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What are Stormwater Services?

Drain Maintenance

The City of Salisbury maintains the stormwater conveyance within the city right of way and on City owned properties. It is the property owner’s responsibility to maintain conveyance on private property.

Common Signs of Drain Failure
  • Excessive flooding or ponding during and sometimes after rain events.
  • Holes forming around storm pipes or catch basins.


Street Cleaning

Facilitates the routines sweeping, washing and removal of debris from streets to prevent sedimentation of drainage structures and prevent unsafe conditions. This includes the cleaning of downtown sidewalks, streets and city owned parking facilities to provide aesthetic enhancements to public properties.

Currently, 1 street sweeper operates year-round to sweep curb and gutters in Salisbury. The four sweeping routes can be found on the Street Sweeping Routes Map (PDF). The sweeper takes a methodical approach to its street sweeping routes and slowly makes it way around the City one zone at a time.

Open Street Sweeping Map (PDF)

Leaf Collection

The City of Salisbury Leaf Collection Program operates from October through March and provides loose leaf collection for residents and businesses in the Salisbury City limits, a minimum of every three weeks on a rotating schedule.

  • Loose leaves should be placed behind the curb, clear of motoring traffic.
  • Please do not put loose leaves in the roll out carts designated for garbage or recycling.
Open Leaf Collection Map (PDF)

Contact Us

Public Works Administrative Services Manager

Michael Hanna
mhann@salisburync.gov
(704) 216-8028


Public Works Technician

Ben Parker
benjamin.parker@salisburync.gov
(704) 638-5267

Stormwater Fees

The City of Salisbury Stormwater Utility and associated service fee are a result of an unfunded federal mandate that raised the standards for local municipalities regarding stormwater removal. The Stormwater Utility in Salisbury, established in July 2012, will overhaul the stormwater infrastructure within City limits and create cleaner water for our community in an effort to preserve the overall health of our physical environment.

Residential Stormwater Service Fee

The Stormwater Service Fee is billed to residents per month. This fee is based on one ERU, or equivalent residential unit, which is 2,500 square feet of impervious surface. This figure was determined by mapping of the City and the determination of 2,500 square feet being the median amount of impervious surface at each residence in the City.
Residential
Fee: $4.81/month

Business Stormwater Service Fee

The Stormwater Service Fee is billed to businesses per month. This fee is based on one ERU, or equivalent residential unit, which is 2,500 square feet of impervious surface. This figure was determined by mapping of the City and the determination of 2,500 square feet being the median amount of impervious surface at each business in the City.

Commercial/Industrial per ERU with a minimum of one ERU
Fee: $4.81/month

About Stormwater: Only Rain Down the Drain

raindrops hitting water puddle

What is stormwater?

Stormwater runoff is precipitation that does not soak into ground, but flows over land into storm drains. As stormwater flows across surfaces it picks up pollutants from the ground. Water that flows into stormwater drains is released back into natural water sources and does not go to a treatment plant.

Where does stormwater go?

Sewer pipes and stormwater pipes are not connected! Stormwater flows back out into natural bodies of water, not into treatment plants. In Salisbury, storm drainage eventually drains to one of three main creeks: Grants, Town and Crane. These creeks drain to the Yadkin River and to High Rock Lake.

Stormwater drain emptying into river
Leaves clogging stormwater drain

What problems does stormwater cause?

Since stormwater runoff does not go through a treatment plant, increased amounts of pollutants entering stormwater drains causes an increase in surface water pollution and lower water quality. Problems caused in water bodies may include erosion/sedimentation, turbidity, eutrophication, increased salinity and habitat disruption. Eutrophication results from excess plant nutrients (nitrogen & phosphorous—found in many fertilizers) causing an overgrowth of algae, leading to decreased oxygen levels in surface waters. This creates problems for aquatic life. Examples of stormwater pollutants include sediments, plant nutrients, metals, organic materials, oil and grease, pet waste and pesticides.

What can I do to help?

  • If you have a catch basin near your property, it is very helpful to clean it off pre and post storm event.
  • Do not dump waste in storm drains.
  • Clean up pet waste.
  • Landscape with fewer hard-paved (impervious) surfaces.
  • Prevent erosion by vegetating bare soil.
  • Reduce pesticide use.
  • Clean up auto/household chemical spills with absorbents instead of rinsing with water.
  • Do not litter.
  • Do not dump grass clippings and other yard waste into street curbs and drains.

What is allowed?

Naturally, water will run through stormwater drains. Limiting the types of materials and water supplies that empty into Salisbury's stormwater drains is the most significant way of reducing stormwater pollutants. The following examples of such activities:

  • Water line flushing
  • Landscape irrigation
  • Diverted stream flows
  • Rising groundwater
  • Uncontaminated groundwater infiltration
  • Uncontaminated pumped groundwater
  • Discharges from potable water sources
  • Foundation drains
  • Air conditioning condensate (commercial/residential)
  • Irrigation waters (does not include reclaimed water as described in 15A NCAC 2H .0200)
  • Fresh water springs
  • Water from crawl space pumps
  • Footing drains
  • Lawn watering
  • Residential and charity car washing
  • Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands
  • Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges
  • Street wash water
  • Flows from emergency fire fighting

Pollution Investigation

What is pollution investigation?

Investigation of illegal substances deposited into the stormwater conveyance system.

What is illegal discharge?

Anything discharged in the stormwater conveyance system that is not included in the “What is allowed” list can be considered an illegal discharge.

Contact Us

Code Enforcement
(704) 216-7559
Stormwater Services
(704) 216-8028

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