MAJOR PROJECTS

 

  

In order to provide our customers with a plentiful supply of high quality water, Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) optimizes water treatment processes and operations and proactively replaces more than 30 miles of aging water mains each year. These enhancements also improve water flow and pressure. At GCWW, we strive to be a leader in regional solutions.


GCWW Water Main Replacement Projects:

GCWW has several Water Main Replacement Projects ongoing throughout the city. The list below provides information about specific projects that may impact your area. Click on the link for more details about the project.

Why are we investing?
Water mains are usually expected to last 80-120 years. As part of the annual replacement program, investments are being made to provide the most reliable service to our customers.

Benefits Include:

  • Fewer potential water main breaks or leaks
  • Improved water system reliability
  • Increased water supply
  • New fire hydrants


Outages & Traffic Restrictions:
Outages and traffic disruptions may be necessary throughout the project. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding throughout the project. You will receive additional notifications prior to the start of the construction phase of the project.

Current Projects:

Riverside Drive Water Main Rehab Project

UPDATE December 2024 - All work is complete.  The new water main was put into service in mid-October and the roadway was immediately repaved.  All lanes are open to traffic and no future work is planned at this time. 

UPDATE September 2024 - Water main installation is expected to be complete in mid-October. Upon completion, the full road closure will be removed. Restoration (grinding/paving/restriping) will take place in late October & early November. Flaggers will be used during the restoration phase.

UPDATE August 2024 - Water Main installation will pass the Leblond Recreation Center the week of August 5th. Starting this week until the completion of the project, access to Leblond will be from the west side of Riverside only.

UPDATE May 2024 - Phase 3 was delayed. New road closure date is set for June 17, 2024.

UPDATE March 2024 - Phases 1 and 2 of the project, which included utility exploration and relocation of the 12-inch distribution main, are complete as of March 5th. The road closure to accommodate the installation of a new 60-in water main is scheduled to begin the week of May 20, 2024 and will last 3 months. Through traffic will be detoured around the project, with the exception of bicycle and school bus traffic only. Local traffic will only be accessible from one side of the project or the other, depending on the specific location of work, which will generally progress from west to east over the course of the project.

UPDATE November 2023 - The Riverside Drive water main replacement project is now scheduled to begin Phase 2 on Monday, November 13. The new schedule is due to construction supplies becoming available more quickly than expected and because part of the 12-inch distribution main is blocking a segment of the 60-inch transmission main that is being replaced. As a result, there will no longer be a pause between Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project, and some of that work will be done simultaneously. Traffic will be maintained in the area during the work but the number of lanes will be reduced. Flaggers will be used to direct motorists through the construction zone.

UPDATE August 2023 - GCWW has obtained a construction contract to replace a section of the large diameter water main on Riverside from Collins Ave. to Lumber St. The work is expected to begin in late September 2023, and will be completed in 3 phases over approximately 14 months. The first phase involves exploration and a gap in the work is expected between the first and second phases. Traffic will be maintained, with restrictions, during the first two phases of work. However, traffic will be detoured for approximately 3 months during the 3rd phase, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in summer 2024. At the end of the 3rd phase, the full width of the roadway will be re-paved and striped. An informational session is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday September 11th, during the East End Area Council meeting at the LeBlond Recreation Center, 2335 Riverside Drive.

UPDATE December 2022 - Earlier this year, GCWW worked with an engineering firm to evaluate various methods for rehabilitating the existing large diameter water main on Riverside Drive. The evaluation indicated there are no options for rehabilitation that are more beneficial or less disruptive than a complete replacement. As a result, GCWW has refocused efforts on creating a replacement plan. We will continue to work with DOTE during the design process and will provide updates as they become available.

UPDATE October 26, 2021 - GCWW is in the preliminary stages of evaluating methods to rehabilitate a section of water main on Riverside Drive from Collins Ave to an area just east of Lumber St. The purpose of this project is to improve the structural integrity of this important pipeline and re-establish water system redundancy that was lost following main breaks earlier this year. We anticipate construction will occur sometime in 2022, however, utility/traffic coordination, contracting, and supply chain issues could impact the schedule significantly depending on the rehabilitation method recommended. We will be working closely with the City’s Department of Transportation and Engineering on roadway restrictions required to complete the work once it is better defined. A Public Utility Land Survey Notification letter will be sent to nearby residents in November 2021. A copy of the Riverside Public Notice Information is included in the link below. Further updates to the schedule and impact will be posted to this site as they become available.

Riverside Public Notice

Additional Projects:

Project Name Community Contractor NTP Date Const. Comp. Date Contractor
Baltimore, Seegar Fairmount 12/9/24 10/1/25 Adleta
McMillan, Taft Corryville 10/14/24 6/11/25 Ford Development
Beech, Eighth Price Hill 9/30/24 5/28/25 Fred A. Nemann
Erie, Burch Hyde Park 5/27/24 2/21/25 Howell
MLK, Bishop Corryville 7/29/24 1/25/25 Howell
Apple, Cooper, Hanfield Northside 3/4/24 12/27/24 Adleta
Carson, Del Monte, Fairbanks E Price Hill 4/1/24 11/6/24 Fred A. Nemann

 

Completed Projects:

Project Name Community Contractor NTP Date Const. Comp. Date Contractor
Fire Flow Collection Various 3/11/24 11/6/24 Howell
Fairview, Graham, Probasco Clifton 9/5/23 9/30/24 Adleta
Cappel, Carnation/td> W Price Hill 8/1/23 9/30/24 Ford Development
Symmes, Fowler Walnut Hills 10/17/22 5/21/24 Ford Development
McMicken, Tafel, Enslin Clifton Hts 7/19/23 4/14/24 Howell
Bevis, Boneparte Evanston 6/5/23 3/20/24 Adleta

(Last updated 9/17/24)

Click here to view a map of all GCWW construction projects.

Questions?

Contact the project manager listed in the project details, or call a GCWW Call Center Representative at 513.591.7700

Mt. Airy Water Storage Facility Rehab Project

Background

Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) representatives met with the Mt. Airy Town Council on May 23, 2018, to present findings from the GCWW assessment of the Mt. Airy Water Tank and obtain feedback regarding plans for facility rehabilitation. GCWW presented available options which included reducing the water storage capacity to meet operational needs, with an intent to move forward with rehabbing a portion of the structure.

The initial rehabilitation proposal would maintain the current brick facade on a portion of the tower and allow for a reduction in the storage volume to address operational considerations, although this approach would have an impact on the existing structure footprint.

Re-evaluation and New Project Plan

Since the May 23 meeting, attendees and other members of the community have voiced several additional concerns with the proposed plan, as they noted the facility is a focal point of the community. Many residents and stakeholders stressed the importance of preserving the historic significance, identity, and unique appearance of the facility, along with maintaining the availability of water storage capacity for emergencies.

In consideration of this feedback and subsequent discussions, GCWW undertook further evaluation to address community and historic-preservation concerns, in unison with structural needs and operational requirements. The outcome of the re-evaluation has modified the concept of the rehabilitation project from that originally proposed. The GCWW project plan now includes rehabilitation of the full facility fa9ade, thereby maintaining the current footprint of the structure.

The cost of the original proposal was estimated at $7.7 million. With community input and re­evaluation, GCWW arrived at what we believe to be an acceptable and sustainable solution, now estimated at $10.4 million.

To continue to advance this project, GCWW will begin meeting with the Mt. Airy Town Council this month to present the new project plan. We believe this revised approach accommodates the concerns raised by the community while supporting the utility's operational requirements. GCWW remains committed to working with the community on this important project.

View Mt. Airy Tower Presentation from October 24, 2018 (PDF)

View Mt. Airy Presentation from December 22, 2021 (PDF)

Limited Environmental Review and Finding of No Significant Impact

No ID, No Entry:

If someone comes to your door and says they are with the Greater Cincinnati Water Works, ask for identification. Our Field Personnel wear blue or brown uniforms with patches on their hats and sleeves that read "Cincinnati Water Works." Each employee also carries a picture ID. GCWW sometimes uses contractors for certain services, including our meter change-outs. Our contractors will have a GCWW ID as well as their company ID. Always ask to see the ID before you let anyone into your home.