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About Us

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, 2024

Budget & Utility

In Operation Since 1889
Service Area: Mecklenburg County
Estimated Population Served: 1,163,701
Authorized Positions: 1,106
AAA Rated
Operating Budget (includes debt service, PAYGO transfer): $616,960,897
Water Capital Investment Plan (includes PAYGO transfers): $107,525,000
Wastewater Capital Investment Plan (includes PAYGO transfers): $332,838,728
24 gallons of water costs $1

Water Treatment

Average Daily Pumped: 117.4 MG
Highest Daily Pumped: 165.05 MG (6/24/2024)
Lowest Daily Pumped: 87.61 MG (12/25/2023)
All-Time Highest Pumped 169.2 MGD (8/20/07)
Water treatment plants
- Franklin: 181 MGD capacity; 79.36 MGD average
- Vest: 24 MGD capacity; 18.12 MGD average
- Dukes: 25 MGD capacity; 19.92 MGD average
- Total Design 230 MGD capacity

*numbers in million gallons per day (MGD)

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

Wastewater Treatment & System Protection

Average wastewater treated daily: 86.1 MG
Total annual wastewater treated: 31.5 BG
Wastewater Treatment Plants
- Sugar Creek 20 MGD capacity; 15.2 MGD average
- Irwin Creek 15 MGD capacity; 14.1 MGD average
- McAlpine Creek 64 MGD capacity; 40.7 MGD average
- Mallard Creek 12 MGD capacity; 10.3 MGD average
- McDowell Creek 12 MGD capacity; 5.8 MGD average
- Ashe Plantation 0.1 capacity; 0.0509 MGD average
- Total design: 123.1 MGD capacity
Food Service Establishments Grease Traps Inspected: 4,248
Industries Regulated for Wastewater Discharges: 56

Service Connections

Active total water service connections: 323,527
Active wastewater service connections: 292,053
Active residential water service connections (includes multi-family): 285,277
Active commercial water service connections (includes industrial, nonprofit, institution, government, health): 20,334
Active irrigation meters: 17,916
Total Water Service Connections: 332,447

FY24 Sanitary Sewer Overflows

Total overflows in FY24: 162 (FY23: 122)
SSO by grease: 42
SSO by debris in line: 23
SSO by roots: 39
SSO by pipe failure: 25
SSO by Other: 9
SSO by Contractor Construction Damage: 22
SSO by Vandalism: 1
SSO by severe natural condition: 1
Average spill response time: 28 minutes
Spills per 100 miles of pipe: 3.5

FY24 Maintenance & Rehabilitation

Water pipes rehabilitated or replaced: 41,852 LF or 7.93 miles
Water leaks repaired: 533 (mains by Field Ops) 2,387 (service lines by FO) 2,920 (total work orders)
Wastewater pipes rehabilitated or replaced: 83,854 LF or 15.88 miles
Wastewater pipes cleaned (includes contractors): 877 miles
Wastewater pipes treated with root control chemicals: 293 miles
Manholes replaced or repaired: 2,113

System Infrastructure

Water mains maintained: 4,610 miles
Hydrants maintained: 18,534
Treated water storage & booster pumping stations: 21
Wastewater mains maintained: 4,595 miles
Wastewater lift stations: 74
Meters maintained: 331,703
Valves maintained: 91,476
Water quality sampling stations: 348
Manholes maintained: 117,869

FY24 Regulatory Performance

Notices of drinking water quality violations: 0
Notices of collection system violations: 8 (Note: This total is subject to change; does not include June data)
Notices of wastewater treatment plant violations: 3 NOV
Partially treated discharges events: 0

Charlotte Water Annual Report & At A Glance

Charlotte Water Strategic Plan

Charlotte Water Full Strategic Plan(PDF, 3MB)

Capital Investment Plan

Charlotte Water oversees hundreds of -- and more than $100 million worth of -- water and sewer improvement projects each year.

The five-year Capital Investment Plan(PDF, 686KB) is the process through which Charlotte Water is able to identify and prioritize the many projects needed. The program is updated each year to include projects that will be needed within the next five years. Every other year, a 10-year needs plan is completed.

FY24-28 CIP Map(PDF, 1017KB)

Public Meeting July 2023

Public Meeting Slides(PDF, 3MB)

Strategic Energy Action Plan

Management and operation of Charlotte Water’s facilities can have a significant impact on meeting the goals of the City of Charlotte Strategic Energy Action Plan. Highlights of Charlotte Water's activities(PDF, 238KB) include recovering resources from our wastewater treatment plants, workforce development within our community, fleet utilization and building management.