The Public Works Division manages a number of the City’s vital services that keep motorists traveling safely within our community throughout the seasons. These functions may include: routine roadway repairs, minor curb repairs, street markings, wheelchair ramp repairs/replacements, street signage repair/creation, snow removal, leaf collection and storm damage clean up.
Another major component of the Public Works Division is the maintenance of sanitary sewer system, stormwater system and potable water systems. Additionally, this department manages the provision of solid waste services to the community.
Importance of Utility Flags and Traffic Cones in Construction Zones
A concerning trend has recently emerged in several Upper Arlington neighborhoods. Public Service Department staff have been notified that utility flags are being removed from residential properties and traffic cones…
Upper Arlington Takes Step Towards Sustainability with Expansion of Curbside Food Waste Recycling Program
Did you know that the average household tosses out around 474 pounds of food waste every year? This staggering statistic highlights the urgent need for action to reduce waste and…
Construction Alert: Full Closure of Fishinger Road
Starting on April 15, 2024, a portion of Fishinger Road in Upper Arlington will be fully closed for approximately two weeks, weather permitting. The closure is necessary for construction crews…
Enhanced Meter Project
The City of Columbus is currently in the process of upgrading water meters with new models as part of the ongoing Enhanced Meter Project. Installations will occur in the City…
FATS, OILS & GREASE
The Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG) Reduction Program was implemented by the City of Upper Arlington Public Service Department in order to monitor and reduce the amount of FOG that enters the City’s sanitary sewer system. The FOG program works to prevent sanitary sewer overflows (SSO), sewage spills, and sewer back-ups.
LEAF COLLECTION
Each fall, the City of Upper Arlington provides curbside leaf collection services, typically between mid-October and early December, to assist residents with the disposal of leaves. This program is one of the City’s signature services and, as a result, staff in the Public Works Division is dedicated solely to this task throughout the duration of the program. On average, crews collect about 20,000 cubic yards of leaves each season from the City’s 346 lane miles of roadway. In addition to the abundance of trees on private property, there are over 17,000 trees in the City right-of-way.
MOSQUITO CONTROL
Each year, the City takes an integrated approach to controlling the mosquito population. The combined efforts of the City, the UA Board of Health, Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) and residents are key to reducing populations. FCPH focuses on taking action in areas with a high incidence of mosquitoes testing positive for diseases such as West Nile Virus (WNV) and Encephalitis. It is hoped these efforts can break the disease cycle.
ROADS, CURBS & SIDEWALKS
The Public Works Division is responsible for the oversight of general annual roadway maintenance, to keep our roadways clean and in good working condition. Responsibilities include: pothole repair, crack sealing, street painting and street signs.
SEWER & STORMWATER
The Public Works Division of the Public Service Department is dedicated to providing quality and professional research, investigation and repair of the community’s sanitary sewer, stormwater and potable water systems in the most efficient manner possible. The Sanitary Sewer System conveys all potable water from homes and businesses to the Jackson Pike plant for treatment prior to being discharged into the Scioto River. The Storm Sewer System conveys rain water from roof tops and roadways directly to streams that discharge into the Scioto and Olentangy rivers without treatment. The Water Distribution System conveys potable water provided by the City of Columbus from the Dublin Road and Morse Road plants to the homes and businesses of Upper Arlington.
SNOW REMOVAL
The City of Upper Arlington provides one of the best snow removal services in Central Ohio with the aim of returning normal driving conditions to all City streets within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm. For operational purposes, a higher level of service and priority designation will be given first to arterial streets, then collector streets and finally residential streets. Arterials are the main thoroughfares in the City; collectors are the secondary streets as they carry traffic to the arterials.
SOLID WASTE SERVICES
The City’s Solid Waste Program is provided by Local Waste Services. It provides a simplified approach with a standard fee for service, billed twice a year. Trash, recycling, yard waste and bulk items are all collected as part of this fee. Local Waste provides all households with grey trash and blue recycling containers on wheels with lids. If a container becomes damaged, in most instances it will be repaired or replaced at no charge. The trucks used by Local Waste are energy-efficient, CNG vehicles, reducing their environmental impact on our community.
STREET SWEEPING
The Public Works Division makes it a goal to sweep the City’s 150 miles of roadways at least three times per year. It can take anywhere between five-eight weeks to sweep the entire City depending on weather conditions. This process is part of the department’s overall efforts to keep Upper Arlington streets clean of sediment, leaves and other impediments to safe traffic and to keep debris out of the storm sewers, which lead directly to our waterways.
The City also offers a convenient means for residents to report issues such as potholes and broken streetlights through our UA Click2Fix smartphone app. Once you have downloaded the app, you can quickly and easily report problems from your smartphone, including sending photographs, and letting the apps geolocation tool pinpoint where the issue is as you send in your report. To get the UA Click2Fix app, click the AppleApp or GooglePlay icons below.
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Public Health Agencies
Solid Waste
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Open burning of any yard waste such as brush or leaves is prohibited in the City of Upper Arlington. Yard waste disposal questions should be directed to the Public Service Department, at 614-583-5350 or visit our Solid Waste Services section. For any outdoor burning concerns, call 614-583-5100.
The City provides free leaf collection each year between mid-October and early December. Click on the link below for full details, and what to do when the program is not in effect.
Some divisions at this facility work on a different schedule, and oftentimes Staff is working out in the community. Visit our City Facilities page for details on City building address, maps & directions, phone numbers and hours of operation.
Bulk items are collected on your regular collection day; please have the item(s) at your curb by 7 am on your regular collection day. Some large appliances and items containing Freon may incur additional charges for collection, and mattresses & box springs must be wrapped in plastic for bulk pick-up. For questions about what items are accepted, please contact Local Waste Services at 614-583-5370 (option 2).
Local Waste observes some but not all of the City’s holidays each year. These holidays delay collection by one day, with normal service resuming the following week (if the holiday falls on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, there is no collection delay):
New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Yard waste is picked up on your regular refuse and recycling collection day. Click here for more details on Yard Waste Collection. Alternatively, residents may drop off acceptable yard waste free-of-charge at the Ohio Mulch composting facility located at 4120 Roberts Road. Please call 614-921-9330 to check hours of operation.
The Public Service Department at the City can help to answer any questions regarding trash or recycling services, Monday-Friday from 7:30 am-4:30 pm at 614-583-5350. Local Waste Services can be reached Monday-Friday from 8 am-5 pm at 614-583-5370 (option 2) or by emailing [email protected].
The City of Columbus provides water service to all UA residents and businesses. If you experience flooding or suspect a water main break, call the City of Upper Arlington Public Works Division at 614-583-5385 during regular business hours. A member of staff will visit the site to determine the nature of the problem, and contact the City of Columbus on your behalf. If you have an after hours emergency, contact the City of Columbus at 614-645-7788.
For homes built on slabs, the line will likely froze where the pipe enters the home. For homes with basements, the line into the home likely froze where it passes through concrete block into the home.
Insulate pipes where freezing is likely to occur. If this is not possible, periodically turn on your water and let it run for several seconds, purchase a space heater to place in front of the pipes or purchase a heating coil that can be plugged in and wrapped around the pipes to keep them warm.
Try using a hair dryer and blowing warm air down onto frozen sections or into the opening of the block wall where the water line enters the home.
Storm sewers drain directly to streams which empty into the Scioto or Olentangy rivers, therefore chemicals are not filtered out before reaching natural waterways.
Options include installing a rain garden or hiring a contractor to install a small yard drain in the area where the water ponds and pipe it out to the street. Franklin County Soil & Water Conservation District may also offer other solutions: 1404 Goodale Blvd., Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43212. Phone: 614-586-9613 or www.franklinswcd.org/backyard-conservation/
The stormwater fee is used to repair and maintain the City’s existing stormwater system. It is not designed to make improvements on private property.
Call the Public Works Division at 614-583-5350 during office hours of Monday-Friday, 7 am -3:30 pm. If you have an after-hours emergency, please call 614-459-2800.
Pour several gallons of water in all basement floor drains, run water in any unused sinks and shower stalls, and flush any unused toilets. These fixtures should have built in traps (“U” shaped pipes), designed to hold water and act as a barrier to prevent sewer gases from entering the home.