Town of Morrisville Stormwater

09/11/2026

Only Rain Down the Drain!

Town of Morrisville, NC Division has had debates over which one of these stickers is the favorite. Now we are asking you. Please let us know which one you rate at the top by adding a "like" to the image.

As long as it is , there are no wrong answers!

09/10/2026

🍂💨 Yard waste may look harmless, but it can seriously pollute Town of Morrisville, NC !

When leaves, grass clippings, or pine needles are blown or dumped into the street, rain washes them straight into stormwater drains. These drains lead directly to our . Once there, yard debris:

• 🌱 Releases excess nutrients into creeks and streams
• 🚫🕳️ Clogs drains and pipes, causing backups
• 🌧️☠️ Whatever herbicides or pesticides have been used on the yard waste flows down the drain with it

💧✨ Want to protect Morrisville’s waterways? Here’s how you can help:

• 🧹 Keep yard waste out of the road
• 🗑️ Bag leaves/grass and place them at the curb for proper pickup (this occurs 2x/month in Morrisville)
• 🚫🌬️ Don’t blow debris toward stormwater drains
• 🌿♻️ Mulch or compost when you can (which helps condition soil and keeps moisture in the soil)

💙 Every small action helps keep our community cleaner and our streams healthier.

Clean yards = Clean stormwater = A cleaner Morrisville! 🌳💦

09/09/2026

On , remember:

Teddy bears love hugs, not polluted streams! 🐻💙

Do your part: keep trash, oils, and yard waste out of drains so the Town of Morrisville, NC stay “beary” beautiful and healthy.

On September 9th, National Teddy Bear Day honors the history of one of childhood's favorite toys. We have all had a special cuddly teddy as a child. Some of us still have our teddy bear from our childhood. No matter what kind of teddy bear you had, the day is a perfect time to celebrate your ch...

09/09/2026

Spread the word about this! Can't wait to see the posters!

Calling all student artists! The Town of Morrisville Environment & Stormwater Committee's 21st Annual Student Art Poster Contest is now open. This year's theme is "Clean Streets = Clean Streams."

By keeping litter, pollutants, and other harmful materials out of our streets and storm drains, we protect our waterways, safeguard wildlife, and support a healthier environment.

🎨 Contest details:
• Open to all Morrisville youth in grades K-5
• Submission deadline: Monday, Oct. 26, at 5 p.m.
• Prizes include your poster being turned into a banner on Town Hall Drive (grand prize) and certificate presentation at a Morrisville Town Council meeting.

Learn more at morrisvillenc.gov/postercontest

09/08/2026

📘 Morrisville is an MS4. What Does That Mean?

The Town of Morrisville, NC operates a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). A publicly owned network of conveyances such as streets, gutters, drains, pipes, ditches, and channels. These systems collect and carry stormwater runoff throughout town.

As a Phase II NPDES MS4 permittee, Morrisville is required to implement a comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan designed to reduce pollution, protect local , and support healthy aquatic ecosystems. This includes six minimum control measures such as public education, public involvement, illicit discharge detection, runoff control, and pollution prevention & good housekeeping.

Our MS4 discharges into receiving waters throughout the Neuse and Cape Fear River Basins, including Kit Creek, Brier Creek, Stirrup Iron Creek, and Crabtree Creek.

🌐 Morrisville’s Unique Responsibility
The Morrisville Stormwater Division holds a Phase II NPDES MS4 permit issued by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, through authority delegated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Stormwater Division is the only Town department that administers a federally delegated permit.

This federal connection underscores how stormwater management isn’t just a local effort. It’s part of a nationwide commitment to clean water and environmental stewardship.

🌧️ Why It Matters

Being an MS4 means:
Stormwater enters local streams untreated, so pollution on land becomes pollution in waterways.
Morrisville must meet strict mapping, inspection, education, and maintenance standards to protect water quality.

🔍 Call to Action
Have you spotted MS4 infrastructure around town?
Share photos of stormwater drains, culverts, outfalls, or Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) from your neighborhood and help spread stormwater awareness!

09/07/2026

🌤️ - Edition

As we ease into this Labor Day Monday, take a quiet moment to breathe, reset, and reflect.

Here in the Town of Morrisville, NC , even on a holiday, our keep moving, carrying the story of the land, the community, and the care we put into protecting them.

Flow with the calm of this stream as it travels beyond the dam. Let its rhythm be today’s meditation.
And remember: . . . every drop matters in keeping our clean and our waterways healthy.

🔎 Can you identify where this video was taken? Drop your guesses in the comments! Bonus points for the first person to provide the correct answer. Hint: It is not in Morrisville.

09/04/2026

💧 Friendly Reminder! 💧

The Town of Morrisville, NC Stormwater offices will be closed on Monday for Labor Day.

We hope everyone enjoys a safe and restful holiday!

We’ll be back to assist you on Tuesday.

Stay safe, Morrisville! 🌤️😊

09/03/2026

♻️ How Recycling Helps Protect Our Stormwater! 🌧️💧

Did you know that recycling isn’t just good for the planet, it also protects our local creeks and ? 🌿💦

When items like cooking oil, automotive fluids, soaps, and plastics are thrown away improperly, they can wash into drains and flow directly into the environment without treatment. 🚫🕳️ That pollution harms wildlife, clogs pipes, contributes to flooding, and reduces water quality. 🐟🌊

By recycling correctly, you help keep harmful materials OUT of our stormwater system. 🙌
Here’s how your actions make a difference:

• Recycle cooking oil instead of dumping it down drains! FOG (fats, oils, grease) can block pipes and cause sanitary sewer overflows. 🛢️🚫 Cooking oil can be recycled 24/7 in a cabinet (see photo below) outside the Town of Morrisville, NC Public Works facility at 414 Aviation Parkway. Please put the cooking oil in a plastic container with a screw top lid.
• Dispose of automotive fluids responsibly! Even small leaks can wash into storm drains during rain. 🚗💧
• Choose biodegradable products when washing your car and keep runoff on the grass, not the street. 🚿🌱
• Reduce single‑use plastics to prevent litter from entering storm drains and waterways. 🥤➡️🌊
• Always choose the recycling bin when you are confident that the litter is recyclable. ♻️

🚗♻️ Where to Recycle Automotive Fluids in Morrisville

Properly disposing of automotive fluids helps prevent pollution and protects our waterways. Morrisville residents have local options:

Advance Auto Parts – Morrisville
📍 406 Airport Blvd
🛢️ Accepts used motor oil and gear oil for free recycling.
🔧 Also recycles power steering, hydraulic, and transmission fluids.

Wake County Convenience Center – Site 3 (Morrisville)
📍 266 Aviation Pkwy
♻️ Open daily, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
Part of Wake County’s recycling network that directs automotive fluids to appropriate facilities.

South Wake Multi‑Material Recycling Facility (Apex)
📍 6130 Old Smithfield Rd
🛢️ Accepts motor oil, transmission fluid, hydraulic oils, power steering fluid, and antifreeze.

Small actions add up! Your recycling habits help protect the health of our waterways, reduce pollution, and support a cleaner Morrisville for everyone. 💚🌎

🌟 Thank you for being part of the solution! 🌟

09/02/2026

🌟 August 2026 – 5‑Star SCM Recognition 🌟

Town of Morrisville, NC's program continues to excel thanks to diligent maintenance, consistent inspections, and dedicated community partners. Each month, we highlight SCMs that have demonstrated excellent performance across all inspection categories and maintained full compliance for five consecutive years.

🎉 August’s 5‑Star SCMs

Liberty at Town Hall Commons
🌟 Permit # SW‑20‑0144

Town Hall Commons Extension
🌟 Permit # SW‑20‑0146

Lenovo Think Place
🌟 Permit # SW‑20‑0154

💧 Why This Matters
Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) protect local waterways by filtering runoff, reducing pollution, and helping lessen downstream flooding. When SCMs are consistently maintained, as these sites have shown over five straight years, the entire Morrisville community benefits from cleaner, healthier waterways and resilient infrastructure.

🏅 Thank You!
A heartfelt thank‑you to all property owners, managers, and partners who make stormwater health a priority. Stay tuned each month as we continue spotlighting more Five‑Star SCMs across town!

09/01/2026

🌿 Discover the Outdoors with iNaturalist! 🌎

Have you ever spotted an interesting plant, insect, or critter around the Town of Morrisville, NC and wondered “What is that?” With iNaturalist, you can turn those everyday observations into real scientific discoveries and have fun doing it!

Just snap a photo, upload it, and iNaturalist’s community of naturalists (along with powerful ID tools) helps you learn more about the world around you. Every observation contributes to biodiversity science and helps paint a clearer picture of the natural environment right here in our town.

📺 Check out this CBS Sunday Morning feature to learn more:
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/the-inaturalist-app-mixing-science-with-fun/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h

🔧 Why Your Observations Matter — The “Rivet Popper” Analogy

Biologist Paul Ehrlich described ecosystems like airplanes held together by thousands of rivets. Each rivet is a species. If a few rivets pop out, the plane keeps flying — but as more rivets disappear, the structure weakens. Eventually, one more missing rivet can cause failure.

In nature, every species plays a role. Even small or overlooked ones help keep ecosystems stable. Losing species slowly reduces resilience, and we don’t always know which organisms are the “critical rivets.”

By documenting local wildlife through iNaturalist, you’re helping us keep track of Morrisville’s “rivets” — from pollinators to plants, frogs to fungi.

🏞️ How This Helps the Town of Morrisville

Citizen science observations can directly support our Stormwater Division’s efforts by helping us:

Track changes in local biodiversity over time. A valuable indicator of watershed health.
Locate habitat hotspots for pollinators, amphibians, and native plants that rely on clean and healthy riparian buffers.
Understand how stormwater facilities interact with wildlife, providing insight into maintenance needs, vegetation performance, and ecosystem responses.

Your observations strengthen environmental stewardship and help inform how we protect Morrisville’s creeks, wetlands, and green spaces.

📸 Ready to Join In? Download iNaturalist, head outdoors, and start exploring Morrisville’s natural areas - from neighborhood paths to parks to stormwater ponds.

Be curious. Be observant. Be part of the science!

Tag and share what you discover. We can’t wait to see what species you find!

The iNaturalist cellphone app not only helps users identify plant, animal and insect species; it also provides invaluable data to scientists studying biodiversity, species decline, and habitat loss. It also provides opportunities for fun: David Pogue joins iNaturalist fan Martha Stewart in a "biobli...