Water Quality

Drinking Water Information

Our top priority is making sure that the water you use to wash your hands, bathe yourself and your children, and prepare healthy meals is safe, clean, and reliable.

Charlotte Water is excited to announce that for another year, your drinking water meets and exceeds state and federal drinking water standards, with zero water quality violations.

Our scientists and water quality professionals perform more than 170,000 tests per year on regulated and unregulated contaminants.

Charlotte Water customers received their 2022 Drinking Water Quality Report(PDF, 15MB) in June 2023, which is an overview of the Consumer Confidence Report(PDF, 358KB).

What is a Consumer Confidence Report?

Charlotte Water's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - also known as a water quality report or a drinking water quality report - provides important information about the quality of the water we provide for our customers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of North Carolina require all drinking water providers to publish a CCR each year for the water quality of the previous year. So, the CCR released in 2023 reflects data collected in 2022.

Why should a customer care about, or read the CCR?

The most important thing about a CCR is the transparency in water quality data the report provides customers, as well as notification of any water quality violations.

What is a water quality violation?

A water quality violation occurs when any contaminate is found at levels higher than the EPA allows. The violation requires the water provider to notify customers immediately about what was found in the water and any health effects it might have. It also can require the provider to enhance or change its treatment or monitoring of the water.

What is a contaminant

A contaminant is anything found in your water that is not a water molecule, which is why we prefer to think of them as impurities. Contaminants/impurities can be good or harmful to your health, depending on the substance and quantity. For example, E. coli is a very small organism that is harmless at low levels but can make people sick in large enough quantities. On the other hand, chlorine, which is used in the water treatment process as a disinfectant against bacteria like E. coli, is also an impurity, but it is added at very safe levels to ensure high-quality drinking water.

It is possible for a water provider to detect contaminants but not have a water quality violation?

Yes, the presence of contaminants does not always create a water quality violation. There are levels of some contaminants considered to be safe.

Is it possible to have a water quality violation even when all levels of contaminants are within the EPA's range of safety?

Yes. A water provider can receive a violation for incorrect sampling techniques or failure to submit samples on time.

Did Charlotte Water have any water quality violations in 2022?

No. For another year, we are proud to report we delivered high-quality, clean drinking water with zero water quality violations. Charlotte Water staff work 24/7, 365 days a year to ensure that we meet and exceed drinking water standards.

How many tests were performed in 2022?

We performed more than 170,000 tests this year for more than 150 regulated contaminants and more than 740 unregulated contaminants. None of these found contaminants or impurities that exceeded EPA regulations.