About Us

​About Charlotte Water

​​Charlotte Water is the largest public water and wastewater utility in the Carolinas, serving more than a million​ customers in the City of Charlotte and greater Mecklenburg County -- including the towns of Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Huntersville, Davidson, and Cornelius.​​ ​​​

Facts and Figures effective July 1, 2020

  • In Operation Since 1889
  • Service Area: Mecklenburg County
  • Estimated Population Served: 1,093,901
  • Authorized Positions: 997
  • AAA Bond Rating with Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor's
  • Operating Budget (includes debt service, PAYGO transfer): $461,129,420
  • Water Community Investment Plan (includes PAYGO transfers): $75,780,599
  • Wastewater Community Investment Plan (includes PAYGO transfers): $235,178,985
  • 30 gallons of water costs $1

  • FY20 Average Daily Pumped: 108.93
  • FY20 Highest Daily Pumped: 152.65 (09/30/19)
  • FY20 Lowest Daily Pumped: 83.54 (12/25/19)
  • All-Time Highest Pumped 169.2 (8/20/07)
  • Water treatment plants
    • Franklin: 132 capacity; 87.96 average
    • Vest: 24 capacity; 10.5 average
    • Dukes: 18 capacity; 17.93 average
    • Total water treatment capacity: 174

​*numbers in million gallons per day (MGD)

  • Raw water intakes: 2
  • Reservoir storage: 2 - 500 MG capacity

  • Average wastewater treated daily: 88.8 million gallons
  • Total FY20 wastewater treated: 32,500 million gallons
  • Wastewater Treatment Plants
    • ​Sugar Creek 20 MGD capacity; 14.7 MGD average
    • Irwin Creek 15 MGD capacity; 10.9 MGD average
    • McAlpine Creek 64 MGD capacity; 48.2 MGD average
    • Mallard Creek 12 MGD capacity; 9.5 MGC average
    • McDowell Creek 12 MGD capacity; 5.5 MGD average
    • Ashe Plantation & Oxford Glen 0.073 MGD Total Capacity
    • Total plant capacity: 123.175 MGD
  • Food Service Establishments Grease Traps Inspected: 3,154
  • Industries Regulated for Wastewater Discharges: 56

  • Active total water service connections: 297,098
  • Active wastewater service connections: 270,640
  • Active residential water service connections (includes multi-family): 262,782
  • Active commercial water service connections (includes industrial, nonprofit, institution, government, health): 14,607 
  • Active irrigation meters: 15,255

  • ​Total overflows in FY20: 151 (FY19: 162)
  • SSO by grease: 36
  • SSO by debris in line: 37
  • SSO by roots: 30
  • SSO by pipe failure: 22
  • SSO by other: 18
  • SSO by vandalism: 4
  • SSO by inflow and infiltration: 0
  • SSO by severe natural condition: 1
  • Average spill response time: 33 minutes
  • Spills per 100 miles of pipe: 3.41

  • ​Water pipes rehabilitated or replaced: 46,631 LF or 8.8 miles
  • Water leaks repaired: 2,207
  • ​Wastewater pipes rehabilitated or replaced: 69,751 LF (13.2 miles)
  • Wastewater pipes cleaned (includes contractors): 1058 miles
  • Wastewater pipes treated with root control chemicals: 405.5 miles
  • Manholes replaced or repaired: 264

  • ​Water mains maintained: 4,431 miles
  • Hydrants maintained: 17,677
  • Treated water storage & booster pumping stations: 17
  • Wastewater mains maintained: 4,420 miles
  • Wastewater lift stations: 83

  • Notices of drinking water quality violations: 0
  • Notices of collection system violations: 3
  • Notices of wastewater treatment plant violations: 1
  • Partially treated discharges events: 4

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