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The
Baldwin Treated Water Reservoir was designed and constructed
between 1918 and 1924 and placed in service in 1925. At
1035 ft long by 500 ft wide and 40 ft high from the floor
to the crown of the groined arch roof, the twin underground
basins make for one of the largest covered concrete reservoirs
in the U.S.
The reservoir’s elegant arched roof was designed
using the geometric character of the arch shape to support
both the roof’s weight and the loads above it. This
way, all vertical loads are transferred into compressive
thrusts acting through the concrete arch roof. Since an
arch functions primarily by transmitting forces through
compression there are compressive stresses generated in
the arch throughout the entire reservoir roof. The original
designers cleverly utilized concrete’s compressive
resistance ability to absorb and transmit the compressive
force to the reservoir’s perimeter structural walls
without reinforcing the entire roof structure. Standing
safe and sound for the last 80 years, the Baldwin Reservoir
helps provide high quality drinking water every day to
Cleveland and surrounding suburbs.
In February 1993, after a routine inspection, the Water
District was notified that a large quantity of potable
water was found in a nearby storm drain. It was later
confirmed that this water was leaking through cracks in
the floor of Baldwin Reservoir. A complete investigation
revealed a series of cracks in the non-reinforced concrete
arched roof. The analysis indicated that the distress
was due to seasonal thermal expansion and contraction
of the roof structure.
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Owner
City of Cleveland Division
of Water
Cleveland, Ohio
Project Engineer/
Designer
City of Cleveland Division
of Water
Cleveland, Ohio
Material Supplier/
Manufacturer
Sika Corporation
Lyndhurst, New Jersey
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