A Stronger Water Future for a Growing Charlotte

More capacity. More resilience. More sustainability. Preparing Charlotte’s water infrastructure for tomorrow, the Mallard Creek WRRF Phase 1 Project has earned Envision Verified for sustainable infrastructure achievements.

The facility serves a 47 square-mile drainage basin northeast of Uptown Charlotte in Mecklenburg County and encompasses the growing University of North Carolina at Charlotte campus. It provides preliminary and primary treatment, activated sludge biological treatment, secondary clarification, tertiary effluent filter polishing and UV disinfection, and is permitted to treat 13.1 million gallons per day (MGD) maximum monthly flow (MMF).

Population growth and the development of a regional light rail transportation corridor have contributed to continued fast growth in the drainage basin served by the Mallard facility. This project expands the facility from 13.1 to 16 MGD to meet the demand.

Here are a few of the project’s sustainable infrastructure highlights:

Community Health: Surrounding community health is protected by increasing the treatment capacity of Mallard Creek WRF in line with the increasing wastewater flows in the facility’s catchment basin.

Water Resources: The increased treatment capacity also helps protect the aquatic health of Mallard Creek and its receiving bodies.

Public Safety: The project also went above and beyond by choosing to have the project conform to NFPA 820: Standard for Fire Protection in Wastewater Treatment and Collection Facilities, an optional industry standard for fire safety.

Climate and Resilience: Several project structures were located specifically to avoid two potential site hazards (near-surface groundwater and flood risk associated with Mallard Creek’s 100-year floodplain). The EQ Underdrain Station had to be located within the floodplain, but its design specifically mitigates the risk of flooding to the structure.

View the full project profile for additional sustainability achievements, including beneficial byproduct use, workforce training and development, and integrated infrastructure planning.