On September 16, Charlotte Water and the City of Mount Holly celebrated the commissioning of Mount Holly Pump Station, a vital part of Stowe Regional Water Resource Recovery Facility (RWRRF), at Tuckaseege Park in Mount Holly.
Stowe RWRRF represents a joint effort between Charlotte Water and the Cities of Mount Holly and Belmont to bring more cost-effective and environmentally conscious wastewater management services to our communities. As the Greater Charlotte region continues to experience explosive population growth, upgraded infrastructure is required to accommodate future wastewater flow projections.
The Mount Holly Pump Station Commissioning marked the official connection of two communities across the Catawba River. This significant milestone in the Stowe RWRRF project was the result of many years of hard work, planning and collaboration. During the ceremony, guests were able to visually track the official start of wastewater flow from the new Mount Holly Pump Station to Charlotte Water’s wastewater collection system. After an 18-minute journey across the Catawba River, the water reached the Stowe site, where a Charlotte Water flag was raised by crane to celebrate the moment.
Charlotte Water Director Angela Charles and Charlotte City Councilmember LaWana Mayfield presented a special plaque as a gift from Charlotte Water to Mount Holly Mayor David Moore to commemorate the occasion. Moore, as well as Mount Holly City Manager Jonathan Blanton, spoke at the event alongside Charles. One poignant moment came when Mayor Moore recognized a group of dedicated employees from the former Mount Holly Water Treatment Plant for their contributions over the years.
The new Mount Holly Pump Station includes four pumps, an electrical building, a backup generator, a Parshall flume, yard piping, valves, sidewalks and access roads. And while Charlotte Water will treat Mount Holly’s wastewater at the new Stowe RWRRF, the City of Mount Holly’s Utilities Department will continue to manage water service, billing and customer support services for utility customers.
The retired Mount Holly Water Treatment Facility site presents opportunities for future use. The Mount Holly City Council will determine its best direction for the community in the future.
Watch our video about the history of the Mount Holly Pump Station Project and learn more about our partnership on our City of Mount Holly page.
Environmental Sustainability in the Water World
Stowe RWRRF will consolidate the two outdated wastewater treatment plants in Mount Holly and Belmont into one state-of-the-art facility, enhancing service to communities in both northwestern Mecklenburg and eastern Gaston Counties. To link Mount Holly with the City of Charlotte’s water collection system, wastewater pipelines were installed under the Catawba River using Horizontal Directional Drilling. This involved drilling tunnels through bedrock roughly 65 feet underwater.
Wastewater from Mount Holly users will first travel from local homes and businesses to the Mount Holly Pump System. Next it will be pumped through force mains –also called pressurized pipelines—beneath the Catawba River and Long Creek to Long Creek Pump Station. Roughly 2 to 3 million gallons of wastewater per day will flow from the Mount Holly Pump Station to Stowe Facility via Long Creek Pump Station.
Specifically, as part of this project, the Mount Holly Wastewater Treatment Plant has been retired and replaced with the Mount Holly Pump Station. The aging plant would have required major upgrades to meet current environmental standards. Consolidating the two pre-existing treatment facilities into one at Stowe RWRRF reduces the number of discharge points that are recycling treated water back into the Catawba River, reducing potential environmental impacts.
Stowe RWRRF will also implement the most modern technologies and cutting-edge treatments to clean and purify wastewater thoroughly before it returns to the Catawba River. It will achieve this goal by using a Densified Activated Sludge Biological Nutrient Removal process to decrease primarily the nitrogen and phosphorous discharges into the Catawba River. The impressive cleaning technology ensures the water released back into the Catawba River is near drinking water quality. This will have a positive effect on Gaston County’s expanding ecotourism industry, which promotes the river as a wonderful place for visitors to enjoy boating, rafting, kayaking and other water sports. Plus, this cleaner water is beneficial for all of the wildlife that calls the riverbank home.
All About Stowe RWRRF
Once complete, Stowe RWRRF will become Charlotte Water’s largest construction project to date. It will process 15 million gallons of wastewater per day, with the capacity to expand to 25 million gallons in the future. Stowe RWRRF is being funded by Charlotte Water’s Revenue Bonds and has an estimated total cost of $650 million. Mount Holly has contributed $40 million toward the Mount Holly Pump Station’s construction. This is a significant investment in sustainability for a small community.
Construction for the overall Stowe Project is expected to be finished in 2028. The project includes:
- Stowe Regional Water Resource Recovery Facility
- Long Creek, Mount Holly and Belmont Pump Stations
- A Regional Solids Transfer Project
Moreover, through a Community Benefit Project, Charlotte Water has preserved 90 acres of land surrounding the Stowe site to conserve the natural environment for future generations. This includes:
- A public trail network for hiking and biking
- An educational walking trail accessible to nearby schools featuring historical and environmental information about the Catawba River
- A multi-use path along the new access road with scenic views of Long Creek
- A bridge enhancing trail connectivity
- Public meeting space for up to 50 people inside the Stowe administration building
- E-STEM partnerships with local schools that include field trips, career fair booths, interactive nature trail exhibits and presentations about water systems and career pathways in E-STEM to encourage the next generation of leaders.
We are very proud of all the work that’s been completed on Stowe RWRRF so far and eagerly anticipate all the milestones that lie ahead!