Cleveland awarded $16 million for major water system upgrades

The Texas Water Development Board has approved $16 million in funding to support major improvements to Cleveland’s water system, a milestone that city leaders say will strengthen infrastructure and prepare the community for the future.

City Manager Lee Tipton said the investment is the result of persistence and teamwork by city staff who sought out and secured the grant.

“Without the hard work put in by city staff, this would never have come to fruition,” Tipton said. “About 70 percent of Cleveland has old infrastructure, and this funding will go a long way toward making improvements.”

The project calls for replacing 142,000 feet of aging water lines that are smaller than six inches with new six-inch lines and installing 32,000 feet of new 12-inch water lines to strengthen capacity. It also includes connecting Water Plant 4 to the distribution system along Campbell with a new 12-inch line, replacing the six-inch line along Maple and Garner with a 12-inch line, and installing a 12-inch line from Truman, between Maple and Legion. In addition, a new 12-inch line will be laid along Culberson from Maple to Hwy. 105.

Engineering support for the work will come from Westwood Engineering and Bleyl Engineering. The project will also facilitate the development of a long-term asset management plan and help reduce overall water loss across the system.

City leaders emphasized that the improvements will enhance water service reliability, protect vital resources, and better serve residents for generations to come. Mayor Danny Lee echoed Tipton’s remarks about crediting staff for their determination in pursuing grants that provide solutions without relying solely on local tax dollars.

“I really take my hat off to our staff for going out and searching for resources, and they found them,” Lee said. “They are doing a great job. I have to pinch myself sometimes that Cleveland is improving.”