One Water Facility

Mission

To serve the City of Charlotte by improving surface waters and conveying rainwater safely through well-maintained storm drainage systems

Vision

Strengthening the community for generations to come as a national leader in sustainable, equitable, and comprehensive stormwater management

Our Team and Values

With 200+ team members, we excel together through our commitment to:

Integrity

Equity & Inclusion

Expertise

Collaboration

Innovation 

Watersheds

This map shows the 22 watersheds within Mecklenburg County. A watershed is an area of land where all the rain drains to one body of water.

Our Priorities

Mission-Driven Workforce
To ensure a diverse team that is engaged, highly skilled, and committed to excellence

Environmental Stewardship
To protect and improve the quality of streams and other surface waters

Infrastructure Management
To continuously assess and improve storm drainage to protect public safety and ensure long-term sustainability

Development Services
To develop, implement, and enforce regulations that support the city’s growth and address drainage needs

Communication and Outreach
To enhance understanding of our mission, foster credibility, and encourage community involvement

Financial Stewardship
To responsibly manage finances, fund key programs, and maintain customer affordability

At the One Water Facility, the Permeable Pavers sign(PDF, 5MB) is positioned next to the stormwater control measure.

Permeable Pavers

You're standing on more than just a patio. 
Rain cannot soak into the earth when it falls on hard surfaces like parking lots. Instead, it “runs off” into a storm drain or ditch. This stormwater runoff is captured and eventually reaches our creeks and lakes.

This patio is made of permeable pavers, a type of Stormwater Control Measure. It is designed to capture runoff, remove pollutants, and release stormwater slowly before it reaches Irwin Creek.

How does it work?
Stormwater runoff enters the permeable pavers through the gaps. It slowly filters through layers of sand and stone to remove pollutants. The cleaner stormwater seeps into the underlying soil layer or flows through a perforated pipe that leads to Irwin Creek.

Benefits
Stormwater Control Measures help to protect surface waters, preserve aquatic habitats, and reduce flooding and erosion.

• Cleaner creeks and lakes by removing pollutants from runoff

• Healthier aquatic habitats by reducing streambank erosion

• Lower food risks for our community by reducing the volume and speed of runoff

Did you know?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that pollutants carried by stormwater runoff account for the majority of all surface water pollution.

At the One Water Facility, the Rain Garden sign(PDF, 3MB) is positioned next to the stormwater control measure.

Rain Garden

You're looking at more than just decorative plants. 
Rain cannot soak into the earth when it falls on hard surfaces like parking lots. Instead, it “runs off” into a storm drain or ditch. This stormwater runoff is captured and eventually reaches our creeks and lakes.

This rain garden is a type of Stormwater Control Measure. It is designed to capture runoff, remove pollutants, and release stormwater slowly before it reaches Irwin Creek.

How does it work?
Stormwater runoff enters the rain garden where it slowly filters through plants, mulch, soil, and stone layers to remove pollutants. The cleaner stormwater seeps into the underlying soil layer or flows through a perforated pipe that leads to Irwin Creek.

Benefits
Stormwater Control Measures help to protect surface waters, preserve aquatic habitats, and reduce flooding and erosion.

• Cleaner creeks and lakes by removing pollutants from runoff

• Healthier aquatic habitats by reducing streambank erosion

• Lower food risks for our community by reducing the volume and speed of runoff

Did you know?
Rain gardens provide habitat for wildlife and can increase the diversity of birds and butterflies.

At the One Water Facility, the Sand Filter sign(PDF, 3MB) is positioned next to the stormwater control measure.

Sand Filter

You're looking at more than just grass and gravel.
Rain cannot soak into the earth when it falls on hard surfaces like parking lots. Instead, it “runs off” into a storm drain or ditch. This stormwater runoff is captured and eventually reaches our creeks and lakes.

This sand filter is a type of Stormwater Control Measure. It is designed to capture runoff, remove pollutants, and release stormwater slowly before it reaches Irwin Creek.

How does it work?
Stormwater runoff enters through an inlet pipe and filters through the stone berm to the underlying soil layer. When ponding occurs, stormwater filters through the sand and gravel layers. The cleaner stormwater seeps into the underlying soil layer or flows through a perforated pipe that leads to Irwin Creek.

Benefits
Stormwater Control Measures help to protect surface waters, preserve aquatic habitats, and reduce flooding and erosion.

• Cleaner creeks and lakes by removing pollutants from runoff

• Healthier aquatic habitats by reducing streambank erosion

• Lower food risks for our community by reducing the volume and speed of runoff

Did you know?
Water that’s too hot can be harmful to aquatic life. This sand filter slows and cools runoff from hot surfaces like this parking lot before it reaches the creek.

At the One Water Facility, the Solar Panels sign(PDF, 2MB) is positioned next to the solar panels.

Solar Panels

You’re looking at more than just glass panels. 
Solar energy is the power we get from the sun. When the sun shines, it sends out tiny particles of energy called photons that travel all the way to Earth. We can't see them, but they are there, carrying lots of energy with them. These solar panels are a renewable energy system, designed to convert sunlight into electrical energy to power a portion of the One Water Facility’s energy use.

How does it work? 
The panels are made of solar cells, which turn sunlight into electricity. Whenever the sun is shining, photons hit the solar cells. This causes electrons to flow, creating an electric current. The current moves to the edge of the panel into a conductive wire. It then travels to an inverter where it’s converted to usable electricity.

Benefits 
Solar energy provides a renewable, clean source of energy that is also zero-carbon. Producing onsite energy also reduces the operating costs of this facility. Producing energy close to its intended use also minimizes losses associated with long-distance transmission.

• Supporting a sustainable Charlotte by using a renewable and zero-carbon energy source

• Reducing operation costs by producing energy onsite

• Producing energy close to its intended use, minimizing transmission loss

Did you know? 
Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource on Earth. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates the amount of solar energy that strikes the Earth is more than 10,000 times the world's total energy use.