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.
What happens when industry and environmental protection join forces? For 28 years, Charlotte’s Environmental Excellence Awards have been answering that question with remarkable results.
This year’s ceremony celebrates nearly three decades of partnership between Charlotte Water and industrial customers who’ve chosen to go beyond compliance. We’re recognizing over 800 awards that represent real environmental stewardship, facilities that don’t just meet permit requirements but actively champion environmental protection.
Taken by Cam Coley, employee City of Charlotte, Charlotte Water
The Impact Speaks Volumes: These collective efforts contribute to award-winning wastewater treatment facilities and the beneficial reuse of over 200,000 tons of biosolids since 1997. Each recognition represents a facility that has embraced environmental leadership as a core value, creating ripple effects throughout our community’s water systems.
Award Criteria: Platinum – 5+ consecutive years of 100% compliance (reporting, monitoring, permit limits). No slug loading or SNC. Must discharge during year.
Gold – 100% compliance for 1 year. No slug loading in 2024. No SNC for 2 years. Must be permitted all of 2024 and discharge during year.
Silver – 100% compliance for reporting/monitoring; 90%+ compliance for permit limits for 1 year. No slug loading in 2024. No SNC for 2 years. Must be permitted all of 2024 and discharge during year.
Most Improved – 100% compliance for reporting/monitoring and 90%+ compliance for permit limits in 2024. No SNC or slug loading in 2024.
Crown Award – Must qualify for Platinum, Gold, or Silver and apply for one category:
Industrial Pretreatment – 100% compliance for 2+ years plus innovative technology, environmental excellence, and cooperation with Charlotte Water.
Water Conservation – Significant water use reduction or unique conservation/reuse approach.
Pollution Prevention – Source reduction program while maintaining high environmental standards.
Taken by Cam Coley, employee City of Charlotte, Charlotte Water
Crown Award Recipients:
At the summit of environmental achievement, two organizations demonstrate what’s possible when industry embraces transformative change.
Bakkavor Foods USA earned the Crown Award for Most Improved; a recognition that tells a powerful story of environmental transformation. In food processing, where water usage presents complex challenges, their journey represents a fundamental shift in operational thinking.
Mecklenburg County 521 Foxhole Landfill claimed the Crown Award for Pollution Prevention, showcasing how waste management facilities can become environmental showcases rather than necessary burdens.
Platinum Award Recipients:
The Platinum tier reveals something fascinating: environmental excellence isn’t a destination, but a sustained journey.
Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company – 5th year
Chematron Incorporated – 1st year
Mecklenburg County 521 Foxhole Landfill – 14th year
Norfolk Southern Railway – Charlotte Roadway Shop – 9th year
Gold and Silver Awards Recipients:
The remaining 22 award recipients create a comprehensive network of environmental leadership spanning diverse sectors:
Gold Award: AO Smith Corporation, Arjobex America, Carrier Corporation, Charleston Spar, Chesapeake Treatment Company, Cintas Corporation 99k, Du-Norton, Frito-Lay, Hardcoatings, Safe Fleet, Snyder’s-Lance, Trane U.S., Union County Water, Vest Water Treatment Plant, Wallace Farm
Silver Award: Allied Plating Finishing, Bakkavor Foods USA, Barnhardt Manufacturing Company, Broadcom, Inolex Incorporated, Liquid Environmental Solutions, Pan-Glo Charlotte
These awards aren’t just certificates, they represent a fundamental shift in how industry views environmental responsibility. Each recipient demonstrates that environmental excellence and operational success aren’t competing priorities but complementary strategies, strengthening business performance and community health.
The Mecklenburg Beekeepers Association hosted its annual honey-tasting contest in early October. Beekeepers from all over the county were invited to submit honey samples for judging based on taste. This year, 29 jars were submitted and tasted by more than 40 judges from the beekeeping community and the public.
Using a double-blind taste test and a 3-round elimination bracket, the best-tasting honey selected was a mixture including nectar sources from the McAlpine Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and the Irwin Creek WWTP. McAlpine Creek WWTP has approximately eight hives, and Irwin Creek WWTP has three hives, managed by Charlotte Water staff.
In addition to the Charlotte Water managed hives, Irwin Creek WWTP also has four hives managed by an external partner and the McDowell Creek WWTP has two hives.
The quality of the honey the hives produce at the wastewater treatment plants is a testament to everything these facilities stand for… clean water for a clean environment. Not only do the Charlotte Water treatment plants specifically create clean water, but their large footprints host a tremendous amount of plant and animal diversity. There seems to be something in bloom at treatment plants, and the bees know it.
The wide range of plants and closed-off nature of the treatment facilities create an oasis for urban wildlife, with all manner of birds, mammals, and insects left to thrive relatively close to the city.
As part of winning the best-tasting honey in Mecklenburg County, the Charlotte Water honey will be sent to a lab for pollen grain analysis to better understand the sources of nectar our bees love so much!
As part of the ongoing partnership with local communities, the Stowe Regional Project team continues to engage with the local Whitewater schools. During the month of May, CLTWater staff and Stowe team members participated in several activities at the school.
On May 3, CLTWater made a big splash at the Whitewater Middle School Career Fair. This STEM magnet school has been a great neighbor to our new Stowe Regional Water Resource Recovery Facility. CLTWater representatives from Engineering, Field Operations, Customer Service, Laboratory, Learning and Development, and Stowe contractors met with students to talk about career opportunities and what it’s like to work in the water industry.
The Career Day also provided the Stowe Team with an opportunity to meet schoolteachers and staff to begin planning for ESTEM education (environmental, science, technology, engineering and math) opportunities in the 2023-24 school year.
Water Week Celebration 2023
On May 6, over 60 Charlotte Water staff, 7 external exhibitors, and over 400 members of the public celebrated Drinking Water Week at the Quest Center in Huntersville. It was a day of education and celebration to recognize all of the hard work that goes into bringing safe, clean, and reliable water services to our community.
The free, open-to-the-public, family fun day included indoor and outdoor activities and our Water Wagon’s re-launch! Director Angela Charles greeted the public and conveyed the importance of Drinking Water Week in our community. To formally kick of Water Week, Charles read the proclamation that signifies Charlotte’s dedication to clean water for everyone. Attendees of the celebration enjoyed yard games, face painting, snack vendors, information booths and more. External partners included Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Stormwater Services, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Sustain Charlotte, Carolina Raptor Center, Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, and 811.
Thank you to all those at Charlotte Water who made this event a huge success. It takes a tremendous amount of teamwork to safely gather hundreds of people for a festival and engage meaningfully. Many members of the public (including Miss Huntersville!) conveyed how impressed they were with our engaging and kind staff.
On-going Charlotte Water and DSS Collaboration
On May 7, CLTWater and Department of Social Services’ (DSS) representatives attended a Community Baby Shower sponsored by District 2 PHA OES and non-profit organization Dream Xperience. The recipients of the baby shower goods were young & pregnant mothers in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Charlotte.
During the event, Dee, Charlotte Water’s Financial Aid Program Coordinator and DSS liaison was there to assist members of the public with their water bills. Dee looked up water accounts, explained bills, enrolled customers in payment plans if needed and let customers know what agencies in the community help with water bills. DSS provided applications and information for guests to apply for and receive information about DSS resources.
All excess baby supplies were donated to Angel House Maternity Home.
Charlotte Water and DSS will continue to look for opportunities such as this one to help connect residents who may need help to resources and assistance.
Stowe visits Whitewater Middle School for concert
On May 9, Whitewater Middle School held their year-end orchestra band concert. The Stowe Team attended to provide backpacks, water bottles, and activity books to students as well as project information to parents. This type of outreach has been performed during a variety of extra-curricular activities throughout the school year to engage different groups of parents and students.
Stowe at RiverFest in Belmont, hosted by Catawba Riverkeeper
On May 13, the Stowe Project team went to Belmont and had an awesome time attending RiverFest. The Stowe project team talked to about 200 attendees about the new Stowe facility, the partnership with Gaston County, and how it would benefits the northwest communities and residents. Display boards illustrated how wastewater pipelines had been installed connecting Mount Holly to the new Stowe Facility, as well as the location of the new Belmont Pump Station and the Paw Creek Pump Station it will connect to, in order to inform residents about routing and construction process. We are thankful for our partners at the Catawba Riverkeepers, for inviting us.
