Any individual using a fire hydrant to draw water must have a 2022-2024 Green Hydrant Permit Decal located on the back or side of their equipment.
The Charlotte Water fire hydrant program provides temporary service for customers in Mecklenburg County for authorized use of public fire hydrants. Hydrants are part of the water distribution system and an essential part of public safety, public health, and customer service to our community. Charlotte Fire Department (CFD) and Charlotte Water (CLT-Water) are the only two organizations authorized access to the fire hydrants without a special permit.
You play a crucial role in the Hydrant Permit Program. If you notice a company using a fire hydrant and they don’t have the proper Hydrant Permit Decal, immediately report it to Charlotte Water by calling 311 or 704-336-7600.
Please provide the following information:
Time and Location of Occurrence, include any address or cross streets.
Description of Vehicle or Assembly, including Company Name.
License Plate Number, Name of Operator, or description of individuals.
If so look for the green hydrant decal. This decal is proof that they are authorized to use the hydrant and pay for the water they use.
CLTWater maintains more than 17,600 hydrants throughout the county. The Charlotte Fire Department and CLTWater periodically use hydrants for fire response, water quality concerns, testing, and to serve contractors and other vendors.
Authorized Users are:
Street cleaning vehicles, irrigation trucks, and vendors with truck-mounted tanks that have a hydrant decal on the back of the tank or truck.
Fire Departments
CLTWater staff
If you see a use of a hydrant, please: 1. Look for yellow hydrant decal on the back of the tank or truck. If there is one, then it is likely authorized. If people are behaving suspiciously then proceed with below steps.
2. Write down
– Name of the company on truck
– License tag number
– Location of hydrant
– Time of the illegal usage.
3. Take a photo if possible.
4. Call 311 or 704-336-7600 and ask to speak to CLTWater Customer Service Dispatch.
Note: Hydrants may also have a device attached to them. These are temporary hydrant meters that help us accurately bill water use. Learn more at charlottewater.org or call 311 or 704-336-7600.
Charlotte Water, along with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services, has created the Customer Care Program. The goal of the program is to work with customers to avoid any situation where a customer is disconnected for non-payment.
As the community’s supplier of water, now more than ever, Charlotte Water’s service to the community is critical to the health and well-being of residents. And, we realized that many customers are facing unexpected, unparalleled financial hardships.
As a first stage, on March 13, 2020, late fees on the water bills were no longer charged and customer shutoffs for non-payment were discontinued. Previously disconnected customers were reconnected immediately. When the Executive Order (EO 124/142) expired on July 29, 2020, Charlotte Water continued the practices started in March.
Charlotte Water is now moving into the next stage of customer assistance as the pandemic continues to impact the community by:
Continuing the temporary practice of not disconnecting customers for delinquent account balances and not imposing late charges, and
Actively working with customers to address and resolve their past due balances in the coming months through payment arrangements and financial assistance.
Customers with past due balances as of September 30 will automatically be placed on a 12-month, no interest payment arrangement beginning with their October 2020 statement. No action is needed by customers to begin the payment arrangement.
Charlotte Water has also enhanced partnerships with local non-profits such as Crisis Assistance Ministries to provide financial assistance programs.
Through the Customer Care Program, Charlotte Water has also established the Customer Care Team, a group of trained customer service professionals dedicated to work one-on-one with customers, connecting them with community assistance agencies and working with customers to address and resolve past due balances.
Legally, Charlotte Water cannot forgive charges for services received by customers during the pandemic despite the current economic hardships the community faces. The Customer Care Program matches customers struggling to make ends meet with community resources that can help while making sure that no one is without the water people need to stay healthy.
For more information, customers can visit charlottewater.org or contact 311 (704-336-7600).
Every year, Charlotte Water creates a report detailing how we did collecting, delivering and treating Mecklenburg County’s wastewater. Here are the highlights and some thoughts about the important role wastewater treatment plays in our society.
This past year we successfully collected and treated more than 99.9% of the 32 billion gallons of the community’s wastewater.
There were 151 sanitary sewer overflows in our community, a decrease of 11 spills compared to last year.
The number of spills per 100 miles declined from 9.2 in fiscal year 2008 to 3.4 in fiscal year 2020.
Our staff continue to work strategically to clear blockages and repair wastewater pipes before they cause sanitary sewer overflows.
405.5 miles of wastewater pipes were treated with root control chemicals.
944.5 miles of wastewater pipes or 24% of our system was cleaned.
13.2 miles of wastewater pipe and 264 manholes were rehabilitated or replaced.
Want to do a deeper dive? Visit our website for the full report.
We asked our staff who work in wastewater why they take pride in their job and what they wish the community knew about wastewater treatment. Here is what they said.
Henry Eudy, Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager
“If you take a long look at human history, wastewater treatment is really one of the most important building blocks in the foundation of civilization. Access to clean water is one of our primal necessities just as organisms in general.
As we grow and advance, we take more and more from the natural world around us. If we don’t take steps to mitigate the effects of our unprecedented success as a species on the basic building blocks that give us life, then we die.
An advanced human civilization is not possible without wastewater treatment. What we do is a necessity and a lynchpin to civilization. In a way, the rest of the world is built upon our efforts. The rest of the world may not see it that way, but if we look back over our long shared history, our service to mankind is profound.”- Henry Eudy, Mallard Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager
Johanna McHone, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
Johanna, Wastewater Treatment Operator at McDowell grew up around some substantial mine waste. That sparked her desire to want to help clean up the earth and then became interested in the wastewater treatment process.
“A wastewater treatment plant is much like a human body in its functions. Some think it’s disgusting, but we all should be grateful there are operators around to do just this. Without us, the wastewater would end up untreated in the creeks, rivers and oceans. Then where would we get water to drink and shower with? Everyone has a purpose in life, nurses, teachers, engineers etc. There are jobs out there I would not want to do, but this is a perfect fit for me. – says Johanna.
Muriel Steele, Water Quality Specialist
“Treatment plants were originally conceived with the express purpose of controlling infectious diseases! Of course, we have since realized and embraced the added benefits of protecting the environment and natural (and downstream drinking) water quality. Pathogen removal/inactivation is something we are doing 24/7/365, even when there isn’t a global pandemic.”- Muriel Steele
You can help reduce sanitary sewer overflows. Do not put grease, fats, or oils in the drain and do not flush wipes. Throw them in the trash instead.
Like the image above? You can get a poster version to hang in your businesses restroom. Just email Alfonso Jones ajones@charlottenc.gov
Charlotte Water Blog 