Water Rehab (Relining inside of pipe or pipe replacement)
While water pipes are out of service, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities typically maintains a continuous supply of water to customers through an above ground temporary water system. To ensure the water is safe to drink, the temporary system is disinfected and tested prior to putting it into service.

Water pipe rehabilitation usually involves inserting a new lining inside the existing pipe. This process involves an innovative technique of cleaning the inside of the existing water main, then applying a protective coating to extend the useful life of the pipe. This is accomplished using limited digging at strategic locations, which means less digging and pavement repair and less inconvenience to customers.

Past Water Rehab Projects included improving or replacing pipes under streets in Wilmore, Plaza-Midwood, Eastover, Chantilly, Dilworth, South End, Belmont, Myers Park, Queens Road West, Selwyn Avenue, Villa Heights, Pineville, Matthews, McCrorey Heights, Colonial-Sedgefield, Thomasboro, Plaza-Shamrock, and other neighborhoods.

Wastewater projects include replacing or re-lining pipes also. Past projects include the uptown area, the McMullen Creek basin (between Park Road, Carmel Road, and Sardis Road), Briar Creek, the Upper Little Sugar Creek basin (between Graham Street, South Boulevard, The Plaza, and Selwyn Avenue), and along numerous creeks and tributaries throughout the county. Click to view article about manhole rehabilitation.


Root Control is an ongoing project that identifies areas where tree roots are clogging wastewater pipes. Tree roots break wastewater pipes to soak up the water. We clear the tree roots by adding a herbicide foam that kills the root in the pipe without killing the tree. The picture on the right shows a special foam that helps kill tree roots inside wastewater pipes.