History

Cleveland Water has a long history of providing safe and great-tasting water. Since our founding in 1856, we have worked hard to help our City – and the surrounding region – grow and expand.

Interactive Timeline: Water Milestones in Cleveland

2018

Cleveland Water receives the Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies

2017 b

Cleveland Water transitions customer accounts from quarterly to monthly billing to help customers better manage their budgets and more easily track water usage.

2017

The City of Cleveland Heights officially becomes a direct service customer

2015

Crown Water Treatment Plant receives the prestigious Phase IV Excellence in Water Treatment award from the Partnership for Safe Water Treatment Plant Optimization Program

2015

The Capital Improvement Program is now focused on underground infrastructure and $26 million a year is invested in replacing and renewing aging water mains throughout the service area

2007

Interior of the Morgan Finished Water Pump Station

2008 b

Construction of the 15 million gallon Morgan East Reservoir

2011

Exterior of the newly rehabilitated Fairmount Pump Station

2007 b

Construction of the Flocculation Tanks at Baldwin

2004

Construction of the Gravity Sludge Thickeners at Nottingham

1997

Cleveland Water begins its Plant Enhancement Program (PEP) to modernize all four water treatment plants

1991 b

Parma Control Center is renovated, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition is initiated, and the Engineering Field Services Office is constructed

1985

A massive Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is launched to modernize water plant operations and improve larger water mains throughout the system

1956

Cement-lined pipe becomes the Cleveland Water standard and is installed throughout the distribution system

1916

Garrett Morgan, local inventor, rescues several miners trapped when a Cleveland Water tunnel collapses 

1915

Warrensville Reservoir and Pumping Station, located between Green Rd. and Harvard Ave., is constructed and delivers water to customers in eastern and southeastern areas of the system 

1913

Daily water quality testing begins

2012 b

Cleveland Water begins to install state-of-the-art automated meter reading (AMR) technology in homes and businesses throughout the service area

2012 b

The Plant Enhancement Program is completed, investing a total of $650 million across 28 different plant construction projects

2008

Cleveland Water begins to invest $10 million annually on water main replacements in suburban communities that have signed the Amended WSA

2007 c

Cleveland Water offers Amended Water Service Agreements (WSAs) to suburbs throughout the system – transferring responsibility for main replacement from the city to Cleveland Water within those communities that execute the new agreement

2006

Cleveland Water celebrates its 150th anniversary by recreating the original fountain which appeared on Public Square at the 1856 Ohio State Fair

2000

The Plant Enhancement Program (PEP) includes rebuilding and modernizing all 4 water treatment plants

1995

A new facility is constructed on Harvard Ave. for Distribution & Maintenance. Crown Water Treatment Plant is upgraded, expanded, and modernized.

1991

Renovation of the Division Avenue Filtration Plant is completed and the plant is rededicated and renamed after Garrett A. Morgan

1975

Steam-powered pumps are converted to electric power for the entire water system

1972

The Public Utilities Building, located at 1201 Lakeside Ave., opens, consolidating all Cleveland Water management and business functions into a single location

1967

Parma Control Center is completed, consolidating and upgrading secondary facility operations (pump stations, water tanks, and towers) 

1958

Crown Water Treatment Plant, located on Clague Rd. in Westlake, opens to serve customers in west and southwest areas of the water system

1951

Nottingham Water Plant, located between Chardon Rd. and St. Clair Ave., opens to serve customers in east and southeast areas of the water system

1934

Parma Reservoir, located between Snow Rd. and Pearl Rd., is completed as part of the Work Project Administration and delivers water to customers in southwest areas of the water system

1925

Baldwin Filtration Plant & Reservoir and Fairmount Pump Station, both located between Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Fairhill Rd., are placed into service, bringing filtered water to all Cleveland Water customers for the first time.

1917

The Division Avenue Filtration Plant and Pumping Station, located on Division Ave. near W.45th St., is placed into service. A modern marvel of its time, completion of the plant brought filtered water to the west side of Cleveland.

1911

Cleveland begins to add chlorine to its water to help eradicate cholera and typhoid fever

1904

Kirtland Crib (5 Mile Crib), Intake Tunnel, and Pump Station are all placed into service

1885

Fairmount Reservoir, located between Woodhill Rd. and Quincy Ave., is placed into service while the Kentucky Street Reservoir is retired

1883

Kinsman Reservoir, located between Kinsman Rd. and East 116th St., is completed, providing service to higher elevations within the service area

1870

Cleveland Water installs its first water meters

1869

Due to pollution near the shores of Lake Erie, work commences on a new 6,600-foot water intake tunnel, a 5-year project.

1856

September 24, 1856-Water system operations commence

1854-56

Chief Engineer T.R. Scowden leads construction of the first water facilities, including an  intake, pump station, the Kentucky Street Reservoir, and 11 miles of distribution pipe

1853

Cleveland City Council authorizes $400,000 in bonds for the development of a centralized public water system that will eventually become Cleveland Water

1840

Cleveland City Council authorizes the sinking of a well at Public Square

1814

Entrepreneur Benhu Johnson begins delivering water by the barrel to customers at a price of 2 gallons per penny

1796

Cleveland established on the banks of the Cuyahoga River near the shores of Lake Erie