Public service director lays out water, sewer and infrastructure projects; lead service replacements nearing completion

Chris Ludlow, public service director, presented the 2025 work program and budget for engineering, public works, water distribution and wastewater operations, highlighting near-term construction projects, an ongoing lead service replacement program and technology upgrades.

Ludlow described several capital projects scheduled or underway: North Main Street corridor improvements; Rubber City Heritage Trail phase 2; a Cascade rehabilitation project that received more than $5 million in state funding for elevator and infrastructure work; Exchange Street improvements near the University of Akron; and continued commercial demolition projects (Rankin, Firestone headquarters, Kenmore Annex and Goodrich Middle School).

He said the Patterson Park Community Center construction is expected to be completed this year and noted the Gorge Dam sediment-removal work is ready to proceed once the U.S. EPA contractor mobilizes the sediment-removal effort. Engineering staff are managing design, bidding and project oversight for those items.

Ludlow emphasized progress on water-system priorities. “We treat about 62,000,000 gallons a day on average,” he said, noting wastewater real-time controls and investments have substantially reduced overflows and basement backups compared with decades past. On lead-service replacements, he reported 1,365 active lead services exist citywide, about 1,300 of which are under contract for replacement; staff expect the majority to be complete by mid-summer, leaving fewer than 100 active lead services afterward.

The water-meter replacement program is roughly 90% complete; Ludlow said remaining work involves wiring exterior receivers and coordinating electricians to finish installations. The city plans to add a new customer information/billing system that will allow daily reads and automated alerts to customers for unusual usage patterns.

Public works is implementing a Samsara fleet-management rollout that will add in-vehicle cameras and geolocation tools. Ludlow said crews will be able to create geolocated work orders in the field for potholes, street-light outages and similar items, improving response and tracking.

Ludlow and other department managers also reviewed sewer and water operations: average flows, system maintenance, continuing consent-decree work and staff training/continuing-education efforts. On a legacy issue, he said five inactive gas wells remain on city-owned land north of the water plant and the city expects to cap the five remaining wells this year.

Councilmembers asked for additional details about budget lines, staffing and program tracking. Ludlow said spreadsheets and project materials will be posted to the council directory and staff are available for follow-up questions.