Cleveland Heights Moving to Cleveland Water in 2017

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH - A crumbling city infrastructure has led Cleveland Heights into the arms of Cleveland Water. Effective January 3, 2017, Cleveland Heights will move from a Master Meter community to a Direct Service community with Cleveland Water. The city held a public meeting Oct. 26 to help answer questions from residents about the change.

The city says that after two difficult winters, the 100-year-old infrastructure suffered multiple pipe bursts and Cleveland Heights could no longer afford the maintenance bill. The city considered three options: a public/private entity, somehow keeping the city's water in house, or moving to Cleveland Water...the city chose Cleveland.

Cleveland Heights has always purchased its water from the city of Cleveland. However, this deal will mean that Cleveland Water is now responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of water distribution infrastructure.

The city's residents will pay a transition fee of $38.91 until 2021. That fee will cover new meters, software for tracking daily water usage, and any outstanding debt to the city of Cleveland. At the end of five years, the transition fee will be eliminated.

According to Cleveland Water, Heights' residents will pay monthly fixed charges based on the size of the water meter at your home or business. Most residential customers will have a meter between 5/8 of a inch and 1 inch. Cleveland Water rates are set on 5 year cycles. The current rate cycle ends in the year 2020.The 5/8" to 1" rate is $9 for 2017-2019 and $9.20 for 2020.

There will also be a consumption charge based on the amount of water you use. The rate for usage is determined by the distance and elevation of your home or business from Lake Erie. In first high service areas, with 0.0 to 0.2 of 1,000 cubic feet will pay $25.04 in 2017 and 2018. They will pay $26.74 in 2018 and $28.41 in 2019.

Your bills will look like this:

Alex Margevicius, Cleveland Water Commissioner, told residents that he knew it was a very hard decision for the community to come to Cleveland Water. "We are humbled and grateful that you've made that choice," he said.

You can watch the video from the community meeting below:

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