Private Water Distribution System Permitting
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) delegated permitting authority to CLT Water in 2010 to permit private water distribution systems. Private water distribution systems consist of 2-inch or larger private water lines behind meters, serving more than one structure, requiring a private permit.
Effective July 1, 2019: CLT Water’s private water permitting authority has been altered to now only permit private water lines between the meter and backflow assembly for 2” and larger domestic services, serving more than one structure.
The assigned duties, responsibilities, and requirements of CLT Water as they relate to these systems are as follows:
- Review and approval of private water distribution plans, applications, and associated specifications, if necessary.
- Issuing permits for the approved plans.
- Issuance of the "Authorization to Construct" notice for approved and permitted plans.
- Collecting as-builts of permitted systems including meter(s) and backflow(s).
- Collecting the engineer and owner certifications.
- Issuing "Final Approval" notice for the project, which authorizes activation.
Plan Submittals should include:
- Pre-Construction:
- Signed/sealed plans from the developer's engineer (including the full extent of the distribution system).
- Completed Private Water Main Extension Application.
- Engineer's report.
- Flow acceptance approval letter (approval date not to exceed 2 years).
- Fire hydrant flow test report.
- Post-Construction:
- As-built of permitted system including meter(s) and backflow(s).
- Engineer and owner certifications.
Plan Submittals
Plans shall be submitted to the assigned CLTWater Backflow Plan Reviewer or directly to brela.james@charlottenc.gov and mark.bullins@charlottenc.gov.
As-Built and Certification Submittals
Private water as-builts, Engineer Certifications, and Owner Certifications shall be submitted to CLTWater at geneva.montgomery@charlottenc.gov.
NCDEQ Process: NCDEQ will continue issuing permits for public water systems such as subdivisions or business parks receiving their water supply from a source other than CLT Water. Such sources of supply include, but are not limited to, wells, surface water, or another utility provider, such as Utilities, Inc. or Aqua Carolina. In addition, typical large diameter water main extensions, treatment facilities, and major public distribution system modifications, such as booster stations and storage tanks, will require permits through NCDEQ.
NCDEQ Requirements:
- Applies to 15 or more sub-metered residential or commercial units or sub-metered commercial units serving 25 or more people (e.g., employees), creating a "public system."
- Private water distribution plans in this case shall be permitted by NCDEQ (instead of Charlotte Water) and the private system will be regulated by NCDEQ.
North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) Requirements:
- Applies to 15 or more leased, sub-metered residential units (WR or WRN).
- WR: Apartments, Condo's and Townhomes
- WRN: Single dwelling
- Requires customer to submit an application to NCUC including additional documents and fees.
- NCUC reviews and approves the application and issues a "Certificate of Authority," in which they establish water and sewer rates.
- WR or WRN designations are only exempt if water and sewer fees will be paid as a part of the rent.
- The application is still required to be submitted to NCUC so they may issue a "Certificate of Authority."