City of Clarks Grove Street Sweeper 2007

A street sweeper is simply a machine that sweeps the street free of debris. Street sweepers have been purchased in cities since sanitation and waste removal became a priority. Most sweeping is limited to spring, summer and fall, when temperatures are above freezing. Municipalities sweep streets early in the spring because of sand on the streets. Cities want to remove sand and other winter debris soon after the snow and ice have melted along the curb line and before the rains flush the debris into storm sewers and possibly clog them. Another reason is safety: loose sand can create a potentially dangerous condition for cars, bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. Many cities also have a major fall sweeping program to remove fallen leaves to prevent them from entering the storm sewer system. The District partnered with the City of Clarks Grove to purchase a street sweeper.