Charlotte Smith holds a Bachelors of Science in Microbiology and a Master's Degree in Community Health, and has over 20 years experience solving drinking water quality problems. Before establishing Charlotte Smith & Associates, Inc. in 1994, Ms. Smith was employed by New York City DEP-Drinking Water Quality Division, and GWC, which operated 35 water utilities in 15 states. She is the past Chair of AWWA's Water Quality in the Distribution System Committee. Among water industry awards received by Charlotte Smith are AWWA's "2001 Golden Spigot Award" for many years of service to AWWA's Water Quality Division, and the CA-NV Section "Chair's Award" in 2003. Ms. Smith is a member of a committee of the National Academy of Sciences.

Ms. Smith assisted AWWA in developing comments on the USEPA's Initial Distribution System Evaluation requirements of the Stage 2 DBP Rule and the IDSE Guidance Manual. Ms. Smith has developed Chloramine Action Plans and Nitrification Control Plans for many utilities including systems in California, Florida and Maine. Her specialty is comprehensive assessments of the root causes of nitrification in chloraminated systems, and recommending practical solutions.