Behind the Scenes, Employee Spotlights

Meet Tariq: A Planning Department Intern

This summer, Charlotte Water’s internship program continues introducing talented and motivated students to the world of public service. Today, I talked with Tariq Harris, a Planning Department intern passionate about engineering and real-world problem solving. We explored his impactful work and what he’s taken away from his time here so far.

Q1: What school do you go to and what do you study?

Tariq is studying engineering at North Carolina A&T University and is about to enter his senior year. “My favorite thing about my school is the community and how there is support from far away and close by”, he shares. Tariq has also attended UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College for a summer semester.

Tariq sitting at his desk in the office doing work on his computer
Tariq’s workspace in the office
Q2: What inspired you to apply to Charlotte Water?

“I wanted more experience for what I do in school, and Charlotte Water seemed to provide that,” he tells us. Currently interning in the Planning department, he felt that Charlotte Water offered the perfect opportunity to deepen his understanding of the industry. His previous internship with LUESA (Land Use and Environmental Service Agency) gave him a strong foundation, where he took water samples from the Foxhole Compost site and conducted water quality testing. “While I was at a recycling center,” he recalled, “I saw an explosion from a battery that was disposed of,” giving him a unique and unexpected glimpse into the realities of fieldwork.

Q3: What kind of projects have you worked on during your internship?

“So far, I’ve been working on collecting data maps and capacity maps, talking with consultants, and putting them on a map in GIS”. He talks about the importance of this data and mapping, as it allows them to know where they need pipes and what size is needed for future developments.

Tariq and other interns looking out towards the stream at the Lakewood Stream Restoration Tour
Tariq and other interns at the Lakewood Stream Restoration Tour
Q4: How do you see this internship helping you in your future career?

“The experience will help narrow down what field I want to enter after college,” Tariq explained. He mentioned that his communication style is changing and improving, stating, “I feel like I’m now more open to different communication styles with people inside and outside the workplace, allowing me to get out of my comfort zone.”

From analyzing and collecting map data to unexpected field explosions, Tariq has seen a lot, and he’s just getting started. His commitment to his studies and personal growth makes him a standout intern, and as always, we can’t wait to see where his journey will take him!

Behind the Scenes, Employee Spotlights

Meet Adriana: A GIS Intern

This summer’s internship program has brought in an exciting and driven group of young professionals. One of them is Adriana Jimenez-Willis, an intern in the GIS department, which stands for Geospatial Information Services. Recently, I had the chance to sit down with her to chat about her day-to-day role while taking note of her experience.

Q1: What school do you go to and what do you study?

Adriana is a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (go heels!), going into her fourth year. Double majoring in political and environmental science gives her a unique perspective on our natural world. She explains that she likes to focus on ecology because “I like puzzles, and I feel like ecology seeks to understand the puzzle that is the natural world.” Adriana also enjoys learning about evolution and the fascinating ways life has adapted over time.

Adriana at a drone presentation holding the remote used to operate them, she is next to a Charlotte Water employee.
Adriana at a drone presentation
Q2: What kind of projects have you been working on?

“There are basically two big sides to what I’m doing”, she explains. One of those sides is customer service. Customers will ask for the geographic records of their property, and Adriana ensures they get all the necessary information and mapping details. The other part is editing the maps themselves. Projects she supports include maintaining datasets and updating internal maps used by Charlotte Water employees. She emphasizes that the Planning and Construction department greatly benefits from having these maps and that they are a crucial part of their operation.

Q3: What’s something you didn’t expect to learn at this internship?

“I didn’t realize how extensive the systems were and how many people contribute to the process of our water. It’s crazy to realize how much goes into it.” As interns, we participate in the Summer Exploration Program, where we tour wastewater treatment plants and rivers, develop projects, and much more. Adriana talked about how the first tour we went on, which was at the Lee Duke water treatment plant, opened her eyes to everything behind getting the water to customers.

Adriana at the construction site of the Stowe WRRF in front of a sign labeled "Building 910". Other interns are standing near her in hard hats and safety vests.
Adriana on a tour of the Stowe Regional WRRF
Q4: Do you have any mentors or coworkers who have helped shape your experience?

“Our GIS group is 12 people”, she tells us, “I could find many good things to say about each and every one of them.”

Adriana says that her coworkers are the most fun part of her job, that they’re nice, funny, always willing to help, and that there’s a different vibe when many are in the office at once. “Special shout-out to Amelia Albert because she’s the one who’s trained me and gotten her hands dirty with all of the fine details and tedious stuff. She answers my most specific questions, and I appreciate her.”

Talking with Adriana offered an inspiring glimpse into the vital work behind the scenes at Charlotte Water. Her passion for GIS and dedication to learning highlight the importance of innovative, skilled professionals in keeping our community’s essential services running smoothly. We’re excited to see where her journey takes her next!

Events, What's Going On?

2024 Environmental Excellence Awards

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.

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.

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