Cleveland to Hire Contractors for Water Main and Pavement Repairs
Cleveland is preparing to supplement its municipal repair crews with outside contractors to maintain the city's extensive water infrastructure. Through emergency ordinance 625-2026, the city is authorizing one or more requirement contracts for up to two years to provide the labor and materials necessary to repair, maintain, or replace critical water system components. This supplemental support is intended to help the Division of Water manage high-demand periods, such as cold winter snaps when water main breaks and freezing connections typically increase.
What's in the file
The legislation authorizes requirement contracts for the Division of Water to handle the upkeep of a system that includes 5,400 miles of water mains, 70,000 fire hydrants, and 440,000 service connections. The scope of work includes:
- Repairing and replacing water mains, fire hydrants, service connections, valves, and appurtenances.
- Performing tree lawn restoration following utility repairs.
- Pavement restoration and installation, including edge sealing, for the Divisions of Water, Water Pollution Control, and Cleveland Public Power.
The ordinance also authorizes the Director of Public Utilities and the Director of Finance to apply for and accept various loans and grants, such as the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund (WSRLA) or the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF), from the Ohio EPA or the Ohio Water Development Authority.
| Item | Anticipated Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Water distribution maintenance (Operations) | $22M |
| Water distribution maintenance (Capitalizable work) | $5M |
| Pavement restoration | $4M |
Who may be affected
- Division of Water: Will receive supplemental labor and materials for distribution system maintenance.
- Water Pollution Control Division: Will utilize contracts for pavement restoration.
- Cleveland Public Power: Will utilize contracts for pavement restoration.
- Cleveland Small Businesses: The requirement contracts include a 20% Cleveland Small Business (CSB) goal.
Status and timeline
- May 8, 2026: The ordinance was introduced to City Council.
- July 24, 2026: The ordinance was included in the final version of the City Record.
Residents can verify all details regarding this legislation by reviewing the official record for File No. 625-2026 on the Cleveland City Council website.
Key facts
- Contract term
- up to two years
- CSB goal
- 20%
Source record
- File
- 625-2026
- Type
- Emergency Ordinance
- Status
- Passed
- Committee
- City Council
- Introduced
- May 7, 2026
Official documents
- 625-2026-Req K repair water mains fire hydrants service connections tree lawn restoration
- 625-2026 Legislative Summary
- 625-2026 Amend 625-2026
- 625-2026-as amended-desk copy-Final
- FINAL VERSION City Record July 24, 2026 - Page 25