Drainage Maintenance

In Wilmington, stormwater runoff is channeled through a complex system of storm drains, pipes, ditches, ponds, culverts, creeks and wetlands which flow straight into our waterways. Stormwater Services field crews perform maintenance of the storm drainage system within the public right-of-way or in accepted easements.

Stormwater Services maintains the stormwater drainage system including:

• 20,337 Catch Basins and Manholes
• 343.41 miles of pipes and culverts
• 225.26 miles of open drainage (ditches and channels)
• 46.37 acres of retention ponds
• 167.65 acres of Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) including Kerr Avenue Wetland, Park Avenue Bioretention, Wade Wetland, Dock Street Rain Gardens, etc.

Maintenance Field Crews

Street Sweeping Crew

Sweep curbed City streets and North Carolina DOT streets, public parking lots, and when required, non-curbed streets. Private streets are the responsibility of the Homeowner's Association or Developer. This crew also inspects and removes blockages from the stormwater drainage system.

SCM Maintenance Crew

Maintain 70+ stormwater SCMs (Stormwater Control Measures) including constructed wetlands, bioretention areas, rain gardens, infiltration swales, retention ponds, and streambank stabilization.

Open Drainage Crew

Perform routine mowing, ditch cleaning and erosion control activities of drainage ditches, creeks, lakes and ponds, as well as sediment removal and control of nuisance aquatic weed growth.

Closed Drainage Crew

Perform inspection, maintenance, repair and construction of underground pipes, manholes, catch basins, junction boxes and headwalls, as well as deep excavations requiring the use of trench boxes. Crews clean and inspect stormwater pipes and infrastructure using cameras and VacCon trucks and perform internal pipe repairs using confined space entry protocols.