When it rains in Durham, any water that doesn't soak into the ground becomes stormwater. This runoff picks up pollutants as it flows to storm drains and eventually to our streams and lakes. The Stormwater Quality Unit at the City of Durham protects our local water bodies and ensures that they can continue to be used for drinking, fishing, and swimming.
The Clean Water Act requires cities with large populations, like Durham, to have a federal permit in order to discharge stormwater into creeks and streams. This permit is called the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (or NPDES) permit, and it includes guidelines for water quality monitoring, illicit discharge detection and enforcement, and public outreach. Read on to learn how Durham's Stormwater Quality Unit complies with our NPDES permit and protects local water from urban pollution.
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Click or call 919-560-1200