Education

Request the Water Wagon

Charlotte Water is no longer accepting requests for the The Water Wagon for calendar year 2025. The Water Wagon will be unavailable for the winter from October 1 to February 28.

Requirements for Water Wagon event attendance:

• The event must be in the Charlotte Water Service Area.
• There must be at least 750 attendees planned for the event.
• Events that are free and open to the public will take priority over ticketed events. Ticketed or limited entry events will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• Charlotte Water educational/promotional materials will be set up alongside the Water Wagon at each event.
• If the Water Wagon is parked on a paved surface, it must be able to support at least 20,000 lbs.
• If the Water Wagon is parked on a grass surface, there must be proper notification and approval by the property manager/event coordinator.
• The Water Wagon must be accessible to all attendees.
• The Water Wagon must be booked at least 90 days in advance.
• Charlotte Water needs at least 48 hours between events to refill and test.
• Charlotte Water will only do one Water Wagon event per week.

Event hosts must agree to the following:

• The event space must be 15 feet wide by 20 feet deep. It must accommodate an F-250 truck and Water Wagon to pull through and park. The truck may be relocated after the Water Wagon is secured for the event.
• Event space with access for one or two 15 amp electrical outlets is strongly recommended.
• In an emergency situation, Charlotte Water has the authority to cancel Water Wagon participation at an event. It will be up to Charlotte Water to determine if the Water Wagon can be rescheduled for a different date.
• If the Water Wagon is emptied at an event, refilling is at the discretion of Charlotte Water staff.
• With rare exceptions, the Water Wagon cannot be delivered the day prior to an event for security and water quality purposes.
• The Water Wagon must be staffed by Charlotte Water employees at all times.
• Only a licensed Charlotte Water employee can move or pull the Water Wagon.

Schedule A Tour

Tours are being conducted at the following plants (this information is subject to change): 

McDowell Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
4901 Neck Road
Huntersville, NC 28078

Irwin Wastewater Treatment Plant
4000 Westmont Drive
Charlotte, NC 28217

Lee Dukes Water Treatment Plant
7980 Babe Stillwell Rd.
Huntersville, NC 28078

Mallard Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
12400 US HWY 29
Charlotte, NC 28262

Because of staffing limitations, a limited number of tours are available. Tours will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

School and professional group tour requests are handled on a case-by-case basis under the following guidelines:

• Requests must be submitted a minimum of four weeks prior to the desired tour date. Requests to reschedule are subject to the same timeframe.
• Tours are limited to groups of 30 people maximum.
• Tours are conducted between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays (in some cases we may be able to accommodate tours outside of these hours).
• Tours last approximately two hours.
• Tour participants must be at least 9 years old or in 4th grade.
• For school grades four through seven, we require chaperones at a 1:5 ratio. For grades eight and up, we require chaperones at a 1:8 ratio.
• All tour participants will be required to sign a liability release prior to arriving for the tour.
• Tour participants will be required to adhere to all safety requirements at our facilities.
• Tours will be suspended and/or canceled immediately in the event of safety or security concerns at the facility.
• These are tours of operational facilities and may pose challenges for those with physical limitations. Please contact us prior to booking a tour if you have concerns in this area.

Requests cannot be processed until all information is complete. Allow a minimum of five business days for requests to be reviewed, approved, and confirmed.

Email hannah.kendall@charlottenc.gov if you have any questions.

Charlotte Water is accepting art installation requests on a case-by-case basis for manhole covers, in coordination with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation.

Once you have reviewed the guidelines below and submitted your application, we will reach out to you with your permit information and additional details.

Contact Jennifer Frost at Jennifer.Frost@charlottenc.gov for more details and the application.

Guidelines for Manhole Art Installation

To install art at a manhole location, the following practices must be followed. Any deviation from these practices may result in the immediate removal of any artistic installation without notice.

• No artwork on the metal frame, metal lid, or top surface of the manhole structure.
• No opening of the manhole lid.
• No standing or sitting on the manhole.
• Charlotte Water will not maintain the vegetation at the site, but the artist can remove excess vegetation and do periodic trimming around the sewer manhole.
• The artist will be responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the artwork.
• No open flames or smoking is permitted due to possible hazardous and/or flammable gases within the manhole.
• Charlotte Water allows latex and acrylic paint only.
• Proposed artwork must be family-friendly. Inappropriate or offensive art will not be allowed.
• Charlotte Water is not responsible for damage to artwork.
• Charlotte Water can remove the artwork at any time.
• Charlotte Water will not provide notifications regarding potential damage or removal of artwork due to emergency repairs to Charlotte Water infrastructure.
• Guidelines for this program are subject to change at Charlotte Water's discretion at any time.