Public Works
The Public Works Department maintains and operates the city's infrastructure, including 350+ miles of streets, the municipal water utility, stormwater management systems, solid waste collection, and the city vehicle fleet. Divisions include Engineering, Streets and Roads, Stormwater, Water Utility, Solid Waste Management, and Fleet Services.
Department focus
Engineering, streets and roads, stormwater management, water utility, solid waste, fleet services
Current priorities
- Maintaining 350+ miles of streets and infrastructure
- Safe and reliable drinking water
- Efficient solid waste collection and recycling
- Stormwater management and environmental compliance
Services offered
Forms & applications
Service Request Form
Report potholes, streetlight outages, property concerns, or other service requests.
Right-of-Way Permit
Apply for a permit to work within the public right-of-way.
Explore this department
About and staff
The Director of Public Works oversees all divisions including Engineering, Streets and Roads, Stormwater, Water Utility, Solid Waste Management, and Fleet Services.
Streets and roads
The Streets division maintains over 350 miles of city streets, including pothole repair, crack sealing, street sweeping, sign maintenance, and pavement marking. Report street issues to (608) 755-3110 or submit an online service request.
Water utility
The Janesville Water Utility provides safe, reliable drinking water to residential and commercial customers. Water is sourced from deep wells drawing from the sandstone aquifer and treated to meet all state and federal standards.
Stormwater management
The Stormwater Management division manages the city's storm sewer system, detention basins, and waterway maintenance to protect water quality and reduce flooding. The program operates under a Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit.
Solid waste and recycling
The City provides weekly curbside trash and recycling collection. Check your collection day using the address lookup tool on the City website. Place carts at the curb by 6 AM on your scheduled day with lids fully closed.
Last reviewed: March 2026