Cleveland Moves Forward with Year 5 of Lead Service Line Replacement
Cleveland is moving into the next phase of its efforts to modernize the city's water infrastructure by preparing for the fifth year of its lead service line replacement initiative. Through emergency ordinance Ord. No. 624-2026, the Cleveland Division of Water is authorized to hire professional consultants and secure contracts for the materials and labor necessary to manage "Program Year 5" of the replacement project. This phase focuses on replacing older lead and galvanized service lines with copper to ensure long-term water safety.
What's in the file
The legislation authorizes the Division of Water to enter into professional service and requirement contracts to procure supplies and materials, conduct service line investigations, and perform the physical replacement of lead and galvanized lines. According to the Legislative Summary, the program aims to replace approximately 12,000 service connections per year using federal and state funding.
The record outlines several key components of the Year 5 plan:
- Authorization to apply for and accept grants and/or loans from the State of Ohio and the federal government, including funds from the Ohio EPA’s Drinking Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (DWSRLA).
- Implementation of 20 specific project sites, designated as CWD LSLR 5-1 through CWD LSLR 5-20.
- A waiver of the city's normal permit fees, such as those for street opening and obstruction, to help stretch project dollars further.
- The use of up to 15 contracts for contractor work and restoration, and up to 5 contracts for material procurement.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anticipated Year 5 Cost | $150M |
| Anticipated annual replacements | 12,000 |
| Number of designated project sites | 20 |
Who may be affected
- Division of Water: Authorized to manage contracts, procure materials, and oversee the replacement projects.
- Property Owners: Residents with lead or galvanized service lines may see work performed to transition these connections to copper.
- Contractors and Consultants: Professional entities will be hired for design, inspection, lead inventory, and construction/restoration work.
Status and timeline
The ordinance has officially passed as an emergency measure. The timeline for the program is as follows:
- August 7, 2023: Official start of the Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Program.
- 2026 Q1: Period when the city anticipated nominating projects for Year 5 funding.
- 2027 Q1: Anticipated start for Year 5 construction.
Residents can verify the details of this ordinance and the scope of the replacement program by reviewing the official record at Cleveland City Council.
Source record
- File
- 624-2026
- Type
- Emergency Ordinance
- Status
- Passed
- Committee
- City Council
- Introduced
- May 7, 2026
Official documents
- 624-2026-Req K Prof Serv replace lead and galvanized services lines Year 5
- 624-2026- Legislative Summary- LSLR Year 5
- 624-2026 Amend 624-2026
- 624-2026-as amended-desk copy-Final
- 624-2026 FINAL VERSION-CITY RECORD MAY 29, 2026 PG.47