Water System

The City of Oakwood has owned and operated a municipal water system for over 50 years. The water system is operated automatically by a control system based on the water level in the Ridgeway Road water tower. The City is able to produce over 95% of the water used throughout the City. The balance is purchased from the City of Dayton.

Oakwood’s three well fields are located at the edge of the Great Miami River Buried Valley Aquifer. The groundwater flow is generally from the southeast to the northwest and travels through tributary aquifers in a direction towards the main buried valley aquifer.

The water distribution system includes approximately 44 miles of underground pipe varying in size from 4 to 16 inches. There are approximately 675 main line water valves and 338 fire hydrants. Most of the underground piping was installed between 1920 and 1940.

Over the past 15 years, the City has replaced sections of the distribution system. Also, the City has replaced a majority of the underground water main valves and all of the fire hydrants. The City expects to continue replacing water lines over the next 25 years.

Sanitary Sewer System

The City of Oakwood owns and operates an underground sanitary sewer system. The system includes approximately 39 miles of buried pipe in sizes ranging from 5 to 18 inches. Most of the sewer lines were installed between 1920 and 1940. The sewer lines drain to three different water treatment plants.

Over the past 15 years, the City has begun replacing parts of the sanitary sewer system. The City expects that this replacement will continue over the next 25 years as many of the old lines age.

Storm Drainage System

The City of Oakwood owns and operates a storm sewer system. The system includes approximately 25 miles of underground storm sewer piping in sizes ranging from 12 to 60 inches. A majority of Oakwood is located within the Lower Great Miami Basin drainage area, as defined by the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC). This includes the northern and western two-thirds of the City.

The southeast corner of Oakwood drains to the Little Miami Watershed Basin, as defined by MVRPC. All areas within the City of Oakwood are located above the 100-year flood elevation as defined by the United States Geological Survey. Although some areas of Oakwood may experience local stormwater drainage problems, none are related to river flooding events.

Fiber Optic System

In 2002, the City of Oakwood completed installation of a fiber optic communications system interconnecting all public buildings in Oakwood. The system includes a main trunk line with 48 single-mode fibers. It currently serves the traffic signal interconnect system, the City telephone systems, the City water production control system, and the City and School computer systems. It is also capable of serving other future needs including video cameras, security systems, and others. The fiber optic cable is constructed entirely underground.