Overview

Protecting the environment and health of Cleveland residents and visitors is vitally important to Water Pollution Control (WPC). The division is responsible for the wastewater and stormwater collection systems. Cleveland’s sewer system is comprised of 1,435 miles of sewer lines, about 43,500 catch basins/storm drains and 12 pump stations.

WPC cleans and services thousands of catch basins and storm drains annually to minimize or eliminate potential street and basement flooding. The sewer collection system transfers sanitary sewage and stormwater from its points of origin to three local wastewater treatment facilities owned and operated by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. As stormwater manager, WPC is charged by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency with managing and supervising matters relating to the elimination, control and regulation of water pollution within the city of Cleveland. As stormwater manager, WPC has enforcement authority to set fines and even halt water service.

 

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Leadership

Water Pollution Control is a part of the Cleveland Department of Public Utilities. Daily decisions at the division level are guided by leadership whose operational goals are closely tied to Mayor Frank G. Jackson’s goals of creating and sustaining a green city on a blue lake. Commissioner Ramona Lowery and her team strategically plan to meet operational and budgetary goals as well as be a proactive environmental steward.

 

Commissioner Lowery

Ramona Lowery

WPC Commissioner

Lowery became Commissioner in 2020 after serving as Deputy Commissioner for five years. She has come full circle in her career. In 1996, Lowery becoming the first female engineer hired at WPC soon after graduating from Cleveland State University. Following several progressive jobs elsewhere, including with Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and obtaining two graduate degrees, she returned to WPC in 2015.

A priority for Lowery is to ensure that WPC's 140 employees deliver reliable, efficient service, sustains Cleveland's sewer infrastructure, and thrives as the city's official stormwater manager.

Deputy Commissioner Cole

Terrell Cole

WPC Deputy Commissioner

Cole has more than 20 years of extensive experience with the city of Cleveland, including at Public Utilities and at City Hall, working on operations, information technology management, capital improvements, facilities construction and maintenance, budgeting, project management and organizational development.

Cole is focused on strategic planning, customer service, driving efficiency and improving Water Pollution Control’s branding so residents better identify the division and understand its core services in sewer maintenance and stormwater management.

 

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Our Mission

Provide superior leadership, excellent customer service and innovative stormwater and wastewater infrastructure management for a safe and sustainable environment.
 

Our VISION

Be an innovative steward and leader in the stormwater and wastewater industry and a model customer service provider.

Construction Site

Our History

Learn about the evolution of Cleveland's sewage system

Reports

We prepare annual financial and stormwater reports to provide transparency and updates on our operations

Terminology

Learn about the common vocabulary associated with WPC and what we do.

What We Do

Provide sewer maintenance and stormwater management for the City of Cleveland