Cleveland to Hire Contractors for Water Main and Pavement Repairs

Cleveland is taking steps to bolster the maintenance of its massive water distribution network by authorizing new requirement contracts for essential repairs. Through emergency ordinance 625-2026, the city is preparing to hire contractors to provide labor and materials to help the Division of Water manage the upkeep of its extensive infrastructure. This supplemental support is intended to assist city repair crews, particularly during high-demand periods such as cold winter snaps when freezing connections and water main breaks typically increase.

The scope of this work covers a wide range of critical services, including the repair and replacement of water mains, fire hydrants, service connections, and valves. Beyond the pipes themselves, the contracts include tree lawn restoration and pavement restoration services, such as edge sealing, following utility work. According to the 625-2026 Legislative Summary, these pavement restoration contracts will also be utilized by the Water Pollution Control and Cleveland Public Power divisions. To manage the vast system—which includes 5,400 miles of water mains and 70,000 fire hydrants—the anticipated costs are expected to exceed $27 million per year for water distribution maintenance, with an additional $4 million estimated annually for pavement restoration. Funding will be drawn from various municipal funds, including potential loans from the Ohio EPA or the Ohio Water Development Authority.

The ordinance has passed through City Council. As the city moves forward with these requirement contracts, residents can watch for upcoming contract awards that will determine which companies will assist with the Division of Water's maintenance and restoration efforts.

Source record

File
625-2026
Type
Emergency Ordinance
Status
Passed
Committee
City Council
Introduced
May 7, 2026

View on Cleveland Legistar

Official documents

Sources