Stormwater System

Stormwater System

The stormwater system is made up of natural and man-made infrastructure. It carries stormwater through the city to local stream and rivers. This helps: 

1. Reduce hazardous flooding;
2. Preserve water resources; and,
3. Protect people in Raleigh.

What We Do

Our goal is to improve and maintain the system so that it works correctly. We also use resources to collect data on the condition of the infrastructure throughout the year. The stormwater system in Raleigh consists of:

• 600+ miles of City-owned stormwater pipes
• 1,000+ miles of stormwater pipes owned by NCDOT and other private property owners
• 190+ miles of City-owned streams, creeks, ditches, and other open channels
• 980+ miles of streams, creek, ditches, and other open channels owned by private property owners.

Learn About the System 

Learn more about the different types of infrastructure in the stormwater system: 

• Dams
• Pipes/culverts
• Storm drains 
• Stormwater devices
• Waterways
   

Ongoing Survey Work

We're getting more details on the condition of the stormwater system across Raleigh. This includes working with a consultant to collect data on the: 

• Type of infrastructure;
• Location; and,
• Where water flows when it rains.

Timeline: September 2021 - September 2022. (City staff does other survey work throughout the year.)

Benefits

• Better understand the pipes and drains that carry water to streets and streams when it rains; and, 
• Meet state regulations that require us to take an inventory of the system. 

Where We're Working

Zoom in to see where we're collecting data. There are four zones on the map - we'll be working in numerical order. 

Stormwater Devices

These devices control and clean stormwater that flows onto a property when it rains. We maintain 75 City-owned devices and inspect more than 2,000 on private property. 

Learn more about stormwater devices