The Department of Public Works is made up of seven divisions, which are responsible for keeping the physical resources of municipal government functioning. It's easy to take for granted that streets are plowed in winter, sewer drainage keeps flooding to a minimum, and water flows reliably from household taps —but these things do not happen by themselves! If they are not systematically maintained, the quality of life in any town would rapidly decline.
     The responsibilities of this department are those felt most directly by the citizens in town. From disposing of recyclables, to leaf pick-up, to repairing broken water mains, and making sure that park facilities are clean and useable, the Public Works department impacts our lives on a daily basis. During times of emergencies, such as storms or blizzards or any other crises, these dedicated workers put in many extra hours, often at night, on weekends or on holidays, to keep the Town of Portland running safe.

Richard Kelsey, Director of Public Works
860.342.6733

Roseanne Darna, Public Works Secretary
860.342.6733

Building Maintenance Division
General duties include daily cleaning, routine maintenance and necessary repairs to all municipal buildings, with the exception of schools. This includes not only general maintenance, such as vacuuming, waxing floors, emptying waste, but also special tasks, such as painting, roof repairs, sealing floor joints, and install, and maintain gutters
     Future projects include:

• minor structural and masonry repairs at Library
  
• interior work at the Library and Senior Vitality Center
  
• building maintenance of Town Garage offices
  

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Grounds Division
The Grounds Division is responsible for maintaining the physical environs of all municipal buildings, schools, and athletic fields. This includes landscaping and mowing approximately 90 acres a week during spring, summer and fall, daily field preparation for recreational activities (numbering about 380 sporting events, and snow removal during the winter. They also prepare and maintain the ice-skating area.
In addition to normal maintenance activities, crews installed new score boards at Agogliati Field and did landscape installation at the new Town Hall (the old Central School).
     Future projects will include:

• an irrigation system at the High School soccer field
  
• a warning track around the baseball field on Middlesex Avenue
  
• infield re-grading at Tomasso Field
  
• repairing the irrigation system at Nolan Field
  
• installing a minor league field at Valley View School
  
• installing a new outfield fence at Tomasso Field
  

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Highway Division
The Highway Division keeps the roads and streets of Portland safe and useable. This includes snow and ice removal, mowing, catch basin cleaning, chip sealing, paving, line painting, tree trimming and removal, stump grinding, traffic sign placement, Christmas tree pick-up, brush pickup, appliance pickup and street sweeping.
     Over the last year, the Highway Division also completed drainage projects on several roads, and pavement repairs on Penfield Hill Road. Site improvements were made at the Brownstone Quarries and the Town Sand Pit. Highway crews installed fencing at the Water Pollution Control Facility, Central School and the Highway Garage. Crews assisted Board of Education personnel in repairing the High School fuel piping system. A significant supply of topsoil was hauled from Glastonbury to our sand and gravel pit, in trade for sand. A telecommunications conduit was installed between the Town Hall and the Middle School.
     Future projects will include:

• drainage improvements on Rose Hill Road
  
• continued quarry improvements
  
• installing lights for Come On Over wall
  
• assisting with water main replacements
  
• assisting with sewer inspections, cleaning, and repairs
  
• guide rail repairs
  
• sidewalk repairs adjacent to Town owned properties
  
• line painting on Town roads and park areas
  
• paint salt storage building
  
• continued roadside clearing
  

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Sewer Division
Normal maintenance includes daily operations of the treatment plant, pumping stations, laboratory sampling and testing, maintenance and repair of all equipment associated with collection and treatment systems. A new sludge container was purchased to use with our transfer station rolloff truck, and daily trips are made to haul sludge to the Mattabassett Treatment Plant.
     Work continues on our sewer cleaning program. Construction was completed on the sewer expansion project in the Marlborough Street area. Construction work is in progress for upgrades to our Water Pollution Control Facility.
     Future projects include:

• complete upgrades to the Water Pollution Control Facility
  
• continue the sewer collection system inspection, cleaning and repair program
  
• perform upgrades to the Gildersleeve Pump Station
  

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Transfer Station/Recycling Center (Solid Waste Division)
Location: 33 Sand Hill Rd.
Hours: 7:30 to 3:30, Tuesday through Saturday

General operations include assisting residents with recycling, handling of recyclables, bag sales (for municipal solid waste), brush pickup, appliance pickup and placement and disposal of all non-recyclables. Ongoing monitoring of DEP grant programs. The purchase of a used large roll-over truck allows the division to perform services that were contracted for previously, and seek more profitable markets.
     An important function of this division is to encourage people to recycle. Demonstrations of composting are given on a frequent basis to groups and to the public. Free reams of office paper are exchanged for white paper that is brought in to be recycled (1 ream for 200 pounds of used white paper).
     Future projects include:

• efforts to market recyclables more cost effectively
  
• efforts to upgrade and improve preset operations
  
• possible sharing of facility with a nearby town
  
• possible collection of computers and electrical equipment
  

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Vehicle Maintenance Division
The responsibilities of Town government demands the use of quite a few vehicles: cars, vans, pickup trucks, dump trucks, fire trucks excavator, backhoes, bulldozers, tractors -- over 90 vehicles in all! This necessitates an in-house maintenance services, which is what the Vehicle Maintenance Division is all about! The personnel of this division also lend their expertise to the maintenance and repair of numerous smaller engine equipment, such as pumps, compressors, compactors, chainsaws, mowers, plows and sanders.
     Future projects include:

• recondition/repaint Low Boy Trailer
  
• recondition/repaint Dynahoe Backhoe
  
• major tune-ups on older diesel dump trucks
  
• refurbishing other miscellaneous equipment
  

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Water Division
To make sure that water remains available to town supplied residents, daily maintenance checks are required. Added responsibilities include meter reading, meter installation, flushing of pipes, repair of hydrants, repair of leaks, servicing chlorination and pumping equipment, installation of water services to new homes and businesses, cross connection inspections, and leak detection.
     The Water Division continues its program to install remote type water meters for all customers. Leak detections and repair has successfully minimized unaccounted water within the system. In the last year, improvements were made to the Chlorinator Building, a water line extension was made on Quarry Lane, and a new utility truck was purchased.
     A major accomplishment was finally concluded in the Portland/MDC Interconnection, which included new water storage tanks, new telemetry, and control equipment.
     Future projects include:

• Water Quality Report and System Improvements
• Bartlett Street Pump Station renovation/replacement
  
• Installation of remote water meters for all customers
  
• Continued leak detection and repair.
  
• Reservoir dam spillway improvements
  
• Replacement of small diameter water mains on Coe Avenue Extension,
• Rogers Road, Barry Avenue and Perry Avenue
  

Let's Not Take It For Granted . . .

Connecticut is fortunate to have water supplies of high quality and sufficient quantity to meet the needs of consumers throughout the state. This is not strictly a matter of geography - it is the result of effective regulations by town and federal agencies, careful planning and operations by water utilities, and responsible use by consumers.
     The Portland Water Division has an obligation to provide sufficient quantities of high quality drinking water at a reasonable cost to consumers. As such, your utility takes a strong leadership role to ensure its water supplies are protected and its drinking water isn't wasted. We are calling on our consumers to do their part as well - to follow some simple guidelines to protect the quality of your drinking water and ensure that it is not wasted.

Drinking Water Quality: The Source Protection Connection . . .

Source water protection is an important tool for maintaining and managing our drinking water resources. Preventing pollutants from entering reservoirs and underground aquifers is the focal point of water supply source protection. Connecticut has been taking action to minimize the threat to our drinking water supply from cryptosporidium and other contaminants by providing protection of public water supplies at the source. In 1996, a legislative task force of public health and water supply experts concluded that the risk to Connecticut's consumers from disease causing organisms, including cryptosporidium, in drinking water is greatly reduced because of a strong commitment to source water protection.

How Does Connecticut Law Protect Drinking Water?

Connecticut is one of only two states that prohibts discharge of potential disease carrying wastewaters into public drinking water supply sources.
Mandatory filtration and disinfection of all surface water supplies.
Land areas (watersheds) that drain into public water sources must be inspected annually for sources for pollution.
     State and local regulations govern land use and development on watershed lands.
Strict regulations govern the sale and use of water company owned land which are critical to the protection of public water supply resources.
The Aquifer Protection Act requires regulation of land use in critical areas around public drinking water supply wells.
     Operator certification is required for water treatment facility personnal to ensure the effective operation of water treatment facilities.

You Can Help To Protect Connecticut's Public Water Supplies . . .

Don't Dump! Dispose of trash, waste motor oil, and household hazardous wastes properly. Check with your city or town hall or water company about proper disposal of these wastes.
     Use pesticides and fertilizers wisely! Follow the directions, apply only what's needed, and don't over use. When in doubt - consult an expert!
Report any polluting activities! If you see illegal dumping, waste discharges, chemical spills, etc. please report them immediately to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (860.424.3338), the local police (860.342.6780), health department (860.342.6718), or the water company (860.342.6735).
     Use and maintain your septic system properly! Don't pour fats, grease, oils, or harmful chemicals down the drain—they can interfere with the septic tank function and may cause groundwater pollution. Have the septic tank inspected and cleaned every 2 to 3 years.

(see Town Tech Web Site to learn how students help out with Town Services.)

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