Studies and initiatives related to the responsible management of:
- Garbage
- Organics and recyclables
- The care of closed landfill sites
Public Works Projects
The Works Department delivers many important services to residents and businesses of Durham, including:
- Supplying drinking water.
- Collecting and treating sewage.
- Operating and maintaining regional roads.
- Collecting garbage, recycling and compost.
- Managing former landfill sites.
Project categories
Our projects typically fall under one of five categories.
We are in charge of handling the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Regional Road network, including:
- Roads
- Storm sewers
- Bridges
- Culverts
- Traffic signals and devices
We are in charge of the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Region's water supply system. We provide clean, safe water to our customers with:
- Water supply plants
- Reservoirs
- Watermains
- Pumping stations
We are in charge of the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Region's sewage collection and treatment system. When you flush the toilet or empty water down a drain, we collect it through a system of sanitary sewer pipes and sewage pumping stations. We treat this sewage at one of the Region's sewage treatment plants.
We are in charge of the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of Regional facilities, including:
- Paramedic stations
- Office locations
- Homes for the aged
- Durham Region Police Service (DRPS) facilities (design, construction and restorative work only)
Project stages
Our projects go through various stages from start to finish.
We study variety of issues to determine the most appropriate methods to address them. Studies also guide the overall planning of systems throughout the Region, including the water supply system, the sanitary sewer system and the transportation network.
Many Regional projects undergo an Environmental Assessment to consider all environmental impacts and help us determine the best way to manage impacts before we start a project.
The design stage of a project involves the development of construction contract drawings and tender documents for the construction or implementation of a project. This stage often includes the architectural, engineering and business case components.
View our Design and Construction Specifications for Regional Services
The construction stage is also the implementation stage of the project, where the process of building or assembling the project begins.
Learning more about a specific project
You can search our detailed database of current Public Works Projects for more information on a specific project.
You can also view our current projects on a map of the Region.
Plan alternate travel routes and avoid construction by reviewing the Region's Traffic Watch Map.
Sign up to our Newsletter
Stay up to date on the Region's activities, events, programs and operations by subscribing to our eNewsletters.