Imagine turning on the tap and nothing happens. The toilet won’t flush. Trash piles up. That’s life without infrastructure—the systems we rarely think about but rely on daily.
Behind it all? More than $1.5 billion in infrastructure, and the people who make it work. This National Infrastructure Week, we’re shining a light on the systems you count on and the crews who keep them going.
It may vanish from sight, but the journey is just beginning
Wastewater from homes and businesses travels through a network of nearly 900 miles of pipe—farther than a round trip to Disneyland. While most of the system flows by gravity, lift stations help move water uphill when needed.
It all ends up at two regional treatment plants that can clean up to 30 million gallons of wastewater a day—over 7 billion gallons each year. Once treated, the water is safely returned to the environment, protecting public health and keeping our region running smoothly.
But the story doesn’t stop there. As part of the treatment process, we recover valuable resources for reuse in the community. A portion of the treated water irrigates parks, golf courses, and streetscapes, while byproducts of the process are used to generate electricity for onsite operations or converted into renewable natural gas to help fuel our garbage trucks.
“Most people don’t think twice about what happens after they flush—but we do, every single day,” said Trent Johnson, Environmental Utilities Maintenance Superintendent. “Our plants are like behind-the-scenes heroes, quietly treating millions of gallons so it can safely return to the environment. And because we serve more than just Roseville, we take pride in knowing our work helps keep the entire region flowing smoothly.”
Fun fact: Every time you flush, it costs about $0.0003. That small amount helps move, treat, and safely return your water to the environment. Plus, it keeps the system strong for the future.
Where your clean water journey begins
Most of Roseville’s drinking water starts in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, flowing to the Barton Water Treatment Plant, where it’s treated to the highest standards.
From there, it travels through hundreds of miles of pipe—about the distance from Roseville to San Diego—and is stored in tanks across the city, including west Roseville, near Lifetime Fitness, and at the treatment plant. These tanks help regulate pressure, support fire protection, and keep water flowing during peak demand.
We also maintain thousands of fire hydrants to support emergency response and keep our community safe.
On average, we treat 10.1 billion gallons of drinking water each year to meet the needs of our growing community. While our system runs mostly on gravity, pump stations move water to higher areas when needed.
For over 20 years, Roseville has invested in groundwater storage through Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR). This program lets us store extra water underground during wet years and use it in dry or drought conditions, providing a reliable emergency backup supply. New wells are now being added to expand that capacity.
“When you turn on the tap, you're seeing the end of a long journey—one that starts with our treatment plants and stretches across hundreds of miles of pipe,” said Stephen Peterson, Water Treatment Plant Chief Operator. “Our plant team and distribution crews work nonstop to make sure every drop is clean, safe, and there when you need it.”
Fun fact: Roseville customers pay about $0.005 per gallon for clean, reliable water. That’s a fraction of bottled water, which often costs $1.29 per gallon at the store.
The everyday champions of trash day
Rain or shine—even on holidays—our Waste Services team works nonstop to keep Roseville clean and moving.
Beyond your garbage bin, our team:
- Collects over 134,000 tons of trash each year—about the weight of 370 fully loaded Boeing 747s
- Completes more than 4 million curbside pickups annually
- Collects up to 42 tons of food and organic waste weekly through our commercial program, helping reduce landfill waste and cut greenhouse gas emissions
With the help of more than 60 trucks in our fleet, we are able to keep our community clean and thriving.
“Great service never takes a day off,” said Brian Jones, Refuse Superintendent. “Collecting millions of pounds of waste across the city isn’t glamorous, but we take real pride in keeping Roseville clean, rain or shine.”
Fun fact: It costs about $8.57 per pickup for the typical residential customer—compared to $44 per trip for individual landfill drop-off. That’s real value delivered right to your curb.
As Roseville continues to grow, so does our infrastructure and our dedication to maintaining and improving it. National Infrastructure Week is a reminder that what’s underground and behind the scenes is just as important as what’s visible. Our mission remains clear: to deliver high-quality, reliable utility services that enhance the quality of life in Roseville every single day.