To serve customers, CLTWater has water pipes under most roads, including crossing under highways and interstates.
So what happens when there is a leak or a necessary repair under a highway or interstate?
It starts with a lot of planning and preparation.
Teams of engineers and crews investigate the scope of the repair and begin working with the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to minimize impact on drivers.
Example: In the fall of 2024, crews installing a new pipe under Interstate 85 found excessive water entering the tunneling pits. Investigations revealed two underground leaks and cracked asphalt, which showed signs of water damage.
The team worked on an emergency plan.
At least one lane was closed on the interstate from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am Monday through Friday for at least a month.
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scans of each lane of the interstate helped identify the location of leaks and voids under the asphalt.
Stabilizing foam was injected under multiple lanes. More than 600, ¾ inch diameter holes were bored and injected to stabilize the subsurface.
The pipes were investigated from the inside using robot cameras. The pipes were in good condition, but some seals needed to be temporarily installed to keep them in service.
New pipes were installed inside the existing pipes to maintain use and minimize leaks.
In July 2025, Charlotte Water faced a significant emergency repair on a water main running along IBM Drive, an essential roadway servicing both commercial and residential areas. The section of the line required urgent repair, but the stakes were high. A complete shutdown would have resulted in water loss for two sizeable businesses as well as a large neighborhood.
The risk of widespread service disruption posed serious consequences for local commerce and daily life. Charlotte Water needed a solution that would allow it to isolate the repair site without interrupting service to its key customers, and our staff rose to the occasion.
“We were able to complete the repair quickly and efficiently without disrupting service to our commercial or residential customers,” said Jason Bromirski, a senior engineer at Charlotte Water. “This is an ideal outcome for such a critical location.”
To maintain service while addressing the damaged main, Charlotte Water installed an insta-valve. The insta-valve can be installed on an existing in-service main and allows us to perform maintenance or repairs without shutting down nearby blocks of the water distribution system.
Some problems require creative solutions, and Charlotte Water works every day to keep our water safe, reliable and flowing to your homes and businesses.
Charlotte Water and the City of Mount Holly celebrated the official commissioning of the Mount Holly Pump Station at Tuckaseege Park. This transformative moment reinforces our commitment to providing the best regional water infrastructure for our community.
Connecting Communities
This commissioning ceremony represents more than just flipping a switch; it’s the culmination of extensive regional collaboration and engineering innovation. The new pump station now connects Mount Holly’s wastewater system to Charlotte Water’s regional network through specially installed pipelines running approximately 65 feet beneath the Catawba River and Long Creek.
How It Works
Wastewater travels from Mount Holly homes and businesses to the new Mount Holly Pump Station
The station then pumps wastewater through underwater pipelines to Charlotte Water’s Long Creek Pump Station
From there, wastewater will be treated at existing Charlotte Water facilities
Partnership for the Future
This commissioning is a huge milestone in the larger Stowe Regional Water Resource Recovery Facility project. By transitioning Mount Holly’s wastewater service to Charlotte Water, we’re creating a more resilient and sustainable system that will protect water quality in the Catawba River while preparing our communities for future growth.
We extend our gratitude to everyone who joined us for this historic celebration. This achievement represents true connection across communities, demonstrating what’s possible when we work together to protect our water resources for generations to come.
This week, we’re highlighting another outstanding Legal Intern at Charlotte Water. I got to have a great conversation with Rose Soltani, who has spent her summer exploring how municipal law plays a direct role in our everyday lives. Her experience has taken her from legal research and compliance review to special tours with the City Attorney’s Office, all while staying rooted in her hometown.
Q1: What school do you go to and what do you study?
Originally from Charlotte, Rose is a rising second-year law student at American University’s Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. Before law school, she earned her undergraduate degree with a major in Business Administration and a Marketing concentration from NC State. When discussing being in Charlotte again for the internship, Rose commented, “I love Charlotte, and being able to give back to the community while doing an internship is amazing.”
Rose Soltani, Benjamin Vitenson, and Beatriz Romero Santiago at the Catawba River Pump Station
Q2: What has surprised you the most?
One of Rose’s biggest takeaways is realizing how much happens at the local level. “People usually think about the federal government when they think about law,” she shared, “but local government decisions are the ones that impact people’s daily lives the most. I didn’t realize how much goes into municipal law until I saw it up close.” She also added that this experience has shown her that she could work in the public sector right out of law school or later in her career.
Q3: Do you have any mentors or coworkers who have helped shape your experience?
Rose has enjoyed every one of her coworkers, always taking pictures of their adventures and checking in on each other. She credits her colleague Ann Allen with making her experience especially impactful, stating, “Ann has been the best mentor; she has done private sector work in the past, and it’s great to see her perspective shifting to the public sector. She’s smart, kind, and really knows what she’s doing.”
Rose and Beatriz at the stream restoration tour
Q4: What has been your favorite Summer Intern Exploration activity so far?
One of Rose’s favorite activities has been touring the Stowe Regional Water Resource Recovery Facility, a massive project currently under construction. “Working in legal, we’ve heard a lot about Stowe behind the scenes, so it was cool to see it in action,” she said. She also loved touring the courthouse with the City Attorney’s Office, where she got a firsthand look at the legal process and even observed a plea deal.
As she heads into her second year of law school, Rose is taking with her a deeper understanding and appreciation of local government’s role in our everyday life, as well as a newfound interest in public sector work. In the future, whether her path leads to business law, real estate, or something entirely unexpected, one thing is clear: she’s leaving this summer with valuable experience, meaningful connections, and a strong connection to the city she calls home!
A conversation with Charlotte Water
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