Electrical

The Town owns and operates its own user-supported electric utility that provides service to most residents and businesses within the town. The Electric Department was established in 1922. It purchases energy wholesale from American Municipal Power, a nonprofit leader in supplying wholesale power to municipalities, and is able to provide electrical service at very competitive rates. Approximately 2,500 electric customers are served by the Town. The Town of Richlands is committed to seeking, evaluating, and pursuing power supply opportunities in order to maintain service reliability at cost competitive rates.

Streets & Roads

The duties of the Road Division include the maintenance, cleaning, clearing, snow plowing and rehabilitation of roadways within the town; the maintenance and repair of storm sewer systems, drains and culverts that fall under town jurisdiction; and the installation and maintenance of street markings and signs.

Water

The Town of Richlands owns and operates the Richlands Regional Water Treatment Facility, which is a 2.5 million gallon per day (MGD) facility that utilizes conventional methods to treat and deliver potable water to the Town's distribution system. Partnering with the Town of Cedar Bluff and the Tazewell County Public Service Authority, the facility was constructed in 1994 and currently furnishes water to the Town of Cedar Bluff, the communities of Raven and Doran and other rural areas in the Northwestern district of Tazewell County. In addition, the facility provides potable water to some areas of Russell and Buchanan Counties through the distribution system of the Tazewell County Public Service Authority. The water treatment plant is currently operating at about 48% capacity and serves approximately 2,465 in-town and 77 out-of-town customers. The plant also provides water treatment services to approximately 10,000 customers outside of the Town through the agreements with the Tazewell County PSA and neighboring counties. Water distribution is accomplished through the use of booster pumping stations and storage tanks located throughout the service area.

Waste Water

Richlands owns and operates the Richlands Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, a 4.0 million gallons per day (MGD) facility that utilizes advanced activated sludge, through a nitrification / de-nitrification process, to treat wastewater received. The plant, located at 425 Plant Road, treats wastewater received from both the Town and the Tazewell County Public Service Authority's sewage collection system. Partnering with the Town of Cedar Bluff and the Tazewell County PSA, the facility was constructed in 1990 and currently serves the Town of Cedar Bluff and the communities of Raven, Doran and Banes Bottom. Treated wastewater is discharged into the Clinch River while sludge is disposed of naturally. The wastewater treatment plant is at approximately 30% capacity and serves 2,403 in-town and 60 out-of-town customers. Almost all potential users in the town with access to a nearby sewer line are connected to the system. The plant also provides wastewater treatment services to approximately 10,000 customers outside of the Town through agreement with the Tazewell County PSA.

Parks & Recreation

The Town of Richlands owns and operates recreations facilities providing outdoor swimming pool, indoor/outdoor tennis courts, indoor/outdoor basketball courts, weight room, sports fields, playgrounds, shelters and walking/biking trails and rental rooms for special events.The Town of Richlands strives to provide the community with a wide variety of youth, adult and family activities that offer our citizens the opportunity to use personal leisure time in a viable, productive and gratifying manner at various facilities that provide both active and passive atmospheres while maintaining historical and environmental awareness.

Sanitation

The Town of Richlands provides sanitation services to the citizens. Responsible for the pick-up and removal of all house hold trash and certain large items when scheduled and approved. Our employees work hard to provide good, reliable year round service, often under very difficult weather conditions.
RESIDENTIAL LOCATION AND TRASH ROUTES SCHEDULE