Cleveland to Invest in Water Main Maintenance and Corrosion Control Through 2031

Cleveland is preparing for a multi-year effort to strengthen its water infrastructure, focusing on the reliability of the pipes that deliver drinking water to the region. City Council has passed an emergency ordinance, identified as Ord. No. 602-2026, which establishes the framework for inspecting, repairing, and replacing transmission water mains, valves, and other essential components. This program is designed to run from 2027 through 2031 and aims to address aging infrastructure by preventing failures in the primary arteries of the city's water system.

The Division of Water, which serves approximately 1.4 million customers across Greater Cleveland Division of Water | City of Cleveland Ohio, will use this legislation to authorize professional service and public improvement contracts. According to the 602-2026 Legislative Summary, the total estimated cost for these combined projects exceeds $22.6 million. The planned expenditures include $12 million for the Transmission Main Renewal Program, $5.6 million for Phase III Cathodic Protection, $2.5 million for Phase II Cathodic Protection, $1.5 million for the Little Met Transmission Main Liner, and $1 million for corrosion engineering services. These efforts are intended to mitigate corrosion—a major cause of deterioration in steel and iron assets—through cathodic protection and specialized coating systems.

The ordinance has officially passed and is now part of the city's long-term planning for water system reliability. As the city moves toward the 2027 implementation date, residents can watch for upcoming contract awards and specific project schedules related to the transmission main and corrosion prevention programs.

Source record

File
602-2026
Type
Emergency Ordinance
Status
Passed
Committee
City Council
Introduced
May 6, 2026

View on Cleveland Legistar

Official documents

Sources