Stormwater Services Division
Drainage/Flooding Concerns
All proposed new development in the City must include plans to comply with all existing stormwater ordinances and regulations. Stormwater engineers review these plans before a building permit is issued and then construction inspectors make sure construction occurs in accordance with the approved plans.
Who owns the drainage system?
Who do I call when I see flooding?
Phone numbers for drainage related matters
How can Stormwater Services help me with my drainage concern?
Does the City have a map of the drainage system?
Back To Top
Who owns the drainage system?
The City owns and is responsible for maintaining the portion of the stormwater drainage system that is located in the public right-of-way. Those portions of the stormwater system located on private property are the responsibility of the property owner.
Back To Top
Who do I call when I see flooding?
To report clogged street drains and flooding in the City right-of-way, contact Stormwater Maintenance at 560-4312.
Flooding of interstates and state owned secondary roads in Durham should be reported to (North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) at 477-2814.
If your house is flooding, evacuate to a higher and safe location immediately. If you are unable to safely evacuate your house, contact 911 to request emergency assistance.
Back To Top
Phone numbers for drainage related matters
Contact Durham Stormwater Maintenance at 560-4312 to:
- Report wet, nonhazardous chemical spills in the street,
- Report leaf raking into catch basins,
- Report broken or sunken catch basins,
- Report drainage problems in roadside ditches,
- Request ditching work for a roadside ditch, or
- Report flooding in the City right-of-way.
Contact Durham Street Cleaning at 560-4312 to:
- Report dry, non hazardous chemical spills in the street,
- Request litter or dead animal removal from City streets, ditches, and sidewalks, or
- Inquire about street sweeping of curb and gutter streets.
Contact NCDOT at 477-2814 to report drainage problems on State routes and interstates located in Durham.
To report drainage problems inside private parking lots contact the property owners.
Call 911 to:
- Report a spill of toxic or hazardous chemicals, including antifreeze, diesel, gasoline & large amounts of motor oil
Call the Durham Pollution Reporting Hotline at 560-SWIM (7946) to:
- Report dumping into catch basins or channels.
- Minor spills or discharges of used motor oil and other petroleum products.
Back To Top
How can Stormwater Services help me with my drainage concern?
Property owners experiencing chronic drainage problems on their property may contact Stormwater Services at 560-4326, ext. 30234 to discuss their drainage concerns with staff. Staff can provide information and suggestions regarding your drainage concern.
Back To Top
Does the City have a map of the drainage system?
The
GoMaps online interactive mapping application includes stormwater systems currently mapped by the City. System components mapped include public and private systems.
Back To Top