
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.
© 2021 City of Cleveland, Division of Water
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.
Cleveland Water transitioned customer accounts from quarterly to monthly billing to help better manage their household budgets and track their water usage easier
The City of Cleveland Heights officially becomes a direct service customer
Crown Water Filtration Plant received the Phase IV Excellence in Water Treatment award. Crown is one of only 16 plants across the nation to receive this highest level of achievement from the Partnership
Cleveland Water altered its CIP to begin focusing on underground infrastructure, investing $26 million a year on replacing and renewing aging water mains throughout its service area
Interior of the Morgan Finished Water Pump Station
Construction of the 15 million gallon Morgan East Reservoir
Exterior of the newly rehabilitated Fairmount Pump Station
Construction of the Flocculation Tanks at Baldwin
Construction of the Gravity Sludge Thickeners at Nottingham
Cleveland Water begins its Plant Enhancement Program (PEP) to modernize all four water treatment plants
Parma Control Center is renovated, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition is initiated, Engineering Field Services Office is constructed
Massive Capital Improvement Program (CIP) begins to modernize water plant operations and improve larger water mains throughout the system
Cement-lined pipe becomes the Cleveland Water standard and is installed throughout the distribution system
Garrett Morgan, local inventor, rescues several miners trapped when a Cleveland Water tunnel collapses
Warrensville Reservoir and Pumping Station, located between Green Rd. and Harvard Ave., is constructed and delivers water to eastern and southeastern areas of the system
Daily water quality testing begins; Warrensville Reservoir constructed, delivering water to eastern and southeastern areas of the system located farther away from Lake Erie
Automatic Meter Reading program begins, projected completion date is 2014
The $650 million PEP is completed, shifting the focus of the CIP to smaller water mains in the system
Cleveland Water begins expending $10 million annually on water main replacements in suburban communities that have signed the Amended WSA
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
Cleveland Water celebrates its 150th anniversary and recreates the original fountain which appeared on the Public Square at the 1856 Ohio State Fair
Plant Enhancement Program (PEP) includes rebuilding and modernization of all 4 water treatment plants (28 construction projects, $650 million total cost)
New Harvard Yard Facilities is constructed and Crown Plant is upgraded, expanded, and modernized
Division Filter Plant Renovation is completed and the plant is rededicated and renamed after Garrett Morgan
Conversion from steam -to electric- power- driven pumps is completed for entire water system
Public Utilities Building (1201 Lakeside Ave.) opens, consolidating all Cleveland Water management and business functions into a single location
Parma Control Center is completed, consolidating and upgrading secondary station operations (pump stations, water tanks, and towers)
Crown Water Plant, located between Detroit Ave. and Clague Rd., opens to serve the far west and southwest areas of the water system
Nottingham Water Plant, located between Chardon Rd. and St. Clair Ave., opens to serve the far east and southeast areas of the water system
Parma Reservoir, located between Snow Rd. and Pearl Rd., is completed as part of the Work Project Administration and delivers water to the southwest areas of the water system
Baldwin Filtration Plant & Reservoir and Fairmount Pump Station, both located between Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Fairhill Rd., are all placed into service, bringing filtrated water to the entire system
A new water treatment plant (Division Ave., located between West 45th St. and Division Ave.), Intake, and Pump Station are all placed into service, bringing filtered water to the west side (now known as Garrett Morgan)
Cleveland begins to add chlorine to its water to help eradicate cholera and typhoid fever
Kirtland Crib (5 Mile Crib), Intake Tunnel, and Pump Station are all placed into service
Fairmount Reservoir, located between Woodhill Rd. and Quincy Ave., is placed into service while the Kentucky Street Reservoir is retired completed
Kinsman Reservoir, located between Kinsman Rd. and East 116th St., is completed, providing service to higher elevations within the service area
Cleveland Water installs its first water meters
Due to pollution near the shores of Lake Erie, work commences on a new crib tunnel, a 7-year project, 5 miles in length
September 24, 1856-Water system operations commence
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
Cleveland City Council authorizes $400,000 in bonds for the development of a centralized public water system that will eventually become Cleveland Water
Cleveland City Council authorizes the sinking of a well at Public Square
Entrepreneur Benhu Johnson begins delivering water by the barrel to customers at a price of 2 gallons per penny
Cleveland established on the banks of the Cuyahoga River near the shores of Lake Erie