Tag Archives: drinking water

Construction, How Things Work, Infrastructure Improvements

How CLTWater Repairs Leaks Under Highways, Interstates

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.


Additional Resources:
How Charlotte Water Repairs Water Pipe Leaks | Charlotte Water Blog

Behind the Scenes, Construction, General, How Things Work, Repairs and Spills

Minimizing Water Disruptions To Customers: An Emergency Repair on IBM Drive

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.

General, Water Quality

Bad Drinking Water Tastes and Odors May Be Coming from Your Own Front Yard

It may seem surprising, but what you do in your front yard can affect the taste and odor of your drinking water.

How? 

Your private plumbing system begins at the end of the meter box. The plumbing in your front yard may be made of PVC, PEX, or other pipe materials that can allow some outside chemical contaminants, such as pesticides and fuels, to seep through their joints. 

Why should I care? 

Damaging your service line can be costly, often requiring thousands of dollars for replacement. Read the stories below to learn more from real-life events.

Real-Life Examples

– A customer parked their car over the grass between the meter box and their house. The car’s oil leak seeped into the service pipe. 

– A customer attempted to eliminate an underground wasp nest by pouring gasoline into the hole. The gas flowed beside the private service line, causing odor and taste issues, and had to be replaced. 

– A customer reported a chemical odor and taste that was traced to a painter washing a brush with turpentine and pouring the turpentine on the ground over the water line.

– A customer reported a plastic odor and taste, which was traced a garden hose filled with water in the heating up from the sun and creating a bad taste. 

– A customer reported a chemical soapy odor and taste that was traced to a plant fertilizer bottle attached to the hose.  A low-pressure event can cause water to be back-siphoned into the house if there is no backflow prevention device.

Tips 

  • Call NC811 before you dig.
    • Most service lines run straight from the meter box to the home. Is anything leaking above the service line, like a car?
    • Was anything sprayed or poured on the front yard between the water meter and the home?
  • Run cold water for 10 minutes to see if the problem continues. 
  • Check all faucets to see if the issue is isolated to one faucet or affects the entire house. 
  • Talk to your neighbors to see if they are experiencing similar issues. 
  • If you notice any unusual odor or taste, call 311 immediately and say or select water quality emergency.
  • Drain odors can often be mistaken for tap water odors.  Pour a glass of water and move away from the sink drain.  Smell the glass of water; if no odor, check the drain and perform cleaning. 
  • Aging water heaters can cause odors.  If your cold water has no odor but the hot water does, perform maintenance on your water heater as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

General, My Water, Water Quality

Mountain Island Lake Lyngbya Management For Water Quality

Our excellent drinking water starts with protecting the source, The Catawba River. Charlotte Water (CLTWater) is part of the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group (CWWMG), which manages the river and lake system.

A new program by the CWWMG will ensure algae and other bacteria do not negatively affect our source water.

Lyngbya, a thick blue-green algae grows year-round at the bottom of freshwater lakes throughout the southeastern US. Currently, Lyngbya infestation levels are low in Mountain Island Lake. We want to keep it low. Thanks to the efforts of the CWWMG, a treatment program was developed, funding 21 acres of Lyngbya treatment throughout Mountain Island Lake. This program will reduce the spread of Lyngbya.

The treatment program will span from April to September, using EPA-approved chelated copper-based algaecides. This proactive approach to environmental management is a testament to the community’s commitment to safeguarding the lake.

Resources:

Lyngbya Management Program Fact Sheet.

CLTWater Water Quality Information