Regular Charlotte citizens and small businesses are being asked to conserve water as water restrictions continue. The water restrictions limit lawn irrigation to two days a week, ban car washes at home, and limit the filling of residential pools.
But the amount of water a typical Charlotte Water customer uses each year is just a drop in the bucket compared to Charlotte Water’s top customers. A records request by Channel 9 Government Reporter Joe Bruno unveiled Charlotte Water’s top customers in the 2025 Fiscal Year. He asked all of them what they were doing in response to the water restrictions.
Three months ago, the city of Charlotte planted 75 native trees outside Uptown Charlotte. But just a few weeks after they were put in the ground, Charlotte Water put in restrictions because there was not enough rain.
“We agonized over it because of the drought,” Chief Urban Forester Tim Porter said.
Charlotte Water is limiting when everyone can use sprinklers. But Porter came up with a plan to make sure the trees don’t die. Special bags are wrapped around the trees provide a slow release of water.
“So much water is lost with sprinklers or hand watering, where you’re not really being as strategic and intentional,” he said.
This is just one of the ways the city of Charlotte is going above and beyond the water restrictions that have been put in place.
The city of Charlotte was last year’s top Charlotte Water customer, followed by Atrium Health, Novant, UNC Charlotte, and Chesapeake Treatment Co, which is Coca-Cola Consolidated.
Obviously, you need water to make soda but Coca Cola Consolidated, aka Chesapeake Treatment Company, tells Channel 9 they have water efficiency measures in place at all of its manufacturing facilities to protect every drop.
UNC Charlotte has turned off all fountains that don’t have fish in them. Staff is also following Charlotte Water’s rules on lawn irrigation. The college has been using native plants, shrubs, and trees that are more drought-tolerant, and since students aren’t on campus, water usage has been reduced.
Novant says they are complying with Charlotte’s rules, and no patient care is impacted.
Atrium Health says they’re also following Charlotte’s new water rules. The health care system has been investing in modernized irrigation systems that are controlled by computers and have sensors that detect soil moisture to prevent unnecessary watering.
The city of Charlotte tops the list and says and all departments are cutting back. The city has stopped bus stop and station washing and is only washing vehicles when absolutely necessary, like a concrete truck after use. The dustless blaster has been parked for now and the city has stopped pressure washing buildings. Charlotte is also deferring planting and turning off fountains in city parks.
“I always appreciate when the city leads by example,” Council Member Kimberly Owens said.
Charlotte City Council member Kimberly Owens says she understands some residents may be frustrated by the watering restrictions. She appreciates their sacrifice and is glad to see Charlotte is practicing what it is preaching.
“If government is to be believable and is to be trusted, it needs to sing from the same hymnal, and we can’t have one set of standards for those in office or those in office buildings that are government-owned that we don’t expect for others,” she said.
But is it all working?
“It’s going to take some time to really fill up those groundwater stores and improve stream flows across the basin,” Brett Hartis, of Duke Energy, said.
Hartis is the licensing manager for Duke Energy for the Catawba Wateree Basin and says the drought management advisory group looks at reservoir levels, reservoir storage, and a six-month average of stream flows. The rain we’ve gotten lately has helped with the first two. But it will take more time to improve stream flows across the basin.
“You might get three or four inches here in Charlotte, but if the upper basin doesn’t get a lot of rain, there’s very little impact,” he said.
So the restrictions continue for now. But Porter is hoping the collective efforts of everyone will turn over a new leaf for the city.
“I think it just helps everyone understand it’s a team effort,” he said. “It’s not just property owners. It’s the city. It’s the development industry. It’s everybody.”
As of July 10, the city of Charlotte says 1,435 water restriction violations have been reported. Of those, 298 violations were verified. The city approved 149 variances to the restrictions.
Full responses from the top 5 Charlotte Water customers:
- City of Charlotte
CATS
- Reducing the amount of water used by utilizing low-flow shower heads. Motion-sensing faucets and toilets.
- Halt periodic washing of bus stops and station platforms.
- Send notifications through CATS social media to notify riders of water-use reduction.
CDOT
- Limit washing vehicles to necessary washes only (e.g. cleaning concrete trucks after use).
- Discontinue use of the dustless blaster to remove pavement markings.
General Services
- Cancel all facade cleaning that involves pressure washing.
- Investigate and repair prominent leaks.
Planning
- Watering new trees only 2 days/week, limiting to < 1″/week, hand watering, using water bags, installed rain gauges.
- Providing outreach to land development customers, delaying planting requirements.
- Deferring tree planting efforts until next planting season.
Housing & Neighborhood Services
- Use commercial car washes that recycle water.
- Add water leak reporting to the CLT+ Frontline app.
- Leverage field staff to report violations identified in the field.
Charlotte Water
- Education and outreach
- Increase in leak repairs
- Reduction in discretionary water uses
Landscape Management
- Landscape turned off four ornamental fountains at city parks.
- Deferred some ornamental plantings
- Hand watering new trees for establishing roots only
- Atrium Health
Atrium Health is fully complying with Charlotte Water’s restrictions. While reliable water access is essential for patient care, sanitation and other critical hospital operations, we are committed to balancing those needs with responsible conservation efforts.
For years, Atrium Health has and continues to invest in measures that reduce water use and improve efficiency across our facilities. For example, we have modernized irrigation systems with smart technology, such as computer-controlled irrigation and soil moisture sensors that help minimize unnecessary water use, while supporting our broader efforts to conserve water wherever possible.
- Novant Health
All local Novant Health facilities are complying with the City of Charlotte’s current water restrictions while continuing to prioritize safe, high-quality care. No clinical care or patient experience is impacted
- UNC Charlotte
In response to the ongoing drought and related restrictions, all fountains that do not support marine life have been turned off.
University staff have also adjusted irrigation schedules per the water restriction guidelines.
We also intentionally use as many native species of plants, shrubs and trees as possible in campus landscaping because they are more drought tolerant and less dependent on irrigation.
Additionally, with fewer people on campus during the summer, reduced water usage will support ongoing conservation efforts.
- Chesapeake Treatment Co (Coca Cola Consolidated)
“Because water is the main ingredient in the products we make, we are always aware of our water consumption and aim to protect every drop by implementing water efficiency measures at 100% of our manufacturing facilities.”