Stormwater Management

Storm Sewer Diagram - Rain Water Enters Catch Basins the Flows Through Storm Drains Directly into a Stormwater Management Program

Stormwater flows, untreated, from city streets, parking lots and yards and directly into the closest receiving body of water. 

The Stormwater Management Program works to restore, protect, and preserve the surface waters within the City of Winston-Salem.  The Stormwater Management Program was developed in compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act, to ensure that stormwater is effectively controlled and stormwater pollution is reduced.

Program Components

  • Good housekeeping for Municipal operations
  • Inspecting industry and business to assist them in meeting stormwater regulations
  • Monitoring and sampling for water quality to track down pollution and stop it at the source
  • Protecting water quality by promoting citizen involvement through public education and outreach
  • Review of stormwater management plans for new development and redevelopment projects
  • Stormwater masterplanning efforts
  • Water quality special projects

These activities in addition to drainage maintenance, seasonal leaf collection, street sweeping and vector control in the storm sewer system are funded by a stormwater utility fee.

Stormwater Management Plan

The City of Winston-Salem's Stormwater Management Plan is updated and submitted to the State of North Carolina annually. We encourage citizens to read the plan and to make comments to our department. If you wish to make a comment, please contact 336-747-6960.

Plan Components

  1. Stormwater Management Plan FY 2021-2022 [pdf]

Residential Billing

Residential billing is determined from the amount of the property's impervious surface area according to the following rate structure:

IMPERVIOUS SURFACE AREA (SQUARE FEET)ANNUAL FEEMONTHLY FEE
1 to 2,000$51$8.50
2,001 to 4000$54$9
4,001 to 6,000$81$13.50
6,000 plus$108$18


Nonresidential Billing

Nonresidential customers are billed monthly or bi-monthly, based on the current utility account setup. The actual amount is determined according to the amount of impervious surface area of your property at the rate of $831 per acre of impervious surface area (ISA) per year or $69.25 monthly or $138.50 bi-monthly.

Contact Us

For stormwater billing, drainage, or water quality questions or problems please call CityLink 311 or 336-727-8000.