Water and Sewer Department
- The Water and Sewer Department at Public Works is made up of eleven employees.
- 1 - Water/Sewer Superintendent
- 1 - Line Maintenance Crew Leader
- 1 - Collections and Distribution Specialist
- 2 - Equipment Operators
- 3 - Water Utility Maintenance Workers
- 1 - Meter Technician
- 1 -GIS Technician
- 1- Office Assistant
- It is the responsibility of this department to ensure that safe, clean drinking water is distributed to the more than 4700 water customers of the City of Dunn without interruption.
- This crew is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the approximately 88 miles of sewer lines, 115 miles of water distribution lines throughout the City of Dunn. This crew makes water taps and sewer taps for new homes and businesses and replaces service taps that have become unusable, makes repairs on water services, sewer services, and sewer mains, and responds to customer complaints concerning sewer blockages.
- They are involved in the installation and repair of water meters and troubleshooting water meter problems. The water department is responsible for the repair of water main breaks and is tasked to do so in such a manner as to minimize periods of service interruption.
- This department also has at its disposal a combination jet vac truck for cleaning sewer lines that lie underneath the city streets of Dunn. It is the goal of this crew to clean at least ten percent of the system annually as a preventive measure. With this, the crew is capable of keeping the sewer system free of sand, grease, roots and whatever else contributes to mainline blockages. Click on the Water Environment Federation Website link on the right of this page for additional information on your water and sewer needs.
- Another very important duty performed by this crew is sewer line inspection. This is done primarily by inspection cameras. The city has two cameras with which to perform these tasks, a mainline camera, and a service camera. The mainline camera is used for general inspection and to pinpoint trouble areas within the sewer system. The service camera is used to inspect the sewer laterals from residences. If homeowners are having difficulties with their sewer line this is a valuable tool in determining what is causing the problem so that it can be repaired. One of the major causes of sewer blockages is the build-up of grease in the lines. This can lead to sewer service interruptions and eventually to sanitary sewers overflows which are harmful to the environment. The elimination of grease is a very important factor in maintaining a well-operating sewer system.
- Cross-connection control program
- This City program has one coordinator that can be reached at (910) 892-2948.
- Federal law requires the City of Dunn to protect the water supply from potential contamination or pollution. Contamination can occur when a water supply line to a customer is connected to equipment containing a substance not fit for drinking. These connections are called cross-connections. In order to prevent contamination of supply lines from these cross-connections, the city has developed and implemented an ordinance which requires all industrial, commercial, and irrigation customers to obtain a permit and install backflow prevention assemblies. These assemblies must be installed on the customer’s property before any branching of the private system.
- Both new and existing customers of the city’s water supply are evaluated by cross-connection control staff to determine which hazard, if any exist and the type of backflow preventers that will be required.
- After an approved backflow prevention assembly has been installed and tested, it must be retested annually by individuals who have been certified by an approved testing school. A copy of the tester’s licenses and calibration test report must be on file with the public works department, cross-connection section. The calibration report must be done annually. The city maintains a list of qualified testers that is available to all customers. To download a cross-connection tester form click here.
- Grease Trap Program
- When Wastewater pipes become blocked by oil and grease, a common result may be sewer overflows. Sewer overflows can have potentially serious environmental health impacts. The easiest way to help prevent overflows it to minimize grease disposal into the collection system from homes and restaurants. All restaurants in the city are required to have grease traps and maintain them and keep a written record of maintenance for three years. All such records must be available for inspection by the City at all times.
- At this time there are no requirements on homes but everyone's help is needed to keep our sanitary sewer systems flowing freely. Click on the Water Environmental Federation link at the right of the page for more information.
The water and sewer department can be reached 24 hours a day by calling Public Works at 910-892-2948. After normal business hours, the call will transfer to the Harnett County Sheriff’s Department. The staff member on-call will be dispatched to evaluate the issue.
