The Street Maintenance Division's primary mission is to construct and maintain a street system that will provide safe and efficient transportation. This Division maintains the City's largest capital investment—122.58 lane miles of improved streets, 1.76 lane miles of unimproved streets and 9.05 miles of alleys. The Street Division is responsible for resurfacing, repairing and maintaining the streets, installing and maintaining street signs and markings, tree trimming, and repairing all established pavement markings. The Division also completes excavation and repair of deteriorating streets, gravel road grading, daily street sweeping, crack sealing, chipsealing, snow removal and sanding during the winter months, and weed control along the alleys. Two of the employees in this division are licensed Chemical Applicator and applies the chemicals for weed control. All employees in this division have their Commercial Drivers Licenses and Flagger certification as required by their job descriptions. Street Maintenance staff assists the City Chamber of Commerce by putting up decorations on street lights during the Christmas season and replacing them with the regular decorations when the season is over.
Backflow Testing
The City of Ontario has a Cross-Connection Program which is administered by the Operations Division. Oregon Health Services has established rules that require the City to protect its water system, which is accomplished by requiring that all underground sprinklers attached to the City's water main have a backflow device installed. This device prevents any non-potable water source within a citizen's property from entering into and contaminating the community drinking water supply. The Operations Division monitors the identification and testing of backflow devices in the City.
Backflow Assembly Testing Program
Available Backflow Testers
Backflow Assembly Testing Program
Available Backflow Testers
To Turn Off Water for Repairs
(541) 881-3246
After-Hours Emergency Water Shut Off
(541) 473-5125
(541) 881-3246
After-Hours Emergency Water Shut Off
(541) 473-5125
Water Distribution
|
Staff ensures that water is delivered to the customers' taps when needed, and that the drinking water delivery system meets Oregon State Drinking Water Standards. Duties include the maintenance and repair of approximately 96.47 miles of water lines and 3,625 services which include service installations and repairs, mainline installation and repair, meter reading and repairs, maintenance and repair of 611 fire hydrants, valve exercising of 1,714 water valves, and emergency response. Staff installs approximately 10 new water services and replaces or repairs approximately 120 services annually. Duties also include testing of all backflow devices on City property.
Homeowners requiring water shut off at the meter are required to contact City personnel. Call (541) 881-3246 and a City representative will come out and turn your water off. If water needs to be shut off on the weekend or after hours during the week, please call (541) 473-5125 and Malheur County Dispatch Center will notify the on-call person to turn off your water. If a homeowner or contractor attempts to shut off the water at the meter without calling the City and the meter or waterline breaks, all repair expenses will be made at the homeowner's expense. |
96.47 Miles of Water Lines 3,625 Services 611 Fire Hydrants |
Sewer Collection
|
77.88 Miles of Sanitary Sewer Lines |
Utility Maintenance staff ensures that wastewater generated from each home and business is delivered to the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant. There are 77.88 miles of sanitary sewer lines within the City of Ontario. Responsibilities include constructing new pipelines to replace defective ones or to provide increased service capacity, cleaning all gravity sanitary sewer lines annually, repairing or replacing sanitary sewer lines as needed, providing line locations for all water and sewer lines as needed, and maintaining eight lift stations which move the wastewater generated throughout the City and the barscreen and one lift station from Snake River Correctional Institute to the Wastewater Treatment Plant within DEQ regulations.
|
Surface Water Management (Storm Water)
|
The City has 56.14 miles of Storm Drain collection lines and 1,457 catch basins throughout the City limits. Duties include Storm Drain maintenance and repair, cleaning of approximately eleven miles of Storm Drain lines and cleaning the catch basins annually. Staff also responds to hazardous material spills that may potentially discharge into the storm drain lines which discharge into the Snake River.
The City provides an annual leaf pickup service in the fall to protect the City's storm drains from becoming clogged with leaves, causing water to back up and create flooding hazards. Leaves, branches, garden plants and other yard debris is picked up by City staff and taken to the local Sanitary Service where it is decomposed at a local landfill. This service helps protect the storm drains as well as provides a service to the citizens for removing their organic yard debris. |
56.14 Miles of Storm Drain Collection Lines 1,457 Catch Basins |
Street Resurfacing
|
As part of the Street Division's maintenance program, crews chipseal street surfaces to protect them from water and weather damage and to keep them in good condition. A chipseal maintains the existing pavement, delaying further aging due to water and sun; and provides a moisture barrier and corrects existing pavement problems by sealing cracks. A chipseal application, as opposed to overlaying or reconstruction of the road, provides substantial savings to taxpayers and should last a minimum of eight years with minimal maintenance required. The City chipseals approximately 6.73 miles per year and is on an eight to nine year cycle.
|
|
