Established in the early 1990’s, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services is a joint municipal/county stormwater utility that includes Charlotte, the surrounding towns of Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville, and Mecklenburg County.
What We Do
Storm Water Services works year-round to manage the runoff from rainfall, reduce flooding, restore floodplains and protect the water quality of surface waters county-wide. We accomplish this by:
Increasing drainage capacity to meet growth and development demands
Repairing and replacing aging storm drainage infrastructure
Restoring severely eroded streams and floodplains to hold excess rain
Mapping floodplains to protect drainage capacity and manage floodplain development
Responding to residents who call 3-1-1 to report drainage and flooding problems
Monitoring surface waters for evidence of pollutants
Enforcing ordinances to protect surface waters
Educating residents about flood safety, pollution prevention and volunteer opportunities
Organization
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services staff includes both City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County employees. Staff coordinates closely to provide comprehensive stormwater services and ensure service to residents is seamless.
The Towns of Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville are responsible for smaller streams and manmade drainage systems draining less than one square mile within each jurisdiction.
Storm Water Advisory Committee (SWAC)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services works under the guidance of the Storm Water Advisory Committee (SWAC). The advisory committee:
reviews policies
hears appeals and decides on violations, fee credits, service charges and adjustments
evaluates capital and operational programs and budgets
makes recommendations or comments to elected officials
Awards & Accomplishments
We are honored to have received awards in recognition of our efforts:
Charlotte Storm Water Services Granted Regional General Permit (RGP)
Charlotte Storm Water Services has achieved an unprecedented designation among municipal organizations in the Carolinas that will save time, money and headaches. On April 24, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) issued a regional general permit (RGP) to Charlotte Storm Water Services (CSWS). The federal Clean Water Act requires that impacts to streams, wetlands and ponds are approved by the USACE and NCDEQ. Typically, projects that affect these waters require submittal of a Nationwide Permit application, with a 45-to-60 day review by these agencies.
The RGP is a 5-year programmatic permit that covers the vast majority of CSWS’s activities and eliminates the need for formal federal and state agency approval for many projects. This is the first and, to date, only programmatic RGP issued to a municipal organization in the Carolinas. That the RGP was issued solely to CSWS is a testament to the group’s quality of work. RGP will benefit Charlotte residents because it (A) saves time, (B) cuts costs, (C) reduces uncertainty through the project approval process, and (D) provides CSWS with more flexibility in project design and implementation. More information on the RGP can be found below:
http://saw-reg.usace.army.mil/RGP/RGP163-2017-04-24.pdf
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Charlotte Mecklenburg Storm Water Services with the regional 2017 EPA Rain Catcher Award in the Municipal Category. The EPA Region 4 Rain Catcher Award recognizes excellence in the implementation of stormwater green infrastructure practices.
CMSWS won for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools South Park Watershed Enhancement Project. The project is an innovative stormwater control measure (SCM) retrofit project implemented by CMSWS at an existing 71 acre school campus site in Charlotte. It includes 5 SCMs - two bioretention areas, a wet pond, an infiltration trench, and a detention basin sand filter (2017).
More information on the award and the project can be found below:
https://archive.epa.gov/epa/newsreleases/city-charlotte-stormwater-services-and-town-morrisville-both-awarded-2017-epa-region-4.html
Overall Highest Score in the national
Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards Program, held by the Water Environment Federation in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency, in recognition of our comprehensive stormwater program and leadership in stormwater management issues, green infrastructure initiatives and reducing stormwater pollution of streams and lakes (2015).
First place award for Public Awareness of Flooding for Sing the Jingle flood safety campaign, National Association of Flood & Stormwater Management Agencies (2014).
Superior Award for "Build an A.R.K." (Awareness, Responsibility, Knowledge) flood safety campaign, National Association of County Information Officers (2013).
Who to Contact
To report a problem or request service call 3-1-1. If you are calling from outside Mecklenburg County or if your cellular carrier will not connect you to 311, dial 704-336-7600.
Billing Questions
Drainage Issues
Floodplain Inquiries
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Media Inquiries
Permitting and Compliance
Program Administration
Sediment and Erosion Control
Storm Drainage Improvement Projects
Report Surface Water Pollution
Water Quality (surface waters)
Water Quality Outreach, Education and Volunteers
Locations
City of Charlotte Storm Water Services
600 East Fourth Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services
2145 Suttle Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28208