More topics for Service requests: sewers
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A dispatcher for the Onondaga County Division of Flow Control |
What is the Division of Flow Control in the Onondaga County
Department of Water Environment Protection? Consider these statistics:
- 11 million feet of sewer lines
- 140 pump stations
- 40 miles of urban streams
- 6 flood-control basins
The Division of Flow Control operates nearly on the
same scale as the natural gas operations of Niagara
Mohawkwhen reckoned by the length of pipe in the
ground.
The Division's work affects many individuals in Onondaga
County directly. It is the group that cleans the
sewers in the streets, and it manages flood-control
facilities at Bloody Brook, Meadowbrook, Harbor Brook,
and Bear Trap-Ley Creek. It also operates the pump
stations necessary to move wastewater to treatment
facilities and the combined sewer facilities.
Efficient facilities
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Supervisors at Flow Control now have private offices. |
The Division of Flow Control recently completed
its move into new quarters at 7120 Henry Clay
Boulevard in Liverpoola building that it shares with
WEP's Environmental Laboratory and the Sheriff's North
Substation. In the past, the Division was scattered
among four locations. The consequence of this
centralization of services will be increased
productivity and efficiency, to the benefit of County
taxpayers.
Now, its five sectionssupporting sewer and stream
maintenance in Syracuse and many suburban areashave
been joined by the Plumbing Control Section. Plumbing
Control, which had been housed in the County Health
Department, is responsible for issuing plumbing permits
for the plumbing work done in Syracuse and all the
villages and towns in the county.
See more about Plumbing Control. Click here.
Active operation
Flow Control is staffed 16 hours every day of the year
to respond to sewer emergencies. Only the over-night
hours are not staffed. Supervisors remain on-call in the overnight hours
and respond directly from home.
In addition, the Flow Control Division addresses all
requests by contractors and others who wish to dig in
the streets and any where sewer lines might be
found. It marks the sewer lines to help contractors to
avoid damaging them during excavations.
Features of the new facility
Flow Control's new quarters has commodious desk
accommodations for the maintenance crew leaders and
the plumbing inspectors. It has a flexible conference
room, library space where essential records can be
centralized, a break room for staff, and a training
space that can double as a public meeting room.
In addition, the building supports its own computer
network and tight security measures. It is able to
monitor the operation of every pump station and combined sewer facility in the
county system from its offices.
The store room is well laid out, and a washing bay is
big enough for the Division's largest vehicles. Even
pumps, up to 700 horsepower, and large valves can be
washed there before they are serviced by the
Flygt-certified Division employees. The equipment
repair shop accommodates the needs of the workers who
recondition pumps and other items. The loading dock
has an overhead crane for lifting heavy equipment.
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The outbuilding garage has heated and unheated facilities. |
Impressive, too, is the scale of the outbuilding where
the Division's vehicles are stored. For the first time,
its essential vehicles and equipment can be stored inside for better
maintenance and care.
Productivity
The well-planned facility has an important purpose. By
collecting all aspects of Flow Control into one
location, County residents will be better served. The
Division finds more demands placed on it every year as
housing and business development expands in all
directions. The increased productivity resulting from
the new facility will keep costs under control for County residents.
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