The Project

Latest Updates —

  • August 2025 – Guaranteed Maximum Price calculated (upcoming)
  • July 2025 – 90% Design Presented (upcoming)
  • May 2025 – Alternate Use Feasibility Study contract signed (upcoming)
  • April 2025 – Initial design work, comparison of options
  • September 2024 – Aerial photos taken to assess current condition
  • July 2024 – Design-Build Project kick-off
  • June 2020 — Historic Designation (American Water Works Association)
  • Late 2018/Early 2019 – Historic Designation (City of Cincinnati)
  • May 2018 – Renovation and repair costs estimated at $7.7 million

Project Description —

Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) has begun a design-build project to rehabilitate the Mount Airy Water Tanks facility.

GCWW has completed numerous restoration and improvement projects at the facility since about 1960. However, at nearly 100 years old, the facility has deteriorated and needs major rehabilitation. The concrete foundation needs repair while the brick masonry façade requires replacements of some bricks and many corbels, and tuckpointing of all the mortar joints. The concrete castle towers require extensive repairs or replacement. The tank cover framing requires repairs or replacement, and the roofing system is near the end of its useful life. In addition to the architectural and structural aspects of the project, improvements are needed to improve the operation of the tanks as a water storage facility.

In January of 2019, the City of Cincinnati passed an ordinance designating the facility as a local historic landmark.

GCWW has hired Dugan & Meyers as the Design-Builder.  The design phase of the project began in July 2024 at a cost not to exceed $3.8 million and is scheduled to be completed in early 2026.

It is expected that the construction phase could begin in 2026 and is anticipated to take two years to complete. A preliminary engineering study and scope of work was developed in 2013. In 2020, the costs for that scope of work were updated and estimated it would cost at least $13 million to construct improvements. However, the cost is significantly higher now due to historic conservation guidelines, inflation, and other factors.

A feasibility study by the City of Cincinnati’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) will examine alternate uses for the site that can cohabitate with the existing facility. That study is expected to begin in mid-2025.