Baldwin Water Treatment Plant is an Engineering Landmark
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has officially recognized the Baldwin Water Treatment Plant in Cleveland, Ohio, as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Built between 1920 and 1925, the plant has provided safe, reliable drinking water to Cleveland and its surrounding suburbs for the past century, continuing to serve approximately 1.4 million people today. The dedication ceremony featured leaders from Cleveland Water, the City of Cleveland, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and descendants of Joseph W. Ellms, the plant’s lead designer. ASCE President Feniosky A. Peña-Mora highlighted the plant’s role in advancing public health through pioneering innovations in water treatment.
The Baldwin Plant was once home to the nation’s largest covered concrete reservoir and introduced several groundbreaking technologies, including passive devices for chemical mixing and rapid sand filtration. These features set new standards for water treatment and influenced the development of ASCE’s Manual for Water Treatment Plant Design. Today, the facility pumps 71 million gallons of clean water daily and remains a model of durability and engineering excellence. With its designation, the Baldwin Water Treatment Plant joins more than 350 global projects honored by ASCE for their creativity, innovation, and lasting impact on society.
