Resident raises concerns about Cleveland Water’s lead service-line replacement outreach

During the public comment period at the Euclid City Council meeting on Feb. 18, resident Richard Frederick asked the council to address questions about a letter residents received from Cleveland Water regarding a lead/steel service-line replacement program.

Frederick said the letter indicates interior and exterior work the utility will perform and that some costs or consequences for homeowners who opt out are not clear in the letter. He asked whether the city can guarantee that street infrastructure will be replaced first, that a future lien would not be placed on homes if residents opt out, and how absentee landlords will be handled.

Director Knecht (service department) responded that the program is a multi-year, federally funded initiative that Cleveland Water is conducting across its service area and that the city has completed several replacements in the prior two years. He said Cleveland Water is the program operator and has the best information on scheduling and eligibility, and that the city would provide contact information for Cleveland Water and keep residents informed.

Mayor and council thanked Frederick for raising the issue and said the city would share Cleveland Water’s contact information with residents and coordinate communications. The administration did not provide new guarantees about liens or precise scheduling; council members directed staff to facilitate contact between residents and Cleveland Water for more detailed answers.

No ordinance or formal council action was taken on the matter during the meeting.