Public Works Division
It is the mission of the Public Works Department to protect and maintain the public’s investment in municipal infrastructure, and to provide a safe and healthy environment for the residents of Jackson. Public Works activities take place within the public right-of-way, under or immediately adjacent to city streets, and in municipal parks, buildings, and open spaces.
Key services include operation and maintenance of city facilities, parks, cemetery, streets, storm drains, water system, collection system, and operation of the wastewater treatment plant. Public Works employees also respond 24/7 to emergencies, weather flooding, sewer back-ups, water main breaks, or assistance with other public safety incidents.
Public Works Complaint or Service Request Form
Collection System
The Public Works Department has developed and is constantly updating a Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) to reduce the number of sanitary sewer overflows in the wastewater collection system. The SSMP mission statement reads, "Our environment will be best preserved by responsibly maintaining, studying, and planning our wastewater collection system." The city is continuing to develop programs to improve the maintenance of the collection system and reduce the likelihood of overflows in the future. A binder with all related information is available for public review in the City Clerk's office at City Hall.
Streets
The Public Works Department maintains and repairs city streets, sidewalks, and city parking lots. This includes repairing potholes, striping and marking, street signs, street sweeping, cleaning drainage ditches and storm drains, trimming trees, and weed abatement. Recent projects have consisted of the paving of Hoffman and Summit Street and striping of various streets around town. These projects were largely funded by SB1 (Road Repair and Accountability Act (2017)).
Wastewater Treatment Plant
The city’s wastewater discharge permit (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System – NPDES) with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) was renewed in October 2007. This permit includes several significant requirements that are impacting the cost of operating the wastewater plant as well as costly studies to determine whether the city may continue discharging its treated effluent into Jackson Creek.
The key issue facing the city is whether concerns raised by the State Department of Public Health regarding the use of Jackson Creek/Lake Amador as a potable water supply warrants the reduction or elimination of the city’s treated effluent from the creek. Additional studies were required in the NPDES permit to address the State Department of Fish and Game concerns that removal of the city’s effluent from the creek could negatively impact fish and wildlife. The city is working with these two State agencies and the Regional Water Quality Control Board to protect ratepayers and meet the environmental concerns of these agencies.
Water
Providing a safe and reliable drinking water system for customers is the number one priority for the Jackson Water Resources Department. The city purchases treated water from the Amador Water Agency (AWA). All water purchased from AWA comes directly from the Mokelumne River. The city’s Department of Water Resources carefully monitors the city's transmission line, reservoirs and maintains the city-wide distribution system. This includes maintaining water mains, fire hydrants, valves, and water services from mains to individual meter boxes; issuing construction water permits; installation of services, and 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week standby for emergencies. Staff also maintains and replaces meters for approximately 2,200 water service accounts. The city routinely conducts water quality monitoring including testing and analysis for bacteria, chlorine residual, pH, and other elements.
Water fund revenues have been invested in significant improvements to the water system infrastructure over the past few years and a five year Capital Improvement Program is adopted by the City Council with each budget to protect this investment. Major water distribution projects completed in recent years have included replacement of approximately 1800’ of 10” and 12” steel mains which used to feed down from our clear well reservoir with one 16” c905 Main. Smaller CIP projects have consisted of a main replacement on Eva Street and Sutter Street, which replaced smaller steel mains with larger C900 mains and added fire protection to the area, as well as the replacement of a problematic hydro pneumatic tank at one of our booster stations. The goal of our CIP is to improve water quality, increase fire protection, and increase the efficiency and reliability of the system.