Cleveland, Ohio Water Outage Today
Live Cleveland water outage reports, Cleveland Water’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Cleveland, Ohio in the last 24 hours
The most recent water outage report from Cleveland came in 1 day ago. Across Ohio, 1 report came in over the same 24 hours. Over the past 90 days, Cleveland residents filed 12 water outage reports here on 7 separate days; the busiest was September 18, with 6. Parma, 7 miles away, has 1 report.
12 reports in the last 90 days. Source: TrackOutages user reports.
Who supplies water in Cleveland?
Drinking water in Cleveland, Ohio is supplied by Cleveland Water, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in Ohio are regulated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA).
To report no water or a main break, call Cleveland Water at 216-664-3060.
Cleveland water system on record
Cleveland Water (EPA ID OH1801212) draws surface water from Lake Erie. EPA records list it as serving about 1.31 million people through roughly 454,000 connections, city and suburbs together.
- 2003 blackout. Pumping stations lost power and about one million customers lost water service. The city told residents to boil drinking water through that Sunday after service came back. Source: NPR, Washington Post
- After the blackout, the Division of Water moved to install backup generation at its treatment and distribution stations, an investment of about $25 million. Source: City of Cleveland 2003 Division of Water report
- EPA's record lists no health-based violations for the system. The most recent entry is a monitoring violation for water quality sampling in January–June 2024. Source: EPA SDWIS
Checked September 2026.
Who runs the water in Cleveland: system profile
The system behind most taps in Cleveland is Cleveland Public Water System, which EPA records list as serving roughly 1,308,955 people. Customers know it as Cleveland Water; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Cleveland Public Water System (OH1801212) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 1,308,955 through 453,705 service connections |
| Source of the water | Surface water (rivers, lakes or reservoirs) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 4 surface intakes, 4 treatment points, 25 storage tanks and reservoirs, 19 pump facilities |
| State regulator | Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 0 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 1.7 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Where Cleveland's tap water comes from
Cleveland drinks surface water. Cleveland Public Water System draws it from In From Cleveland City Baldwin, In From Cleveland City Crown, and In From Cleveland City Morgan and treats it before it goes into the distribution system. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include Cleveland Baldwin WTP, Cleveland Morgan WTP, and Cleveland Nottingham WTP. After treatment the water is held in 25 storage tanks and reservoirs and pushed uphill by 19 pump facilities; that storage is the buffer that keeps taps running for a few hours after a pump or main fails.
What this means in an outage. Because the water is drawn from open surface sources, it has to be filtered and disinfected continuously. A plant problem therefore hits everyone at once, unlike a main break, which only dries up the blocks on either side of the damaged pipe.
Why the water goes out in Cleveland
These are the causes that match the record for Cleveland, listed roughly in order of how much they matter here.
- Freezing weather. Cleveland sees about 90 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 23 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on February 24, 2015. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 19 days, ending March 2, 2015. Frost pushes into shallow service lines first. Mains follow when the ground heaves and thaws, which is why break counts climb a day or two after the temperature swings.
- Older neighborhoods and pipe. 79.4% of occupied homes in Cleveland were built before 1970, against 35.5% nationally. Streets of that age tend to sit on cast iron and early steel mains that are near or past their design life, which is where most breaks start.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 58 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Cuyahoga County from 2015 through 2026. Floodwater can undercut pipe crossings, swamp pump stations and overload treatment plants, and a notice to boil water often follows when it enters the system.
- Storm-driven power loss. Thunderstorm wind, hail and tornado reports in Cuyahoga County number 298 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) run on the electric grid, so a storm that downs power lines can lower water pressure even when no pipe is damaged.
- Digging and utility work. Street projects, fiber installation and excavation near buried pipe regularly cut mains in Cleveland with no warning, usually on a day with perfectly ordinary weather.
- Planned shutoffs and a problem at one address. Valve replacements and new connections are announced ahead, often with door hangers. If neighbors have water, check your own shutoff valve, meter and pressure regulator before calling.
How weather strains the Cleveland water system
Main break season in Cleveland runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around December through February.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 89.9 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 23.1 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 32.5 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 0 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 1.5 |
| Average annual precipitation | 34.8 in |
| Wettest year | 2018 (44.5 in) |
| Driest year | 2022 (30.7 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | February 24, 2015 |
| Hottest day in the record | July 9, 2020 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 25.9 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2018 with 44.5 inches; the driest was 2022 with 30.7. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
These counts come from a gridded reanalysis, which smooths out single-day extremes and can differ by a few degrees from an airport thermometer. Use them to compare seasons and years, not as official station records.
Boil water advisories and the federal violation record for Cleveland
EPA lists no health-based violations for Cleveland Public Water System since 2015. It also lists 9 monitoring or reporting entries that are about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent entries, all monitoring or reporting:
- January 2024: A missed or late monitoring or reporting requirement (lead and copper) It is marked resolved.
- July 2017: A missed or late monitoring or reporting requirement (surface water treatment and turbidity) It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Surface water treatment and turbidity | 0 | 8 |
| Lead and copper | 0 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Monitoring and other Health-based
Violations are counted by the year the compliance period began. Source: EPA SDWIS.
When Cleveland loses pressure after a break or a failed test, Cleveland Water asks affected customers to boil water for drinking and cooking. The notice ends only after samples come back clean, which usually takes one to two days after service returns, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) supervises the process.
What the lead tests and housing age say about Cleveland
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Cleveland Public Water System is 0 ppb (2024). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is comfortably below it.
Highest result on file: 1.7 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
The age of the housing matters more than the utility's test average: 79.4% of occupied homes in Cleveland predate 1970 and 1986 was the year lead pipe and solder were banned. Flush the cold tap after an outage and ask Cleveland Water whether your service line is on its lead inventory.
Restoration times for water outages in Cleveland
A crew that arrives at an ordinary main break in Cleveland usually needs 4 to 8 hours to isolate the pipe, dig, repair, flush and restore pressure. Large transmission mains, deep pipes and breaks under busy streets can take a day or more. With 1,308,955 people on the system, a break on a main that feeds a whole district can leave thousands of homes dry at once, and crews may close valves several blocks away to isolate it.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | The posted window, though crews often finish ahead of it |
| Ordinary main break | Half a day once the crew has isolated the pipe |
| Large or deep main | One to three days, longer if parts must be ordered |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | As long as the outage itself, plus a few hours to refill tanks |
| Boil water notice after service returns | About 24 to 48 hours, until lab tests are clean |
| Frozen service line or meter | Depends on thaw; a plumber is usually needed |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
Cleveland Water will post an estimated restoration time for a break that affects many customers; ask for the repair crew's estimate when you call.
Emergency water storage for Cleveland households
The average household in Cleveland has about 2.2 people, so FEMA's minimum of one gallon per person per day comes to roughly 6 gallons for three days and 30 gallons for two weeks.
- 20.2% of residents report a disability (US 13.3%), so check on neighbors who rely on running water for medical equipment.
- 58.3% of households rent. Tell your landlord or property manager about a leak or outage right away, since the shutoff valve may be theirs.
- A standard water heater is a ready-made 40-gallon reserve. Shut off its power or gas, open a hot tap somewhere in the house, and draw from the drain valve.
- Fill the bathtub and a few large pots as soon as you hear a break is likely; that water is for flushing and washing, not drinking.
Cleveland versus neighboring water utilities
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | Cleveland Public Water System | 1,308,955 | Surface | 0 | 1.7 |
| Parma, OH | Cleveland Public Water System | 1,308,955 | Surface | 0 | 1.7 |
| Lorain, OH | Lorain City Public Water System | 64,152 | Surface | 0 | 0 |
| Akron, OH | Akron City Public Water System | 280,000 | Surface | 1 | 4.1 |
| Canton, OH | Canton Public Water System | 107,113 | Ground | 0 | 8 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Where to find official Cleveland water notices
Official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil advisories comes from Cleveland Water, not from this page. Our water outage guide explains what each kind of notice asks you to do.
Cleveland water outage questions
Who do I call about no water in Cleveland?
Cleveland Water at 216-664-3060, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Where does Cleveland get its water?
Per EPA, the water system for Cleveland (Cleveland Public Water System) is classed as surface water. It draws from In From Cleveland City Baldwin, In From Cleveland City Crown, and In From Cleveland City Morgan.
Is the water in Cleveland safe?
EPA lists no health-based violations for Cleveland Public Water System since 2015, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 0 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. Follow any boil water notice until the utility says it is over.
When is water main break season in Cleveland?
Winter, mostly. Cleveland sees roughly 90 days a year at or below freezing, and the peak runs December through February. Expect breaks to cluster just after sharp temperature swings.
What causes low water pressure in Cleveland?
Low pressure often comes from a nearby main break, heavy demand on a hot evening, or a failed pressure regulator at your own home. If neighbors are affected too, report it to Cleveland Water; if only your home is, check the regulator and shutoff valve.
When will a boil water notice be lifted in Cleveland?
Plan on one to two days after pressure is back. Cleveland Water samples the water, waits for clean lab results and then lifts the notice, with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) overseeing the steps.
How much drinking water should I keep at home in Cleveland?
One gallon per person per day is the FEMA minimum. For Cleveland that means about 6 gallons to cover three days for an average household of 2.2, and 30 gallons for two weeks.
Should I worry about lead in Cleveland water?
It depends on the age of your home. About 79.4% of occupied homes in Cleveland were built before 1970, and lead service lines remained legal until 1986. Contact Cleveland Water about your address and flush the cold tap after any outage.
Is there a water outage map for Cleveland?
We do not run a pipe map. The report count at the top of this page shows what other people in Cleveland have reported in the last 24 hours. For the official picture, check Cleveland Water for its outage page, alerts and social accounts.
Recent water reports in Cleveland
- Water reports in Cleveland, last 24h
- 0
- Most recent water report here
- 1 day ago
- Water reports across Ohio, last 24h
- 1
- City population
- 383,793
Other outage types in Cleveland
Water Service Outages in cities near Cleveland
- Parma, OH 7 mi · Cleveland Water · 1 report in 24h
- Lorain, OH 25 mi · City of Lorain Utilities Department
- Akron, OH 30 mi · Akron Water Supply
- Canton, OH 51 mi · City of Canton Water Department
- Youngstown, OH 61 mi · City of Youngstown Water Department
- Detroit, MI 90 mi · Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD)
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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