Reducing Pollutants in Our Watersheds

What is a Total Maximum Daily Load?

A Total Maximum Daily Load or TMDL, is the amount of a specific pollutant that can be in a stream while still meeting the state water quality standards and classifications (such as water supply, recreation use, habitat, and others).

The State of North Carolina manages and regulates TMDLs and their compliance by the municipalities, agencies, and facilities that discharge stormwater to these water bodies. Learn more about North Carolina TMDLs.

TMDLs in Raleigh Watersheds

TMDLs are identified in watersheds. A watershed is an area of land where water drains to a singular river, lake, or the ocean.

Pigeon House Branch Watershed

The Pigeon House Branch Watershed has a TMDL for fecal coliform bacteria and copper. Read the TMDL for Pigeon House Branch and learn more about the Pigeon House Branch Watershed.

Perry Creek Watershed

Perry Creek Watershed has a TMDL for biological integrity impairment (due to habitat loss, sedimentation, and other urban pollutants and environmental stressors). Read the TMDL for Perry Creek.

Learn more about each TMDL pollutant.

The City does not have specific waste load allocations assigned by the State of NC but is a major NPDES permit holder that discharges to these watersheds and works to tailor and implement strategies and practices that mitigate these pollutants from discharging, or “loading,” into the waterbodies.

Find the stream Identification and classifications by the State of NC.

Spot, Report, and Stop Water Pollution

If you see pollution or someone illegally dumping or discharging into the stormwater system anywhere in the City, call the Stormwater Helpline at 919-996-3940 or email IllegalDischarge@raleighnc.gov.

Learn more about what to report and how to report it.

Stormwater Management Plan

Raleigh Stormwater developed TMDL Implementation Plans to improve water quality as part of Raleigh’s Stormwater Management Plan. The watershed-specific TMDL Implementation Plans identify, implement, and record strategies and actions by the City and other partners that reduce the specific pollutants for each TMDL.

Local Community Partnerships

Improving water quality cannot be achieved by City staff alone. We partner with local, state, and federal agencies, community groups, and nonprofit organizations to reduce stormwater runoff pollution.

Current partners include, but are not limited to:

• United States Geological Survey
• North Carolina State University
• North Carolina Department of Transportation
• Wake County
• Sound Rivers
• Partners for Environmental Justice
• Great Raleigh Cleanup

To partner with Raleigh Stormwater on events, projects, or other initiatives, email raleighstormwater@raleighnc.gov or call 919-996-3940.