SEWER MAINTENANCE
Water Pollution Control cleans and services thousands of storm drains/catch basins annually to minimize or eliminate potential street and basement flooding.
The sewer collection system transfers sanitary sewage and stormwater from their points of origin to three local wastewater treatment facilities, which are operated by Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.
As stormwater manager, WPC also is charged with managing and supervising matters relating to the elimination, control and regulation of water pollution within the City of Cleveland.
Sewer Infrastructure
1,436 miles
Sewer pipes transport stormwater and wastewater from homes and buildings to treatment plants for disposal.
11 Pump Stations
Lift stations collect and transport wastewater to a higher elevation point so that it can flow to a wastewater treatment facility and to minimize flooding during heavy rainfall.
43,500 Catch basins
Curbside drains collect and transport rainwater and melted snow from streets and properties to treatment facilities.
Combined sewers (91%) carry stormwater and wastewater to three treatment plants. In separate sewers (9%) stormwater has its own untreated path directly to nearby waters. Drainage area of about 75.6 miles, of which about 6.8 square miles drains into natural waterways, including Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. Currently 10 of the City’s 17 Wards have separate sewers, which allows stormwater to flow directly to waterways untreated. WPC currently has about 126,000 customer accounts in Cleveland, of which 96% are residential and 4% commercial.
Cleveland Urban Water Cycle
Partnerships
Cleveland Water Pollution Control works collaboratively with many entities, including Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District (CSWCD), Doan Brook Watershed Partners and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD). The CSWCD is able to provide valuable technical assistance that helps the city stay in compliance with mandated Clean Water Act permits.
The NEORSD operates three sewage treatment plants that remove human and other waste from sewage water pumped to the facilities. After removing sewage, the remaining water is safely returned to the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie, which is Northeast Ohio’s main source of drinking water.
