Public water system · NC0160010
ActiveCharlotte Water
At a glance
Charlotte Water (PWSID NC0160010) is an active community water system in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. It reports serving 1,163,701 people through 323,527 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 10 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2014.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,163,701
Service connections
323,527
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Charlotte Water compare with other water systems in Mecklenburg County?
By EPA's size categories, Charlotte Water is a very large system (more than 100,000 people). Mecklenburg County has 62 active public water systems, and Charlotte Water is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 61 times the county average of 19,059 people per system, and accounts for 98% of the 1,181,678 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across North Carolina, the 5,087 active systems average 1,971 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Charlotte Water is about 174 times that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. North Carolina has 2,031 active community water systems, 40% of the state's 5,087 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 132 North Carolina systems (2.6%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Charlotte Water?
EPA lists Charlotte Water as owned by a local government. The NC state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 6 of the 62 active systems in Mecklenburg County (9.7%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Charlotte Water have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 10 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2014. The violations listed here began between November 1993 and December 2014. By type: 6 monitoring and reporting, 2 required treatment not met, 1 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Dalapon (4 of them). EPA lists 10 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2004-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Dalaponcode 2031 | No | Resolved |
| 2004-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Dalaponcode 2031 | No | Resolved |
| 2004-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Dalaponcode 2031 | No | Resolved |
| 2004-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Dalaponcode 2031 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-12-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-11-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
All 10 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Charlotte Water: frequently asked questions
Who runs Charlotte Water?
Charlotte Water (PWSID NC0160010) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the NC state drinking water program.
How many people does Charlotte Water serve?
Charlotte Water reports serving 1,163,701 people through 323,527 service connections in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
Where does Charlotte Water get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Charlotte Water have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 10 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2014. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Charlotte Water's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list 10 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2014. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the NC state drinking water program.
Where can I find Charlotte Water's water quality report?
As a community water system, Charlotte Water must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Mecklenburg County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamplighter South-Danby | Mecklenburg | 3,297 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Bradfield Farms S/D | Mecklenburg | 3,015 | Community | Groundwater |
| Park South S/D | Mecklenburg | 1,930 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Wildwood Green/Mcilwaine | Mecklenburg | 681 | Community | Groundwater |
| Stone Hollow S/D | Mecklenburg | 582 | Community | Groundwater |
| Berryhill Elem School | Mecklenburg | 522 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Charlotte Water, PWSID NC0160010, North Carolina”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/north-carolina/charlotte-water-nc0160010 (data as of October 1, 2026).