Stormwater Utility

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Stormwater Advisory Group Report (75.4kb pdf)

What Are the Goals & Benefits of a Stormwater Utility?

Stream

Improve public health and safety
Insure healthier habitats for town streams, the New River and the Roanoke River
Protect a primary drinking water source, the New River
Dedicate funding to comply with federal and state regulations
Improve customer service and reduce the backlog of resident complaints by funding infrastructure improvement projects for problem areas
Reduce long-term capital costs through routine and proactive maintenance
Improve water quality by treating surface, (non-point source), runoff
Minimize stream bank erosion

Who Regulates Stormwater?

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit holders

What Other Localities Have a Stormwater Utility?

Several localities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia have established stormwater utilities, some since the early 1990s, including:

Lynchburg
Staunton
Richmond
Portsmouth
Norfolk

Why Is Stormwater So Important?

Urban stormwater runoff is the number one source of surface water pollution in the United States. It is precipitation from rain or snow that does not soak into the ground.

How Much Will I Have to Pay?

Town Council has approved a residential $6 per month fee.

All other uses would be charged based upon a tiered rate shown below; these uses include, but are not limited to, the following:

Commercial Property
Industrial Property
Churches and non-profits
Multi-family with more than four units
The minimum charge proposed is $6 monthly per unit.

Square feet of impervious surface area			Monthly Fee
0	to	3,300	$6.00
3,300	to	6,800	$6.00
6,800	to	10,000	$12.36
10,000	to	20,000	$18.18
20,000	to	30,000	$36.36
30,000	to	40,000	$54.55
40,000	to	50,000	$72.73
50,000	to	60,000	$90.91
60,000	to	70,000	$109.09
70,000	to	80,000	$127.27
80,000	to	90,000	$145.45
90,000	to	100,000	$163.64
100,000	to	125,000	$181.82
125,000	to	150,000	$227.27
150,000	to	175,000	$272.73
175,000	to	200,000	$318.18
200,000	to	250,000	$363.64
250,000	to	300,000	$454.55
300,000	to	350,000	$545.45
350,000	to	400,000	$636.36
400,000	to	450,000	$727.27
450,000	to	500,000	$818.18
500,000	to	600,000	$909.09
600,000	to	700,000	$1,090.91
700,000	to	800,000	$1,272.73
800,000	to	900,000	$1,454.55
900,000	to	1,000,000	$1,636.36
1,000,000	to	greater	$1,818.18

How Was the Fee Determined?

The proposed fee is based on the anticipated annual budget for routine infrastructure maintenance and compliance with current regulations, as well as costs associated with future improvements to mitigate significant, existing stormwater problems within the town.

Stream

Why Not Raise Taxes?

Unlike services funded through taxes, stormwater utilities, by law, cannot be diverted to other uses unrelated to stormwater. Charges are based on total impervious area, a more equitable basis for funding.

Who Is Exempt from Paying the Fee?

As per the Code of Virginia, properties with a federal stormwater permit are exempt, including

VDOT rights-of-way
Virginia Tech
Town properties

All other properties would be required to pay the proposed fee.

Credits

Stormwater Utility Credits 9-23-2014 (pdf)
Stormwater Utility Credit Manual (pdf)
Stormwater Utility Credit Initial Application Form (pdf)
Stormwater Utility Credit Re-Application Form (pdf)

Town Council has adopted a credit system for the stormwater utility. Credit will be given for new or existing stormwater management facilities that are certified to reduce runoff. Certification is proposed to be valid for 5 years.

Stormwater Quantity Control (entire site)
1 year storm		10%
2 year storm		10%
10 year storm		10%
25 year storm		10%
100 year storm		10%
Stormwater Quality Control (to current standards)		20%
Channel & Flood Protection Compliance (new regs)		20%
Maximum total credit per property		50%

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