What we do Last updated or reviewed on August 5, 2025 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. 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 dramatically reducing water pollution. Other primary initiatives: Reduce stormwater infrastructure failures which may cause property damage and loss of life Reduce flooding on streets and private property Reduce environmental degradation due to sedimentation, erosion and illicit discharge Emergency Contact Information If you see emergency sediment, erosion, or illicit discharge violations within the city limits during normal business hours, weekdays 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., call (828) 232-4567. After normal business hours or on weekends and holidays, please contact our on-call duty officer at (828) 251-1122. Education and Outreach Part of the Stormwater division’s mission is public education and outreach. To learn more or to request someone to speak to your group or organization, call the Stormwater Quality Specialist at (828) 259-5401 or view Public Outreach for more information. Capital Projects Information Capital Projects Dashboard Flood Assistance Support Team The Flood Assistance Support Team (FAST) is here to provide focused and personalized support for property/business owners, developers, and designers needing timely and clear information about what can be built or developed in the floodplain. This is a dedicated, interdepartmental team charged with prioritizing floodplain assistance and serving as the definitive group to help parties whose activities are subject to floodplain requirements. Parties needing special assistance to better evaluate their development options will be provided fee-free FAST Sessions. Dedicated time slots for FAST Sessions are offered twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday. Once registered, the full team will be alerted and in attendance at the meeting. The findings and action steps from these meetings will be documented. The FAST team will perform outreach to property owners who may have experienced substantial damage from Helene. They will start by reviewing properties that have already submitted permits on hold. The permits on hold have generally Sustained substantial damage; or They are close to the substantial damage threshold. These permits were placed on hold to provide staff the opportunity to work directly with the contractor and property owners on any up-to-date building value information such as pre-storm appraisals as well as their options for rebuilding. You can contact the team by email at fast@ashevillenc.gov. More resources are available here. Contact Information To connect with staff, visit the Contact Information page for current listing. 161 South Charlotte Street, Second Floor, Asheville, NC 28801 Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mailing Address – PO Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802 Phone: (828) 232-4567 Connect Address 161 S. Charlotte Street, Asheville, NC 28801 Mailing Address PO Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802 Business HoursMonday-Thursday, 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.Stormwater Division ManagerDerek Wainscott, P.E.Phone(828) 232-4567 Related Services Report a stormwater violation Report if a storm drain is carrying anything other than rain water. Apply for a stormwater permit Get a Stormwater permit or visit the Permits and Applications home page. Pay stormwater utility bill Answers to Bill Pay and Questions on your Stormwater Utility Bill. Report a broken or clogged storm drain, flooding issues or request street sweeping Help keep the city streets free from excess debris and prevent property damage from rainwater runoff. Explore Related ServicesRelated Projects Public Works Helene Recovery Projects The City of Asheville’s Public Works Department is managing multiple projects at nearly 200 sites around the city to recover from damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene. Stormwater System Asset Inventory and Assessment Project The City of Asheville is beginning an assessment and inventory of its stormwater system, a critical first step toward building a comprehensive, reliable picture of the system. Old Toll Road Landslide Recovery Project The Old Toll Road Landslide Recovery Project addresses damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene, which triggered a landslide on Old Toll Road near the intersection with Sunset Drive on September 27, 2024. Explore Related ProjectsStormwater Services and Utility News Actions and presentations at the September 22, Asheville City Council Meeting Posted on September 22, 2026 by Kim Miller City Council considers agenda items and marks 2 years of Helene related recovery during the September 22, 2026 session Celebrate our waterways: Free Lake and Learn event July 10 at Lake Julian Posted on July 6, 2026 by Jim Wilson Kids of all ages can explore water-themed science and play through arts and crafts and STEM learning activities celebrating our watershed. Actions and presentations at the June 23, Asheville City Council Meeting Posted on June 23, 2026 by Kim Miller All City Council sessions are open to the public. Live streams and recordings of meetings are available on the City's YouTube. channel. The June 23 session addressed both Helene recovery and non recovery related items in the areas of infrastructure and housing, and proposed reallocation of federal disaster recovery funding as related to housing. There are also a public hearings on a proposed data center moratorium. Explore Stormwater Services and Utility News
Apply for a stormwater permit Get a Stormwater permit or visit the Permits and Applications home page.
Report a broken or clogged storm drain, flooding issues or request street sweeping Help keep the city streets free from excess debris and prevent property damage from rainwater runoff.
Public Works Helene Recovery Projects The City of Asheville’s Public Works Department is managing multiple projects at nearly 200 sites around the city to recover from damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene.
Stormwater System Asset Inventory and Assessment Project The City of Asheville is beginning an assessment and inventory of its stormwater system, a critical first step toward building a comprehensive, reliable picture of the system.
Old Toll Road Landslide Recovery Project The Old Toll Road Landslide Recovery Project addresses damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene, which triggered a landslide on Old Toll Road near the intersection with Sunset Drive on September 27, 2024.
Actions and presentations at the September 22, Asheville City Council Meeting Posted on September 22, 2026 by Kim Miller City Council considers agenda items and marks 2 years of Helene related recovery during the September 22, 2026 session
Celebrate our waterways: Free Lake and Learn event July 10 at Lake Julian Posted on July 6, 2026 by Jim Wilson Kids of all ages can explore water-themed science and play through arts and crafts and STEM learning activities celebrating our watershed.
Actions and presentations at the June 23, Asheville City Council Meeting Posted on June 23, 2026 by Kim Miller All City Council sessions are open to the public. Live streams and recordings of meetings are available on the City's YouTube. channel. The June 23 session addressed both Helene recovery and non recovery related items in the areas of infrastructure and housing, and proposed reallocation of federal disaster recovery funding as related to housing. There are also a public hearings on a proposed data center moratorium.
