Public Utilities

Responsibilities of the Department

The Public Utilities Department is charged with the task of providing water delivery, wastewater collection and conveyance. 

Water Services

The Public Utilities Department has the responsibility of delivering safe and clean quality drinking water to 12,000 customer accounts served by the City of Petersburg. We deliver, on average, a total of 6 million gallons of safe drinking water a day. The City is a participating member of the Appomattox River Water Authority, which provides drinking water to the City of Petersburg.

Metering and Utility Billing

The Metering Department performs monthly reads and rereads of water usage and repairs City water meters including meter leaks and malfunctions. The Utility Billing Department performs monthly reads of water usage, reviews reads, performs quality control checks, completes edits and adjustments, and prints/mails utility bills.  

Wastewater Services

The Public Utilities Department collects approximately 15 million gallons of wastewater per day. Additionally we provide wholesale delivery and collection of wastewater from neighboring jurisdictions (Prince George County, Dinwiddie County, Chesterfield County, and Fort Lee.)

Distribution & Collection Systems

The City’s water and wastewater distribution and collection systems are comprised of 1,400 miles of pipe (ranging in size from 24 inches in diameter to as small as two inches in diameter pipelines), maintains three elevated and three ground water storage tanks, two water and 19 wastewater pump stations, and 1,375 fire hydrants.

Meter Services Department

The Meter Services Department is responsible for repairing the City's water meters. This Division's work includes meter rereads, meter leaks, and meter malfunctions.