Willmar Public Works Department

06/01/2026

🌱 Mowing Your Lawn? Keep the Clippings Out of the Street! 🚜

As the growing season gets into full swing, our lawns are growing fast. While you are keeping your yard looking sharp, please remember to keep your grass clippings off the streets and sidewalks!

Here is why keeping clippings in your yard matters for our community:

🛣️ It’s a Local Ordinance: Local regulations require that grass clippings be kept out of the public right-of-way. If clippings do blow onto the street or sidewalk, please make sure to sweep them up.

🚫 Prevents Flooding: When grass clippings are mown into the street, they quickly wash into storm drains, clogging the system and causing localized flooding during heavy rains.

🌊 Protects Our Local Waterways: Grass clippings carry nutrients like phosphorus into our storm drains, which lead directly to area lakes and rivers, causing excess w**d and algae growth. Even worse, if a lawn is treated with chemicals, those harmful pesticides and herbicides wash straight into the water sources we rely on.

🏡 Free Fertilizer for Your Lawn: The best thing you can do with your clippings is leave them right on your yard! They act as a natural mulch, returning essential nutrients back into your soil for a healthier, greener lawn.

🔗 For a complete list of illicit discharges and simple everyday tips to help protect our water quality, visit H2YouMN.com.

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

💩 Be a Good Neighbor To Your Community & Our Waterways! 🐾

Did you know that picking up after your pooch is about much more than just keeping our parks and sidewalks clean? It’s also required by law and plays a huge role in protecting our local environment!

Here is why scooping the p**p matters for Willmar:

🌊 It Protects Our Lakes and Rivers: Pet waste left on the ground is considered a stormwater pollutant (an illicit discharge). When it rains or snow melts, that waste washes directly into storm drains and ditches, carrying harmful bacteria and nutrients like phosphorus straight into area waterways. This causes excess green algae and w**d growth in the lakes we love.

🗑️ Keep It Out of the Storm Drains: Local regulations require all pet waste to be properly removed from public properties, including parks, streets, and sidewalks, and disposed of where it belongs: securely in the trash.

Every time you grab the leash, remember to pack a small plastic bag for the walk. It’s one simple, everyday action you can take to help keep our local water clean and compliant!

🔗 For a complete list of illicit discharges and more easy tips to help protect our water quality, visit H2YouMN.com.

05/21/2026

❓Don’t know what to make for supper❓

Join us for a free burger meal at the annual Public Works Open House from 4-6 pm today!
🍔🍔🚚🍔🍔🚛🍔🍔

While you’re there check out our equipment, purchase a rain barrel, and connect with your community!

05/18/2026

🏗️ National Public Works Week is May 17–23! 🚜

This week, we are celebrating the theme "Rooted in Service, Powered by Community" by shining a spotlight on the incredible team at the Public Works Department!

Public works professionals provide the essential services that determine a community's quality of life. From keeping our local environment clean to ensuring smooth roads under your tires, our team works behind the scenes 24/7 to keep Willmar safe, healthy, and moving forward.

We want to give a massive THANK YOU to our three dedicated divisions:
💧 Wastewater Team: For tirelessly protecting our local waterways, managing sewer collection system integrity, and treating our city's wastewater to keep our environment clean and compliant.
🛣️ Street Garage Crew: For working in all weather conditions to maintain our roads, clear snow, fix potholes, and keep our transportation corridors safe.
🏢 Building Maintenance Staff: For keeping our city facilities running efficiently, safely, and beautifully every single day.

🎉 YOU'RE INVITED: Public Works Open House! 🎉
Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes to keep our community running smoothly? Here's your chance to find out!

📅 When: Thursday, May 21st from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Where: Public Works Building

Bring the whole family out for an evening of fun:
🚜 Touch-a-Truck: Climb aboard the heavy equipment you see around town—perfect for kids and curious adults alike!
👋 Meet the Team: Chat with our dedicated staff who maintain the streets and run the wastewater treatment facility.
🍔 Free Dinner: Enjoy a complimentary grilled meal while you explore and connect with your community!

We are so proud of the work our team does to advance the quality of life in Willmar. Stop by on Thursday to help us say thank you!

05/12/2026

The Willmar Government Academy recently attended their Public Works & Wastewater education class at the Wastewater Treatment Facility.
They received plant tours, lab demonstrations, and a training session on all things Public Works!

05/11/2026

🌧️ Save Water, Save Money! 🌧️

Did you know that just 0.3 inches of rain falling on an average-sized house can fill a 54-gallon barrel? That is a lot of free water you could be using for your garden!

The City of Willmar is offering heavy-duty rain barrels at a reduced cost to help our residents conserve water and keep our local waterways clean.

Why you’ll love it:

Free Irrigation: Use captured rainwater for your flowers, veggie gardens, or lawn—your plants actually prefer it over treated tap water! 🌻

Foundation Protection: The rain barrels include an overflow kit to safely divert excess water away from your home.

Smart Design: The flat-back shape fits perfectly against your siding, and the aluminum mesh screen keeps leaves and "critters" out. 🐿️

The Details:
💰 Price: Only $80 each
🛢️ Capacity: 54 Gallons
🎨 Color: Neutral Brown (fits any landscape!)
📦 Includes: Debris screen, overflow hose, and a discharge hose with a handy thumb valve.

Ready to grab yours?

Visit us at the Wastewater Treatment Plant to start conservation in your own backyard!
📍 Location: 3000 75th St SW, Willmar
📞 Questions? Call us at 320-235-4760

05/04/2026

🌊 Help Keep Our Local Waters Clean! 🌊

Did you know that storm drains flow directly into our local lakes, rivers, and wetlands? They act as a conduit for trash and organic pollutants, which means whatever goes down that drain ends up in our water.

We are looking for volunteers to join the Adopt-a-Drain program! It only takes about fifteen minutes, twice a month, to make a real difference for a healthier community.

How it Works:
✔ Sign up online: Choose a storm drain in your neighborhood to adopt.

🍂Keep it clear: Simply sweep leaves, trash, and debris off the drain surface throughout the year.

✏️Track your impact: Enter an estimate of the debris you collect into your online account so we can see our cumulative results!

💧 Lead by example: Share your commitment with neighbors and friends to help spread the word about preventing water pollution.

Ready to protect our local waterways? Sign up today at https://mn.adopt-a-drain.org and help us keep our lakes and rivers clean! 🌿🐟