Public works refers to the municipal department or services responsible for building and maintaining essential infrastructure and services that support community functioning. Public works typically handles roads and sidewalks, water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, stormwater management, garbage and recycling collection, snow clearing, parks maintenance, and fleet management. This department directly affects daily quality of life—from whether water flows when you turn the tap to whether streets are cleared after snowstorms. Public works represents a significant portion of municipal budgets and staffing, delivering services residents rely on constantly but often take for granted.