When is the last time you’ve thought about the West Goshen Public Works Department?  If your answer was “I don’t know…” or “Never,” you might be surprised that is just the way the department likes it. “I know that we are doing a good job when people aren’t thinking about us!” quipped Director of Public Works Dave Woodward.

West Goshen’s Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining the township’s roadways, facilities, fleet, parks, wastewater system and trash & recycling operations.  The department has 43 full time employees (and seasonal additions) who serve as part of the Streets Department, the Parks Department and the Wastewater Treatment department. 

Today, the Streets Department cares for over 95 miles of township roadways, including plowing, street repairs and maintaining road signs.  The Parks Department is responsible for 111 acres of park land spread across the township’s four parks and open space. The Wastewater Treatment Department is on call 24/7 and manages the township’s Treatment Plant (which processes 6 million gallons a day!), 10 pumping stations and 225 miles of sewer lines.

Looking ahead, the department is preparing for the additional responsibilities the Greystone development will bring. Greystone will add about 8.5 miles of roadway, 196 acres of public land and 2 new sewer pumping stations. Another project on the horizon is a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Stormwater permit which is likely to go into effect in early 2020.

Said Woodward, “We tend to be a more under-the-radar group, but we care deeply about making West Goshen a great place to live, and enjoy figuring out to keep things running smoothly as the township grows and changes.”