The basic definition for Public Works is the combination of physical assets, management practices, policies, and personnel necessary for government to provide and sustain structures and services essential to the welfare and acceptable quality of life for its citizens.
Simply put, Public Works is the heartbeat of any city, maintaining water, sewer and storm pipe networks, drinking water production, sanitary sewage treatment, solid waste handling, roadway and sidewalk repair/replacement, traffic signals, facility equipment maintenance and much more. The people working in Public Works are solving some of the toughest problems that occur in our communities, country and world. Most Public Works employees are on call and must be ready to respond to a water main break, repair a sewer line, clear debris from streets after a storm, respond to flooding issues with barricades, etc.
Those who are involved in public works perform work behind the scenes to make sure that residents are able to enjoy the basic necessities and the quality of life that is expected within a municipality. Without public works, potholes would incapacitate vehicles. Without public works, garbage would not be collected but would be, instead, allowed to pile up, leading to a rampant increase in rodent and wild animal population in residential areas, ultimately leading to a rise in illness and disease.
There would be no community without the quality of life Public Works provides. There would be no community to police or protect, no public to lead or represent. In addition, Public Works performs residential trash collection, building inspections, permitting, code enforcement, storm water and floodplain management as well as engineering services for the City.
Public works employees may not always enjoy the limelight, but their jobs are of the utmost importance. As you enjoy your running water, paved roads, flushing toilets, etc., take a moment to appreciate the people who work behind the scenes, sometimes tirelessly, to provide us with these necessities.