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, 2018​

  • In Operation Since 1889
  • Service Area: Mecklenburg County
  • Estimated Population Served: 1,076,837
  • Authorized Positions: 958
  • AAA Bond Rating with Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor's
  • Operating Budget (includes debt service, PAYGO transfer): $469,631,450
  • Water Community Investment Plan (ncludes PAYGO transfers): $67,168,289
  • Wastewater Community Investment Plan (includes PAYGO transfers): $130,306,617
  • 259 gallons of water costs $1

  • FY18 Average Daily Pumped: 106
  • FY18 Highest Daily Pumped: 149.1 (6/20/18)
  • FY18 Lowest Daily Pumped: 81.9 (12/24/17)
  • All-Time Highest Pumped 169.2 (8/20/07)
  • Water treatment plants
    • Franklin: 132 capacity; 80.1 average
    • Vest: 24 capacity; 13.9 average
    • Dukes: 18 capacity; 12.1 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: 78.1 million gallons
  • Total FY18 wastewater treated: 28.4 billion gallons
  • Wastewater Treatment Plants
    • ​Sugar Creek 20 MGD capacity; 11.5 MGD average
    • Irwin Creek 15 MGD capacity; 7.9 MGD average
    • McAlpine Creek 64 MGD capacity; 44.3 MGD average
    • Mallard Creek 12 MGD capacity; 9.2 MGC average
    • McDowell Creek 12 MGD capacity; 5.1 MGD average
    • Ashe Plantation & Oxford Glen 0.175 MGD Total Capacity
    • Total plant capacity: 123.175 MGD
  • Food Service Establishments Grease Traps Inspected: 4,440
  • Industries Regulated for Wastewater Discharges: 58

  • Active total water service connections: 285,087
  • Active residential water service connections (includes multi-family): 252,750 (87%)
  • Active commercial water service connections (includes industrial, nonprofit, institution, government, health): 14,308 (5%)
  • Active irrigation meters: 13,685 (5%)
  • Active wastewater service connections: 260,578​

  • ​Total overflows in FY18: 164 (FY17: 189)
  • SSO by grease: 44
  • SSO by debris in line: 40
  • SSO by roots: 33
  • SSO by pipe failure: 21
  • SSO by other: 15
  • SSO by pump station equipment failure: 4
  • SSO by vandalism: 4
  • SSO by inflow and infiltration: 2
  • SSO by severe natural condition: 1
  • Average spill response time: 31 minutes
  • Spills per 100 miles of pipe: 3.8

  • ​Water pipes rehabilitated or replaced: 36,671 linear feet (6.9 miles)
  • Water leaks repaired: 3,950
  • ​Wastewater pipes rehabilitated or replaced: 82,847 LF (15.75 miles)
  • Wastewater pipes cleaned (includes contractors): 1,168.5 miles
  • Wastewater pipes treated with root control chemicals: 392 miles
  • Manholes replaced or repaired: 374

  • ​Water mains maintained: 4,353 miles
  • Hydrants maintained: 17,315
  • Treated water storage & booster pumping stations: 17
  • Wastewater mains maintained: 4,330 miles
  • Wastewater lift stations: 81

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