City of Salisbury Installs Nets to Protect Waterways

Image courtesy City of Salisbury

The City of Salisbury has installed trash nets on municipal stormwater outfall pipes to collect debris before it gets into public waterways. The nets trap floatable litter like plastic bottles, food wrappers, Styrofoam and organic debris, while allowing water to pass through. Then maintenance crews will periodically remove the nets, empty the collected material and reinstall them. The systems are paired with monitoring routines to track debris volume and schedule servicing ahead of heavy storms. Each net includes overflow features to prevent upstream flooding during extreme rain events.

Additional information from the City of Salisbury:

“These trash nets are a simple but powerful tool in our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship,” Mayor Randy Taylor said. “By preventing litter from reaching our waterways, we’re protecting wildlife, improving water quality and enhancing the beauty of our City for residents and visitors alike.” 

The initiative offers a low-cost, low-complexity solution compared to mechanical treatment systems. The nets can be retrofitted onto existing outfalls without major construction and help the city comply with stormwater permits and Total Maximum Daily Load requirements. 

In addition to reducing downstream cleanup costs for parks, the marina and City workers, the data collected from the nets will support better policy decisions and public education efforts.