Water Quality Facts

• In 1999, over 9 million gallons of sewage in more that 500 incidents, spewed across the Catawba River basin. ¹
•  Last summer, for the first time in the history of the Catawba River lakes, six areas were closed for swimming on Lake Norman, Lake Wylie and Lake Davidson. The closures were caused by mechanical failures of sewage collection systems and intentional discharge of raw sewage.²
• Due to fecal coliform contamination and other pollutants, 84 % of streams in Mecklenburg County are not considered safe for children to swim in.³
• 19.6 % of Charlotte storm drains have raw sewage leaking into them with fecal coliform levels over 100 times the state standard.⁴
• For the first time last summer, the Charlotte utility department detected MTBE, a carcinogenic gasoline additive in Charlotte’s water supply. Officials believe gasoline from more powerboats and marinas on the Catawba River lakes is the cause.⁵

• A one-acre parking lot produces 25,806 gallons of stormwater for every inch of rain compared with 1,630 gallons from a one-acre meadow.⁶

• A one-acre parking lot sends about 15 pounds of nitrogen and two pounds of phosphorus into the nearest waterway each year, compared with two pounds of nitrogen and one-half pound of phosphorus from a one-acre meadow.⁷
•  40 acres of vegetated land a day is being cleared and developed in the Charlotte region.7
•   Developed land causes runoff into streams containing much higher levels of heavy metals, petroleum products and nutrients.⁸

¹ “Up to our ears in sewage spills.” Bruce Henderson. The Charlotte Observer, September 3, 2000.

²  NC Division of Water Quality, Mecklenburg County Department of Environmental Protection, Lincoln County Health Department and Mecklenburg County Health Department records. May through August, 2000.

³ Surface Water Improvement and Management Report. Mecklenburg County Department of Environmental Protection, 1998.

⁵ “Up to our ears in sewage spills.” Bruce Henderson. The Charlotte Observer, September 3, 2000. And The Lake Wylie Magazine, summer 2000.

⁶ “The Importance of Imperviousness.” Tom Schueler, The Center for Watershed Protection. Presented at the 8^th Annual Southeastern Lakes Management Conference. March 24-27, 1999 Clemson University, Clemson, SC.

⁷ The Catawba Under Seige Series. Stuart Watson, NBC Six News. September 2000.

⁸ “The Importance of Imperviousness.” Tom Schueler, The Center for Watershed Protection. Presented at the 8^th Annual Southeastern Lakes Management Conference. March 24-27, 1999 Clemson University, Clemson, SC.

4/5/01 Water Quality Facts Handout-Catawba River Foundation/Catawba Riverkeeper Most Endangered Rivers News Release and Press Conferences