Stormwater Services & Utility

Stormwater Services

The federal government requires the City of Asheville and all similarly-sized U.S. cities to create and maintain stormwater programs in an effort to restore and maintain the integrity of our nation’s waters by sharply reducing water pollution.  The city’s stormwater program is a requirement established by the federal government’s Clean Water Act (CWA), which is dedicated to implementing broad-based watershed strategies to reduce water pollution.    These strategies include: maintaining and improving the public storm drain system, enforcing stormwater and erosion standards related to (re)construction activities, preventing illegal dumping in the storm drain system, and educating the public about stormwater issues.

Emergency Sediment and Erosion Control Violations

If you see emergency sediment and erosion violations during the weekday hours of 5 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 24 hours on weekends and holidays within the city limits and the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), please contact our on call inspection service at (828) 258-4747.  The on call inspector will only respond to the following violation criteria:

* Mud or sediment in a roadway, yard or basement directly related to a weather event.
* Mud or sediment in a roadway, yard or basement when the sources of the water are not known.
* Failure of an erosion control system that has been witnessed by a citizen or passerby.

Please take the criteria under consideration before you report any violation.

Stormwater Ordinance

The Stormwater Services strives to protect local water quality by way of the current Stormwater Ordinance. The ordinance, adopted in August 2007, brought the city into compliance with NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources regulations. Some provisions could impact the future development plans of landowners along streams. These stream protection and erosion rules, and any revisions to them, can affect both future development and the city’s ability to maintain water quality in rivers, streams and lakes. The City of Asheville has held several public input sessions to gain feedback and describe the process being used to reconsider certain provisions. The last public meeting will be held in late summer or early fall 2008, and will reflect the final product developed by staff and the Watershed Policy Committee. To view the current ordinance, go to article 7, chapter 12, section 2, of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).

Asheville Watershed Policy Committee

The Asheville Watershed Policy Committee, consisting of City staff, members of the development community, owners of private property in the city and environmental representatives, was formed by a directive from City Council to advise them and the Planning & Zoning Commission of recommended technical changes to the Stormwater Ordinance.

The Committee presented their recommended technical changes to the Stormwater Ordinance during a public meeting held October 15th, 2009. The following documents are the policy recommendations and other proposed changes to the Stormwater Ordinance:

*  Policy Recommendations by the Watershed Policy Committee
*  Proposed Changes to Other Parts of the UDO

The following documents is the final draft of the proposed revised Stormwater Ordinance:

*  Index to the Proposed Revised Stormwater Ordinance
*  Proposed Revised Stormwater Ordinance

The revised ordinance will be presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission for approval in a meeting on Thursday April 23, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the first floor conference room in the City Hall building. Once approved it will be taken to City Council for adoption. City Council will receive public comment before adopting any revision to the current ordinances.

Asheville/Buncombe Flood Damage Reduction Task Force

The Asheville City Council on May 23, 2006, appointed a Flood Damage Reduction Task Force also consisting of City staff, members of the development community, owners of private property in the city and environmental representatives. The task force's mission is to establish a regional approach and long-range plan for flood damage reduction, floodplain protection and watershed management. The plan is based on on best management models, which integrate objectives of flood control, transportation, economic development, land use and community planning, recreation and environmental preservation. For additional information, see the Flood Damage Reduction Task Force Findings and Recommendations of Oct. 30, 2007

The Asheville Stormwater Utility

Stormwater is rain that falls on streets, roofs, parking lots and other man-made surfaces and flows down gutters and into storm drains. The storm drain system empties directly into creeks, rivers, and other bodies of water. When rain flows into the storm drain system, it picks up pollutants like pesticides, paint, household chemicals, sediment, yard waste, detergents, oil and grease, trash, and pet waste.

Stormwater runoff is the #1 source of pollution for fresh-water streams and shorelines in North Carolina. Stormwater and stormwater pollution can contaminate drinking water sources, sicken swimmers, disrupt aquatic habitats, cause fish kills, contribute to flash flooding, and cause land and stream bank erosion.

The City of Asheville Stormwater Utility collects fees from property owners in Asheville in order to:

* Plan for, improve and operate the stormwater system in an efficient and effective manner;
* Adopt development policies and standards that prevent flooding, preserve streams and channels, and minimize water pollution without arresting new or infill development;
* Develop detailed watershed plans that promote orderly growth;
* Fully comply with federal and state regulatory requirements;
* Educate the public about stormwater issues and involve them in stormwater initiatives; and
* Implement utility fees to meet these needs in a fair and equitable manner.

Read the 2006 annual report for Stormwater Services.

Contact Information