The Charlotte Observer Reports on Charlotte Water
Sewage spills are down, but a work in progress
A 4,200-mile web of underground pipes whisks away Charlotte’s foulest byproduct, its sewage, safely out of sight and smell. Until it’s not.
About five times a week, clogged or broken pipes send sewage flowing toward the nearest creek or lake. A summertime splash in the water becomes a frolic with bacteria, parasites and viruses.
Records show that spills by Charlotte Water, the city’s utility, have dropped since 2007. That was the year the Environmental Protection Agency sanctioned the city for Clean Water Act violations.