What is the Cincinnati Water Works?

The Greater Cincinnati Water Works, created in 1839, was the first publicly owned water system in Ohio. Today it is a city-owned water system of pumping stations, purification plants, and 3,000 miles of mains that pumps 136 million gallons of water per day to residents of Cincinnati. The system provides water to most of Hamilton County, to Butler and Warren Counties in Ohio, and via pipeline under the Ohio River to Boone County and the City of Florence in Kentucky. The system pumps over 52 billion gallons per year, serves 280,000 residential and commercial accounts, and provides water to 1.1 million consumers.

How is the Water Works administered?

The citizens of Cincinnati elect a City Council and a Mayor who are responsible for the system. They in turn appoint a City Manager who oversees several departments, including the Water Works. The City Council and City Manager also appoint a head of the Water Works. Connie Roesch is currently Superintendent of the Greater Cincinnati Water Works. Concerns about the future of the Water Works should be directed to the City Council and the Mayor.

How and when did the proposal to sell the Water Works arise?

In October of 2007 Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Manager, decided to undertake a feasibility study that would look into the possibility of “transforming” the Water Works in to a Water District. Three groups were created to prepare the feasibility study: A Water District Working Group, a Water District Advisory Group, and an Internal Working Group. David Rager, who retired from the office of Director of the Water Works became the head of the Water District Advisory Group. That group and the two others are preparing the feasibility study.

What arguments are made in favor of selling the Water Works?

So far, the only arguments are two: 1) that it will lead to unspecified “economic efficiencies,” and 2) that the Water District will sell water to other unspecified cities and counties in the region. We have no solid evidence that either one of these will happen.

What are the arguments against selling the Water Works?

The principal argument in favor of keeping our water is that the system now provides low cost, high quality and excellent service. Another reason is that those in favor of a Water District have not been able to explain the benefits of selling it. Some fear that the sale of the Water Works will lead to higher costs and possibly poorer services and declining quality. There is also a concern that workers could lose their union representation, contracts and benefits..

What is the process for approving or disapproving the study?

The three study groups will prepare the study and make a recommendation to the City Manager. The City Manager will review the report and decide whether or not to present it to the City Council for review and a vote. If the City Council votes in favor of a Water District, then the matter goes to the Court of Common Pleas which rules on whether or not to create it. If it rules in favor, the District will be created. A referendum might then be submitted putting the matter to a vote of Cincinnati residents.

How can citizens and consumers get involved?

If you are concerned about the issue, you could call your City Council members, the Mayor and the City Manager and tell them your concerns. Go to our Take Action page to send a brief prepared letter along with your personal comments.