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, 2021

  • In Operation Since 1889

  • Service Area: Mecklenburg County

  • Estimated Population Served: 1,110,356

  • Authorized Positions: 1,019

  • AAA Bond Rating with Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor's

  • Operating Budget (includes debt service, PAYGO transfer): $502,286,814

  • Water Community Investment Plan (includes PAYGO transfers): $85,876,600

  • Wastewater Community Investment Plan (includes PAYGO transfers): $246,393,337

  • 30 gallons of water costs $1

  • FY21 Average Daily Pumped: 109.71 MG•

  • FY21 Highest Daily Pumped: 143.51 MG (05/24/2021)

  • FY21 Lowest Daily Pumped: 85.04 MG (12/25/2020)

  • All-Time Highest Pumped 169.2 (8/20/07)

  • Water treatment plants

    • Franklin: 132 capacity; 92.71 average

    • Vest: 24 capacity; 0.0 average (plant offline)

    • Dukes: 18 capacity; 17.09 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: 87.2 million gallons

  • Total FY21 wastewater treated: 31.8 billion gallons

  • Wastewater Treatment Plants

    • ​Sugar Creek 20 MGD capacity; 15.6 MGD average
    • Irwin Creek 15 MGD capacity; 11.2 MGD average
    • McAlpine Creek 64 MGD capacity; 45.2 MGD average
    • Mallard Creek 12 MGD capacity; 9.5 MGC average
    • McDowell Creek 12 MGD capacity; 5.7 MGD average
    • Ashe Plantation & Oxford Glen .0175 capacity; 0.082 MGD average

    • Total plant capacity: 123.175 MGD

  • Food Service Establishments Grease Traps Inspected: 3,152

  • Industries Regulated for Wastewater Discharges: 59

  • Active total water service connections: 304,029

  • Active wastewater service connections: 276,498

  • Active residential water service connections (includes multi-family): 268,696

  • Active commercial water service connections (includes industrial, nonprofit, institution, government, health): 16,080 

  • Active irrigation meters: 16,080

  • ​Total overflows in FY21: 152 (FY20: 151)

  • SSO by grease: 39

  • SSO by debris in line: 28

  • SSO by roots: 33

  • SSO by pipe failure: 24

  • SSO by severe natural condition: 4

  • Average spill response time: 28 minutes

  • Spills per 100 miles of pipe: 3.41

  • ​Water pipes rehabilitated or replaced: 47,104 LF or 8.9 miles

  • Water leaks repaired: 3,045

  • ​Wastewater pipes rehabilitated or replaced: 59,439 LF (11.3 miles)

  • Wastewater pipes cleaned (includes contractors): 1028 miles

  • Wastewater pipes treated with root control chemicals: 328.5 miles

  • Manholes replaced or repaired: 160

  • ​Water mains maintained: 4,482 miles

  • Hydrants maintained: 17,925

  • Treated water storage & booster pumping stations: 17

  • Wastewater mains maintained: 4,475 miles

  • Wastewater lift stations: 78

  • Notices of drinking water quality violations: 0

  • Notices of collection system violations: 3

  • Notices of wastewater treatment plant violations: 1

  • Partially treated discharges events: 0

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