Category Archives: General

Behind the Scenes, Distance Learning, General, How Things Work, News, Water Quality

Say Goodbye to Slimy Mats: Lyngbya Treatment Underway at Lake Norman, Mountain Island & Lake Wylie

young man wearing blue windbreaker and grey ball cap sit in pilot's chair of a fan driven swamp boat on a lake
Lyngbya Treatment on Mountain Island Lake.

If you’ve spent any time around Lake Norman, Mountain Island Lake, or Lake Wylie in recent summers, you might’ve noticed thick, dark, musty-smelling mats floating near the shore. That fuzzy stuff? It’s not harmless lake gunk—it’s a type of algae called Lyngbya, and it’s been quietly spreading across southern reservoirs, turning once-clear waters into mucky messes.

But there’s good news on the horizon.

Starting this month and continuing through September, a coordinated effort is underway to treat Lyngbya in all three lakes. This initiative is led by the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group, with help from county governments, marine commissions, North Carolina State University, and Duke Energy. The result? A much more streamlined and effective plan to tackle this invasive algae head-on.

What Exactly Is Lyngbya?

Lyngbya (recently reclassified as Microseria wollei) is a type of cyanobacteria—often called blue-green algae—that thrives in warm, nutrient-rich water. Unlike some seasonal algae, Lyngbya doesn’t go away when summer ends. It lives year-round on the lake bottom, then floats to the surface as water temperatures rise, forming dense mats that can clog boat motors, reduce water quality, and frankly, make lakes less enjoyable for everyone.

To give you a sense of how aggressive it can be: in 2024, Lake Gaston on the NC/VA border reported over 1,000 acres of Lyngbya infestation.

What’s Being Done?

For the 2025 season, treatment will cover 60 acres total across the three lakes:

  • 25 acres in Lake Norman
  • 25 acres in Mountain Island Lake
  • 10 acres in Lake Wylie

Monthly treatments will be handled by Aqua Services, Inc., using EPA-approved copper-based algaecides distributed by SePRO Corporation. If you live near the water, expect to see airboats cruising the shoreline mid-month, releasing a bright blue liquid into the water. That’s the algaecide at work—it may look dramatic, but it’s safe for fishing, swimming, and watering your plants.

Will It Work?

The short answer: yes, but it will take time.

Because Lyngbya is tough to kill and can look alive even when it’s not, results won’t be obvious overnight. You might see fewer surface mats this summer, but the real payoff will come after several treatment seasons. This approach mirrors the successful program at Lake Gaston, which is already seeing noticeable reductions in Lyngbya after multiple years of consistent treatment.

What Can You Do?

If you’re a lakefront property owner or just someone who loves spending weekends on the water, stay informed! You can report problem areas or learn more about aquatic vegetation management by emailing AquaticPlants@duke-energy.com or visiting duke-energy.com/AquaticPlants.

Bottom line: Lyngbya might be stubborn, but so are we. With consistent treatment and community awareness, our lakes can stay clean, healthy, and a joy to explore for years to come.

Got questions or curious about what you’re seeing in the water? Drop them in the comments—we’ll help you make sense of the science.

Additional Information:

2024 update about Lyngbya.

Microplastics Reduction Research at Charlotte Water.

Billing, General

How Condo and Townhome Communities Can Reduce Water Bills

Cutting water bills in condo communities is not just a way to save money; it’s a chance to build a more sustainable future for everyone. Here are some strategies to consider:

1. Upgrade to Low-Flow Fixtures: In older condos and townhomes, reduce water usage by installing low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets. These eco-friendly fixtures can slash water consumption significantly without sacrificing performance, making a strong impact on monthly bills.

2. Educate Residents: Promote easy-to-follow water-saving habits, such as taking shorter showers, turning off taps while brushing teeth, and running full loads in dishwashers and washing machines.

3. Monitor Water Use: Dive into past water bills to uncover trends and identify peak consumption times. Consider sub-metering units or other technology to find potential leaks.

4. Conduct Regular Plumbing Checks: Schedule routine inspections to catch leaks in pipes, faucets, and toilets. Even minor leaks can waste water and dollars, so addressing them promptly can lead to significant savings.

5. Revamp Landscaping: If your community features shared outdoor spaces, consider transitioning to drought-resistant plants and employing xeriscaping techniques that require minimal irrigation. Pair this with an efficient drip irrigation system to maximize water efficiency.

6. Offer Conservation Incentives: Introduce rewards for residents who actively reduce their water usage or report leaks. Incentives can motivate everyone to conserve this precious resource.

7. Consider Rainwater Harvesting: If applicable, investing in rainwater collection systems can provide a sustainable source of water for irrigation or other non-potable uses.

Charlotte Water calculates your bill based on a tiered system, meaning the more you use, the more you pay.

An average customer uses around 7 Ccf per month, which is 5,236 gallons!

What is a Ccf? Ccf is an abbreviation that represents 100 cubic feet, which equals 748 gallons.

Understanding Rates and Fees
The drinking water and sewer/wastewater systems are both managed by Charlotte Water and are paid for by water bill fees, not property tax dollars. The public storm drainage system is managed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services and paid for by storm water fees, not property tax dollars.

Water Usage Rates: Charges for drinking water vary based on the amount of water used and rates are broken into four rate tiers. Usage is measured in Ccf, or one hundred cubic feet, increments. 1Ccf = 748 gallons. Meter readings reflect cumulative totals from one billing cycle to the next and usage is only charged per whole Ccf (rounded down). A partial Ccf will roll over and be included in the next billing cycle.

Sewer Usage Rates: Charges for sewer use are based on the amount of water used for customers with water and sewer service. For customers with wastewater service only, the fee is calculated based on the typical household water consumption.

Fixed Fees: The fixed fees for both water and sewer services recover the cost of servicing accounts, such as the cost of meter reading and billing.

Availability Fees: Availability fees pay for water and sewer projects. The fees vary based on the size of a customer’s meter connection and the number of service days in each billing cycle.

Storm Water Services Fees: Fees are used to repair public storm drainage infrastructure, reduce flood risks, and improve surface waters. Detached single-family residential homes are grouped into one of four billing tiers based on the amount of impervious surface area on the parcel. All others (commercial and attached single-family homes such as duplexes and apartments) are billed for the actual amount of impervious surface area on the parcel. Impervious surfaces include rooftops, concrete driveways, and other areas that do not allow rainwater to absorb into the ground.

Learn more at https://www.charlottenc.gov/water/Pay-your-Bill/Rates-Fees

Here are a few other sources

CHARLOTTE WATER 2024 RATE ADJUSTMENT | Charlotte Water Blog

Why Does Wastewater Cost More On My Water Bill? | Charlotte Water Blog

Have A High Water Bill? Read This. | Charlotte Water Blog

Understanding Homeowners Responsibility | Charlotte Water Blog

New Bill Design – YouTube about water bill look

How To Read Your Charlotte Water Meter

General, Wastewater, Water Quality

Unlocking a New Level of Progress with a Plant: Nuvoda Pilot

Are small plant pieces key to a new level of greatness in the Queen City’s wastewater treatment process? Charlotte Water’s Sugar Creek Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) has set out on a 12-month mission to learn.

Kenaf sample in an Imhoff Cone, the tool used to check how much kenaf is currently in Sugar Creek WRRF’s basins.

Nuvoda, a wastewater solutions company in Raleigh, NC, created the Mobile Organic Biofilm (MOB™) Process. The star of the show called kenaf is a fast-growing plant that can get rid of up to 10 tons of carbon dioxide per acre while growing. That’s eight times as much as evergreen trees! 

So, how does it work? Small pieces of kenaf are in all stages of Sugar Creek’s secondary treatment process. Its job is to help make space for helpful biofilms to grow.

Biofilms, a slime-like layer found in nature, grow on surfaces to eat the “waste” in wastewater and help solids settle faster.  This leads to treated water that can be safely returned to the environment.

The kenaf material is also reusable! A giant sift-like tool separates kenaf from the water. Screens inside of the filter are small enough to catch and make sure no kenaf is wasted or left to come out in your kitchen sink. Sugar Creek’s maintenance team even added some helpful features, like a ramp for it to fall out of the sift, into the bin below.

Muriel Steele, Water Process Engineer, guiding kenaf down a custom-made ramp through the final stages of the MOB cycle.

MOB and kenaf have other perks, too.

Chemicals like ammonia have to be controlled carefully while treating wastewater. The microorganisms needed to treat ammonia can be hard to grow in cold temperatures, but biofilms can provide a cozy space for these specialists to grow. Kenaf boosts the amount of space for the biofilms.

Treatment facilities need to run as smoothly as possible during storms. Improved settling thanks to the kenaf can help with higher water flows during rainy days. So, as the extra water comes into the plant from bad weather, solids settle faster and there is a lower chance of anything unwanted continuing to the next treatment stage.

Kenaf is grown in Cameron, NC, and Charlotte Water is working to include these fields in our biosolids program. Biosolids are a nutrient-rich material made from treated wastewater, used to help plant growth and keep a healthy environment.

The Nuvoda MOB pilot is a chance for Charlotte Water to improve for the future by lowering costs and getting ready for the city to grow. By exploring this new process, Sugar Creek WRRF is gathering useful data to help make decisions for improvements. All thanks to a plant! 

To learn more about MOB and kenaf, visit Nuvoda’s website.

Video | Nuvoda: The MOB™ Process

Video | Nuvoda: Natural Ballasted Media for the MOB™ Process

Drought & Conservation, General

Save Money, Save Water

Fixing at home leaks can be quick, cheap, and easy.

Taking a few minutes to fix small leaks in your home can prevent costly water bills. Household leaks can waste almost one trillion gallons of water per year nationwide. Some common household leaks are dripping faucets, worn toilet flappers, leaking valves, and irrigation systems. You can fix many of these leaks without having to call a professional. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsors Fix a Leak Week annually to encourage leak detection and water conservation. Here are a few of the EPA’s leak repair tips:

Faucet Leaks

Your dripping faucet could be wasting more than 3,000 gallons of water per year. Check out this drip calculator from the AWWA to see how much water you could be wasting at home!

Once you know which part of your faucet is leaking (spout, base, etc.) you can purchase a single replacement piece or a faucet repair kit. Video tutorials like this one can take you from DIY to drip-stopping pro in under three minutes!

To ensure you purchase the right kit or replacement part, it’s best to research your current faucet or disassemble your faucet and take the pieces that need replacement with you. Once you have the necessary replacement parts, simply swap them out and test the faucet for leaks.

Toilet Leaks

A worn-out toilet flapper can silently waste thousands of gallons of water per year. Toilet leaks can be some of the sneakiest leaks in a home. Luckily, replacing a toilet flapper only takes a few minutes and the parts are inexpensive. The easiest way to figure out if your toilet is leaking is to perform a dye test.

Make sure to carefully examine your old flapper before tossing it to ensure you buy the correct replacement. This simple swap can prevent you from flushing hundreds of dollars down the drain.

Outdoor Leaks

In-ground irrigation systems, hose connections, and pools can also be sources of leaks that can skyrocket your water bill. It’s important to monitor your water bill when you water your lawn or during pool season to ensure you’re not missing a leak. Here are some outdoor leak detection tips:

  • Check your irrigation system for damage from freezing temps before you use it each spring.
  • Check your irrigation system for faulty sprinkler heads.
  • Check your hose connections regularly for pooling water or drips between uses.
  • Consult a professional if you suspect a pool leak.

If you need assistance fixing a leak, please contact a professional. If you receive a high bill and are unsure of what to do next, check out this video for next steps.

Charlotte Water can assist you with your outstanding balance from a high bill after your leak is repaired. To get help with your outstanding balance, please dial 311 or 704-336-7600.