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: 17
- 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
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, 1MB) 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.
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.
Financial Reports and Economic Impact
Economic Impact of Charlotte Water on the Regional Economy - November 2023
Thousands of Jobs Created
- 10+ jobs created for every $1 million spent
- 7,100 jobs created from $685 million in O&M and capital spending in FY 2023
- 7,800 jobs supported over the next 5 years
- 261,000 jobs created in water- dependent industries in six-county region
Billions in Economic Output
- $15.2 million in growth for every $1 million spent
- $10.1 billion generated by Charlotte Water spending
- $33.5 billion contributed to Mecklenburg county by water-dependent industries
- $48.5 billion contributed to six-county region by water-dependent industries
Financial Publications
Charlotte Water Economic Impact Infographic 2023(PDF, 39KB)
