About

The Department of Water, Division of Water Utility Field Operations Water Distribution Bureau operates and maintains a system of pipes that distributes water throughout the city and the surrounding region.

WATER MAIN

In 1869 the City of Dayton installed its first water main. At that time, eight (8) miles of cast iron pipe ranging in size from two (2) inches to twenty (20) inches were completed.

By 1899, the city system had grown to 118 miles of pipe; by 1934, 419 miles; and today we have approximately 800 miles of water main in service.

The city's water main system is now made up of ductile iron pipe, concrete pipe, as well as the old cast iron pipe. The size of the system's water mains has increased to as large as 48 inch diameter pipe.

SERVICE AREA

Our service area over the years has expanded to include most of Montgomery County, including Dayton, Kettering, Vandalia, Riverside, Trotwood, Brookville, parts of Greene County and extends north to serve Dayton International Airport, over 65 sq. miles! WD lines carry an average of 75 MGD (million gallons / day.)

WATER DISTRIBUTION'S CENTRAL DISPATCH

Open 24/7, 365 days a year.

On 2nd shift, 3rd shift, and weekends, Central Dispatch handles all non-public safety (DPD, DFD) calls for:

• Water Department
• Public Works
• Additional City Departments

We handle an average of 87,000 phone and radio calls annually.

OPERATIONS

CREWS

There are six (6) crews and equipment operators assigned to Systems Maintenance.

Annually, projects for Dayton's Water Distribution System Maintenance Crews include:

• Repair of approximately 100 water main breaks and 240 services leaks (which include replacement of existing lead services or with copper).
• Upgrade and relocation of hydrants, repair or replacement of valves.
• Installing one hundred (100) new hydrants
• New installation, including ~150 new water services.
• Installation of new water mains (quantity varies as needed/required)
• Checking approximately 1,700 valves each year (10% of the total 17,000 valves in the system)
• Repairing and cleaning curb boxes
• Replacing and raising valve boxes
• As well as a variety of other tasks

METER SHOP

The Meter Shop installs, replaces, repairs, and tests a wide variety of water meters (residential and commercial). The Meter Shop was also involved in the Automatic Remote Read (AMR) meter installation project. Meters are repaired and replaced to insure the accurate readings.

HYDRANT SHOP

The Hydrant Shop is responsible for installing and maintaining the hydrants. The City of Dayton has approximately 5800 hydrants. Other shop work includes tapping lines for new construction and emergency efforts.

HISTORICAL FACT ABOUT THE HYDRANT SHOP 

In 1930, n response to water inspectors' complaints of the fire hydrants currently in service, two men decided that the city should undertake the design and manufacture of their own fire hydrants. This continued until 1948.

MAINTENANCE SHOP

The Maintenance Shop repairs a variety of street cuts made during the repair of water leaks. The cuts are put back "in-kind." There are eight (8) types:

• Asphalt over brick
• Asphalt over concrete
• Asphalt over gravel
• Brick
• Concrete
• Gravel
• Sidewalk/Driveway
• Sod