About Us

• In Operation Since 1889
• Service Area: Mecklenburg County
• Estimated Population Served: 1,206,285
• Authorized Positions: 1,126
• AAA Rated
• Operating Budget (includes debt service, PAYGO transfer): $651,237,539
• Water Capital Investment Plan (includes PAYGO transfers): $116,422,163
• Wastewater Capital Investment Plan (includes PAYGO transfers): $316,117,930
• 22 gallons of water costs $1

• Average Daily Pumped: 124.55 MG
• Highest Daily Pumped: 155.04 MG (7/5/24)
• Lowest Daily Pumped: 94.87 MG (12/25/24)
• All-Time Highest Pumped 169.2 MGD (8/20/07)
• Water treatment plants
  • Franklin: 181 MGD capacity; 90.18 MGD average
  • Vest: 24 MGD capacity; 15.32 MGD average
  • Dukes: 25 MGD capacity; 19.05 MGD average
  • Total Design: 230 MGD capacity

*numbers in million gallons per day (MGD)

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

• Average wastewater treated daily: 87.6 MG
• Total annual wastewater treated: 31.9 BG
• Wastewater Treatment Plants
  • Sugar Creek 20 MGD capacity; 16.2 MGD average
  • Irwin Creek 15 MGD capacity; 12 MGD average
  • McAlpine Creek 64 MGD capacity; 42.6 MGD average
  • Mallard Creek 12 MGD capacity; 10.5 MGD average
  • McDowell Creek 12 MGD capacity; 6.3 MGD average
  • Ashe Plantation 0.1 capacity; 0.0518 MGD average
  • Total design: 123.1 MGD capacity
• Food Service Establishments Grease Traps Inspected: 5,247
• Industries Regulated for Wastewater Discharges: 55

• Active total water service connections: 328,048
• Active wastewater service connections: 295,747
• Active residential water service connections (includes multi-family): 288,927
• Active commercial water service connections (includes industrial, nonprofit, institution, government, health): 16,315
• Active irrigation meters: 18,544
• Total Water Service Connections: 337,614

• Total overflows in FY25: 147
• SSO by grease: 34
• SSO by debris in line: 14
• SSO by roots: 34
• SSO by pipe failure: 37
• SSO by Other: 11
• SSO by Contractor Construction Damage: 8
• SSO by Vandalism: 1
• SSO by Inflow and Infiltration: 1
• SSO by severe natural condition: 6
• SSO by Pump Station Equipment Failure: 1
• Average spill response time: 29 minutes
• Spills per 100 miles of pipe: 3.2

• Water pipes rehabilitated or replaced: 20,095 LF or 3.8 miles
• Water leaks repaired: 776 (mains by Field Ops) 3,952 (service lines by FO) 4,728 (total work orders)
• Wastewater pipes rehabilitated or replaced: 18,199 LF or 3.45 miles
• Wastewater pipes cleaned (includes contractors): 757 miles
• Wastewater pipes treated with root control chemicals: 285 miles
• Manholes replaced or repaired: 1,039

• Water mains maintained: 4,664 miles
• Hydrants maintained: 18,797
• Treated water storage & booster pumping stations: 17
• Wastewater mains maintained: 4,638 miles
• Wastewater lift stations: 76
• Meters maintained: 337,125
• Valves maintained: 93,447
• Water quality sampling stations: 363
• Manholes maintained: 119,451

• 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: 1 NOV (Notice of Violation)
• Partially treated discharges events: 0

• 2025 Annual Report (Text Only)(PDF, 369KB)
• FY26 At A Glance(PDF, 8MB)
• FY26 At A Glance (Text Only)(DOCX, 19KB)

These archived documents are maintained for historical, research, or recordkeeping purposes only.

• One Water Strategic Plan Archive(PDF, 6MB)
• Charlotte Water Full Strategic Plan Archive(PDF, 6MB)

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 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.

Archives

These archived documents are maintained for historical, research, or recordkeeping purposes only.

July 2025 Public Forum Video and slides(PDF, 10MB), handout(PDF, 344KB) and Map(PDF, 1MB)

December 2025 Public Forum Video and slides(PDF, 3MB) about Select Water Treatment Plants and Pipe Projects.

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.

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 

This archived document is maintained for historical, research, or recordkeeping purposes only.

Charlotte Water Brand Standards Archive(PDF, 4MB)