NORTHAMPTON — The Department of Public Works normally deals in the underbelly of the city, and this week is all about bringing that oft-invisible work to light.
In honor of national public works week, the department is offering a window into some of its most important functions, from cool trucks to water treatment.
“This is part of an effort to recognize an important aspect of city life that a lot of people may not pay attention to otherwise,” DPW Director Donna LaScaleia said Monday. “We want to make sure that if people are interested in what we do, they have the opportunity to learn about it — our department does great work.”
On Tuesday residents are invited to a guided walk around the watershed near Mountain Street Reservoir with forester Mike Mauri and environmental scientist Johanna Stacy. LaScaleia says the land is very actively managed by the department in order to protect the water in the reservoir. Pine trees on the land, she said, are currently hit with disease and residents can get a firsthand look at how city staff is addressing that.
“Any time we have health concerns facing a particular species of trees, we need to address that and that’s part of what our staff does,” she said.
The walk begins at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Those interested in joining should head to the pull-off west of the Mountain Street Reservoir along Mountain Street in Williamsburg.
On Wednesday, children and their families are invited to come take a look at the department’s fleet at DPW headquarters, 125 Locust St. “It’ll be an opportunity for kids and their families to get an up-close look,” she said. “The bigger the vehicle, the more impressive — so we’ll make sure we have a wide variety of options.”
Also on Wednesday, the department will host tours at the wastewater treatment plant beginning at 9 a.m., and then another beginning at 6 p.m. During the one-hour tour by chief operator Jim Zimmerman of the facility that filters out the city’s used water, residents will get to see “where it all goes.” The plant is at 33 Hockanum Road in Northampton.
Thursday’s event covers the other end of the public water system in the city with a tour of the water treatment plant at 137 Mountain St. in Haydenville. The tour is guided by water superintendent Andrew Dunn and lasts about an hour.
“The water treatment plant is a primary source of all water to homes and business in Northampton,” LaScaleia said.
All events are free and open to the public.
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.