Where Your Dollar Goes
Ever wonder what happens to your money when you pay your water bill every month? At Cleveland Water, we know you work hard for that money. We operate entirely on revenue from ratepayers, so we want to be accountable to our customers for every dollar we spend. That’s why we created an infographic to show exactly how we spend those dollars. Click on the tabs below to learn more.
For every dollar Cleveland Water spends, $0.36 goes to investing in infrastructure like water treatment plants, pump stations, and underground water mains. Infrastructure plays a critical role in our daily lives and our communities. Cleveland, like most other older cities, is facing the inevitable aging of its infrastructure. That’s why we have been and will continue investing in infrastructure in order to maintain safe, reliable water service.
$0.20 of that $0.36 goes to current investments in the water system as part of the Cleveland Water Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Currently, the focus of our CIP is the renewal and replacement of our 5,300 miles of water mains, with approximately $25 million a year dedicated to replacing aging underground infrastructure as a proactive measure against increased main breaks and other deterioration that can interrupt water service and inconvenience customers.
We have over $700 million planned in capital investments from 2021 to 2030.
The other $0.16 goes to debt payments for historical investments in the water system. From 2006 to 2018, Cleveland Water invested over $1.1 billion in our infrastructure. This includes projects like the $630 million Plant Enhancement Program, which modernized all four of our water treatment plants, and the installation of new, state-of-the-art automated meter reading technology (AMR).
Safe, quality drinking water is critical for the health, life, and growth of our community. That’s why $0.38 of every dollar we spend goes to pay for the everyday operation and maintenance of the Cleveland Water supply system; ensuring that our water treatment plants, pump stations, tanks and towers, and distribution mains produce and deliver the highest quality water to homes and businesses across our 640 square mile service area. This includes:
- 4 interconnected water treatment plants
- 5,300 miles of water mains,
- Approximately 440,000 active water connections,
- 74,971 fire hydrants,
- 67,733 valves,
- 21 water storage facilities (tanks and towers), and
- 5 major and 12 secondary pump stations.
$0.19 of that $0.38 goes to operate the four water plants that produce a reliable supply of safe drinking water. The health and safety of our customers and community is our top priority. Water treatment plants operate 24/7/365 and water quality is regularly tested at every step of the treatment process from intake to delivery.
Another $0.19 goes to pay for the engineering and maintenance of the distribution system that delivers a constant supply of safe, great-tasting water when and where our customers need it.
$0.08 of every dollar goes to providing quality customer service at all levels of customer interaction. Whether through our permitting staff, our Call Center, or our staff in the field like Meter Technicians, we strive to engage our customers with courteous, quality, and timely service.
Working behind the scenes to make sure we regularly meet and exceed our customers’ expectations is a large support system. This support system includes IT staff, accountants, human resources, and administrative staff that keep our operation running smoothly and efficiently.
$0.08 of every dollar goes to make sure public dollars are accounted for and that we have a professional and qualified workforce. Investment in our employees is just as important as investment in our tangible assets. This category includes recruitment and training of employees, safety training, financial accounting, and budget creation and monitoring.
$0.06 of every dollar goes to pay for the technology that serves as the backbone of our customer service, water treatment, and distribution systems. Whether it’s hardware or software, these systems require regular monitoring, maintenance, and enhancements to create a reliable, efficient, and enhanced experience for both our customers and employees.