The city of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) operates five utilities: natural gas, water,
wastewater, stormwater, and electric streetlighting. DPU serves more than 500,000 residential and commercial customers in
the Richmond and surrounding metropolitan region. DPU's electric street lighting utility maintains more than 32,000 streetlights
throughout the city. DPU maintains a combined sewer system (CSS) in the central part of the city, which carries stormwater
and wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant prior to discharging it into the river. The Stormwater Utility also enhances
public safety and health and protects property by improving the quality and decreasing the quantity of polluted stormwater
runoff.
