Local Action Plan to Reduce Emissions of Greenhouse Gases

Sustainability steps of the Stormwater Division

Existing Reduction Measures in Winston-Salem Government Operations

• Stormwater Plan Review: Review plans for all development projects to eliminate the adverse effects of stormwater runoff.
• Watershed Master Planning: Conduct inventories of the storm sewer systems in each watershed to prioritize capital improvement projects for our storm sewer infrastructure and to model pollutant loading into our watersheds. This effort will allow city staff to determine areas of greatest interest for water quality pollution.
• Sampling and Monitoring Program: Sample and monitor 46 locations along our creeks and streams in Winston-Salem to identify illicit discharges and track water quality trends.
• Public Education and Involvement: Community Educator creates programs to educate and involve general public and business owners regarding how to prevent pollution of creek and streams. Programs such as creek crawls, creek clean up’s, and storm drain stenciling involve citizens and business owners with making improvements to water quality.
• Illicit Discharge Investigation and Elimination: Staff is trained to track and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm drainage system when discovered.
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans for Municipal Operations: Staff is creating stormwater pollution prevention plans for municipal operation which have the potential to pollute creeks and streams. These plans will implement operations practices which will eliminate pollution or have action plans for response in the event of a spill.
• Adoption of new ordinances: Work with other city divisions to create new ordinances to reduce erosion, flooding and pollution to creeks, stream and rivers.

Future Reduction Measures for Winston-Salem Government Operations

• Special projects to install stormwater treatment ponds, rain gardens and other controls.
• Retrofit projects for existing developments with heavy stormwater runoff.
• Cutting-edge treatment systems such as UV treatment on stormwater ponds to reduce pathogen loading to waterways.

Read the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Local Action Plan to Reduce Emissions Report July 2008 [pdf/1mb/43p] 

Sustainability pages