About Us

About Storm Water Services

Established in the early 1990’s, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services is a joint municipal/county stormwater utility that includes the City of 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 the risk of flooding, restore floodplains and protect the water quality of surface waters county-wide. We accomplish this by:

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 concerns
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.

Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services is part of the Water & Land Division of the Mecklenburg County Land Use & Environmental Services Agency located at 2145 Suttle Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28208. The county is responsible for named streams (such as Little Sugar Creek, Briar Creek, and McDowell Creek) draining more than one square mile and the regulated floodplain throughout the entire county.

Charlotte Storm Water Services is a Division within the City of Charlotte General Services Department located at 600 East Fourth Street, Charlotte, NC 28202. The city is responsible for smaller streams and manmade drainage systems draining less than one square mile.

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

The committee includes nine citizens appointed by the City Council, County Commission, and Town Commissions. Learn more about the SWAC, current members, and meeting dates.

Awards & Accomplishments

We are honored to have received awards in recognition of our efforts:

National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies Excellence in Communications and Stormwater Management Green Infrastructure Awards Program

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services was recognized by theNational Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA) as winners in the 2020 Excellence in Communications Awards and Stormwater Management Green Infrastructure Awards Program. Storm Water Services won top overall for the highest average ranking of all Excellence in Communications submittals for large municipalities for the "Turn Around, Don't Drown" flood safety educational campaign, first place in the Improving Water Quality category for the "Scoop the Poop" flagging educational campaign and first place in the Green Infrastructure Awards for theReedy Creek Stream Restoration Project. Read more.
The Water Environment Federation National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure “Overall Performance” Award

Charlotte Storm Water Services won the Water Environment Federation's 2020 National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure "Overall Performance" award in the Large Municipality category. Storm Water Services also received the "Gold Level" designation in the innovation and project management categories. Read more.
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:

Department of the Army Regional General Permit
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:

City of Charlotte Stormwater Services and the Town of Morrisville Both Awarded 2017 EPA Region 4 Rain Catcher Award
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.