Rates & Fees

Charlotte Water is funded solely by water and sewer rates. Annual rate increases are needed to effectively maintain, improve, and expand Charlotte's aging water and wastewater infrastructure.

Customers are charged a volumetric rate for water and sewer use in addition to fixed and availability fees.

Fixed Fees

These fees recover costs associated with servicing customer accounts and cover:

  • Reading and maintaining more than 285,000 water meters
  • Investigating and responding to billing questions
  • Producing and mailing bills
  • Providing customer service
  • Receipt of receiving revenues

Availability Fees

This fee is based on the cost of water and wastewater projects needed to maintain a 24/7 water service. These costs are present whether a customer uses water or not.

These fees are prorated based on the number of days of service on the bill.

The average 7 Ccf customer will pay $80.35 per month. (This does not include stormwater fees.)

Ccf: An abbreviation representing 100 cubic feet and used to measure your water and sewer usage. This unit of measure equals 748 gallons.

Current Rates

Effective 07/01/2025 - 06/30/2026

Residential Rates & Fees

Water Usage

  • Tier 1 (1-4 Ccf ): $1.98/Ccf
  • Tier 2 (5-8 Ccf): $2.56/Ccf
  • Tier 3 (9-16 Ccf): $5.91/Ccf
  • Tier 4 (Over 16 Ccf): $11.20/Ccf

Sewer Usage

  • $6.46 Per Ccf of Water Used (up to 16 Ccf)

Fixed Fees

  • Water: $6.62/month
  • Sewer: $6.62/month

Availability Fees

  • Water 5/8-inch Connection Size: $1.44/month
  • Water 1-inch Connection Size: $3.61/month
  • Sewer 5/8-inch Connection Size: $10.32/month
  • Sewer 1-inch Connection Size: $25.81/month
  • Disconnection Fee: $32.00
  • Reconnection Fee: $32.00

Irrigation Meter Rates

  • Tier 3 (1-16 Ccf): $5.91
  • Tier 4: (17+ CCf): $11.20

Commercial Rates & Fees

Volumetric Rates

  • Water Charge per Ccf: $3.43
  • Sewer Charge per Ccf: $6.46

Monthly Water and Sewer Fixed Fees

  • Water Fixed Fee: $6.62
  • Sewer Fixed Fee: $6.62

Monthly Water & Sewer Availability Fees

Meter Size Water Availability Fee Sewer Availability Fee
(5/8" meter) $1.44 $10.32
1" $3.61 $25.81
1 ½" $7.23 $51.62
2" $11.56 $82.59
3" $23.85 $170.35
4" $39.27 $280.48
6" $79.50 $567.84
8" $159.01 $1,135.68
10" $303.56 $2,168.11
12" $383.06 $2,735.95

Irrigation Meter Rates

  • Tier 3 (1-16 Ccf): $5.91
  • Tier 4: (17+ CCf): $11.20

Private Fire Line Volumetric Rate

  • $3.43per Ccf
Monthly Fire Line Fee
Size Fire Line Fee
Less than 4" $2.59
4" $8.20
6" $18.45
8" $36.90
10" $46.13
12" $72.26

Hydrant Connection Fees

  • Deposit: $100
  • Water Usage per Ccf: $3.43
Connection Size Monthly Fee Setup Fee
2 ½" $34.23 $74.51
4" $302.08 $286.81

Plan Review Fees

Service Fee/Metric
Backflow Prevention Review $240/occurrence
Backflow Prevention Device Inspection $316/occurrence
Infrastructure Permit: Project Initiation
 $491/occurrence
Infrastructure Permit: Plan Review
 $2.09/Linear Foot
Infrastructure Permit: Inspection
 $5.80/Linear Foot
CCTV Inspection
 At Cost
Infrastructure Permit: Revision to Approved Plans (RTAP) $327/Occurrence

Industrial & Commercial Surcharge Rates

Surchargeable Parameters for Monitored Industrial Users Surchargeable Level Units Charged FY26 Fee
COD - Chemical Oxygen Demand
 any amount > 500 mg/L Per pound $0.1408/ pound
 (IWCD)      
TSS – Total Suspended Solids
 any amount > 250 mg/L Per pound $0.4338/ pound
 (IWSS)      
NH3 - Ammonia  any amount > 20 mg/L Per pound $3.3745/ pound
 (IWAM)      
IWC – Industrial Waste Charge The IWC charge is applied to 100 % of Industrial Waste discharged by SIUs. per Ccf $0.4295/ Ccf
 (SCSM or SCSU)      
IWC – Industrial Waste Charge The IWC charge is applied to 100 % of incoming water for Commercial Customers. per Ccf $0.4295/
Ccf
 (SCIW)      
Non-Monitored High Strength Charge The High Strength Charge is applied to 100% of incoming water for Commercial Customers. per Ccf $3.07/ Ccf
 (SEHS)      

Connection & System Development Fees

Water Connection & Water/Sewer System Development Fees

Water Meter Size/Type Water Connection Fee Water System Development Fee Sewer System Development Fee
5/8" (Domestic Only) $4,421 $1,398 $5,389
1" (Domestic Only) $8,168 $3,495 $13,472
1 ½" At Cost $6,991 $26,944
2" At Cost $11,185 $43,111
3" Compound, Class II At Cost $24,467 $94,305
4" Compound, Class II  At Cost $41,944 $161,665
6" Compound, Class II  At Cost $94,374 $363,747
8" Compound, Class I & II At Cost $111,851 $431,107
3" Ultrasonic At Cost $34,953 $134,721
4" Ultrasonic At Cost $61,518 $237,109
6" Ultrasonic At Cost $97,869 $377,219
8" Ultrasonic At Cost $195,738 $754,437
10" Ultrasonic At Cost $314,580 $1,212,488
12" Ultrasonic At Cost $384,486 $1,481,930
4" FMCT At Cost $48,935 $13,472
6"x 1.5" FMCT At Cost $111,851 $26,944
8" FMCT At Cost $195,738 $43,111
10" x 2" FMCT At Cost $307,589 $43,111
12" FMCT w/ 2-inch at Crossover At Cost $307,589 $1,185,544
2" Fire Line At Cost $11,185 N/A
4" Fire Line At Cost $27,963 N/A
6" Fire Line At Cost $62,916 N/A
8" Fire Line At Cost $125,832 N/A
10" Fire Line At Cost $157,290 N/A
12" Fire Line At Cost $246,491 N/A
5/8" Split Irrigation $2,958 N/A N/A
3/4" Irrigation (Dual Check) $4,421 $1,398 N/A
1" Irrigation (Dual Check) $8,168 $3,495 N/A

For information about meters and meter rates not listed here, please contact:

Customer Service - New Tap Connections
CLTWaterNewTapConnections@charlottenc.gov
980.338.1289

Sewer Connection Fees

Sewer Service Size Sewer Connection Fee
4" $6,132
6" & Larger At Cost
1 ½" LPSS $6,132
2" LPSS & Larger At Cost

Meter Charges

Meter Size Meter Charge
5/8" $207.00
1" $327.00

Schedule of Security Deposit Charges by Meter Size

Customer Type 5/8" 1" 1-1/2" 2" 3" 4" 6" 8" 10"+
Auto Dealer / Service Station / Body Shop $25 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Beauty Shop $25 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Car Wash $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100
Church $7 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Dry Cleaner $7 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Fire Line $7 $7 $7 $7 $7 $7 $7 $7 $7
Garage $7 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Grocery / Convenience Store $7 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Hotel / Motel $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100
Irrigation* $25 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100
Laundry $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100
Mobile Home Park $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100
Office $7 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Paint Shop $25 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Pool Hall / Lounge $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100
Residence, SF / Duplex $0 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Residence, Multi Family $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100
Restaurant, Carryout $25 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Restaurant, Dine In $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100
School / Day Care $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100
Stadium $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100
Studio $25 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Theater $7 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Warehouse $7 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100
Not Specified Above $7 $25 $25 $50 $75 $100 $100 $100 $100

*Some service types and sizes depend on availability and other considerations. All proposals require review and approval by Charlotte Water.

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