSTALLATION

This involves the maintenance, repair and installation of all underground pipelines that deliver drinking water to the consumer and then removes the waste water. The City of Sumter Water & Sewer Department puts in all water and sewer taps for The City of Sumter, Dalzell Water Co., Town of Mayesville, Town of Rembert, Wessex, Oswego Rural Water Co. and the recently installed I-95 Shiloh Water System, which is owned by the City of Sumter and Sumter County. We do this by request of Tap Applications. Once a Tap Application is paid for at either the City of Sumter Utility Billing Department or the City/County Planning Commission, it is forwarded to our department. Once we receive the application is takes between 10 to 14 business days for the tap to be installed. Water meters are installed to measure consumption and valves are installed to control the flow. Fire hydrants are installed to provide fire protection.

Along with the maintenance and repair of all pipelines comes the protection of all drinking water from contaminants. This protection is provided by a backflow prevention program. Each water line that is tapped to the city mainline must have a device that prevents water from reentering the main water line. Annual inspection of each device is required to meet the current SCDHEC standards.

Used water, also called wastewater or sewer, has its own piping system to deliver it to the Pocotalio Wastewater Treatment plant. Manholes are installed along this line to allow access for cleaning and inspection.

The water and sewer systems both extend beyond the City limits to the suburbs, rural communities and industrial parks. These two systems serve residential consumers, businesses, churches, schools, industry, etc.

ALL WATER & SEWER CONCERNS & REPAIRS

Water concerns consist of meter leaks, water service line leaks, red water, low water pressure, tap schedules, new meter installations, meter box and lid replacements, water line locations, water main breaks, and water tap locations. All of which is repaired by the City of Sumter Public Works and Water & Sewer Departments.

Sewer concerns consist of sewer stoppages, sewer main breaks, sewer service line breaks, sewer line locations, sewer tap schedules, manhole top replacements, manhole locations, and manhole installation.