Cleveland clears 2027-28 water-main renewal contracts

Cleveland clears 2027-28 water-main renewal contractsCleveland has authorised the Department of Public Utilities to procure contracts to renew, repair and replace water mains over 2027 and 2028. The approval extends the Division of Water's five-year replacement programme, which officials said typically delivers about $10 million of main replacements annually in the city.

Ordinance 758-2026 authorises one or more public-improvement contracts for water-main renewal, repair and replacement in 2027 and 2028.

The Division of Water said its normal annual water-main replacement programme is approximately $10 million.

The work continues a five-year programme for which council receives a January update containing plans and maps by ward.

Council requested early sharing of planned replacement streets so mains work can be coordinated with resurfacing and avoid work on newly repaved roads.

Cleveland City Council has approved Ordinance 758-2026, allowing the Director of Public Utilities to enter into public-improvement contracts for the renewal, repair and replacement of water mains during 2027 and 2028. The measure continues the Division of Water's existing five-year water-main replacement programme. Speaking to the Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee on 5 October, the Director said the division "typically does approximately $10 million worth of water main replacement in the city of Cleveland." The Director said the work is publicly procured and put out to bid, and described the legislation as authority to continue replacement activity for the two-year period. While there was no detailed project list or contract value presented during the discussion, council highlighted the operational importance of aligning the water programme with roadway works. Councilman Casey asked that every council member receive the streets scheduled for water-main replacement, enabling them to work with the Division of Streets on resurfacing plans. The objective, he said, is to ensure Cleveland does not replace mains on streets that have recently been repaved. The Director noted that council is notified each January about the five-year plan, including maps specific to ward boundaries. The ordinance was approved without further questions. It gives the utility contracting authority for the 2027-2028 phase of a recurring capital programme, while placing coordination with street resurfacing at the centre of council's request for project-level visibility.