Stormwater Utility Basics

Polluted Runoff is the #1 Water Quality Problem in the U.S.*

Polluted Runoff is the #1 Water Quality Problem in the U.S.*

* USEPA* USEPA

$ $

Pat Sauer, CPESC

IAMU Stormwater Program Coordinator

The Cycle of Stormwater

It rains and sometimes it

rains heavily

Flooding occurs

Water quality regulatory

requirements/TMDL (Total

Maximum Daily

Load/Impaired Water body)

Reports are written

Costs for improvements

astonish all

Report put on shelf

Rinse and repeat

Breaking the Cycle of Stormwater

The problem is not going to disappear

Move it to the top of the priority list

Planning

Stable funding source

Program

The Evolution of

Stormwater Management

Move it on downstream quickly … (surface conveyance)

But not on the street or in my yard … (pipe conveyance)

And try not to flood the neighbors … (detention)

While making sure the water is clean … (NPDES Phase 1)

No … a little cleaner … (NPDES Phase 2)

A little more … (Total Maximum Daily Loads TMDLs)

I want that stuff drinkable …The problem is not going to disappear

Baxter-Woodman consultants…

What is a Stormwater Utility?

Funding method

Program

Organization

Growth of Utilities

1975 1985 1995 2011

500

250

1

Advantages of a Stormwater Utility

Stable, adequate, sustainable source of income to

support stormwater program.

New funding source or supplemental to existing.

Funding provides program flexibility.

Equitable.

Stable and Adequate Tax-based result in peaks and valleys,

underfunded some years.

Utility-based results in a constant

increasing source of funding.

When does fee feel as though it is too

much? $1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8…

What type of programincidental,

developing, advanced?

Flexibility Funding for entire program.

Credits to encourage water quantity and quality good

performance.

Cost share funding for water quality, quantity, and

streambank stabilization.

Geographically based.

Can address environmental issues and associated

costs.

Equitable User fees more equitable-not all property

owners pay taxes but ALL of them contribute

to stormwater! Fees collected are used for

intended purpose.

How is the fee calculated?

Equivalent rate unit: i.e.1 ERU = 2,500 sq. ft.

Flat rate for residential, commercial.

Combination.

What Expenses Are Involved with

Municipal Stormwater Management?

•Flood management.

•Maintenance and expansion of infrastructure,

capital improvements, aging infrastructure.

•Inventory system and master plan for for for

for improvements.

•Assessment and planning.

•Stormwater quality considerations.

•Stormwater Management Plan-Permit

Implementation, regulation and enforcement.

How Can You Finance Your Stormwater Management

Program? Stormwater Utility/Fee

You need to have a stormwater management

program and/or have permit requirements that

must be met. You will need a steady source of

funding for the program.

SW management typically financed by property

taxes. This usually results in SW issues being

placed in low priority. Other taxes include: sales

taxes, income tax, gasoline tax, business tax,

gaming tax, user fee.

IA Code Section 384.84 allows a city to establish a

stormwater utility.

Initial Evaluation Process

•Master Stormwater Management Plan

Identify needs, problems, issues, for example; major

flooding issues that need to be addressed, i.e. aging

infrastructure-replacement and updates, NPDES

permit implementation activities.

Identify available resources and limitations, i.e. GIS

software and database available, finance department

arrangements, current staff and staff needed for

program implementation.

What are Some Stormwater Management

Problems/Concerns?

System Capacity-Flooding

Maintenance

New or existing regulatory programs

Water quality

Monitoring and planning

Funding problems

Community perception

System Capacity and

Maintenance Is capacity and construction of older systems

minimal or substandard?

Maintained properly to keep with demand?

Inadequate routine, deferred, delegated, remedial?

Inadequate information-mapping, inspection,

management, resources?

New Regulatory Programs

FEMA requirements?

NPDES federal/state program must comply with

requirements.

Potential Total Maximum Daily Load Allocations.

NPDES MS-4 City Permit

Requirements

6 minimum control measures.

Ordinances and enforcement.

Mapping, illicit discharges.

Erosion and sediment control inspections.

Post construction retrofits, good housekeeping and pollution prevention, education and outreach.

Watershed assessment and land use plan.

Need to invest in this program to comply!

Concerns Address flood control.

Address water qualitypollutants in stormwater.

Retrofits and new development.

Contaminants in Stormwater Runoff

•Motor vehicle

fluids, organic

hydrocarbons,

metals

•Street salt

•Fertilizers,

nutrients, nitrogen

and phosphorus

•Pathogens

•Thermal Pollution

Polluted Runoff is the #1 Water Quality Problem in the U.S.*

Polluted Runoff is the #1 Water Quality Problem in the U.S.*

* USEPA* USEPA

Water Quality Management-low impact

development, reduce the amount of

runoff-infiltrate and percolate.

•Develop effective

Ordinances-backbone

•Require the effective use of

BMPs, retrofits

•Watershed Assessment

Program

Rain Gardens

Conservation

Subdivisions

Bioswale Wetlands

Riparian Buffers

Along Streams

Water Quality BMPs

Monitoring and Planning

Monitoring of outfalls for illicit discharges.

Watershed assessments, data collection.

Land use plans, prioritize and identify, strategy.

What is the Status of Your

Stormwater Program?

How are you currently funding your program

and is it adequate?

Bandaids or well developed program?

What are the major deficiencies?

Community Perception

What does your community know and

understand about your storm sewer system,

management, program needs and regulatory

requirements?

Are flooding and water quality issues a priority in

your community?

How is your system being affected by upstream

communities or how are you affecting

downstream communities?

Where to go from here?...Use Existing Staff

to Create Utility or Hire Consultant?

•Factor in all costs

•Some cities hire a consultant-Dubuque,

Marion

•Others are choosing to utilize staff to

create utility-Bettendorf, Iowa City

Where Can You Focus Your Attention?

•Four recommended areas:

Public, political education and support

Program concept

Financial policies/documents

Database development and customer

service

Anticipate: Who Will Not Like The Concept?

•Tax Exempt properties such churches

•Owners of large paved areas

•Fixed Income

Anticipate Legal Issues

•Is it fair, non discriminatory

•Proper procedures followed

•Legal by legislation

Program Concept

•Feasibility study: Take staff, council, and

citizens through key aspects of utility to build

acceptance. Test the water before committing.

•Justification

Justification for a Stormwater Utility

•Stormwater quality and quantity issues are real

and need to be addressed.

•Problems can be addressed.

•Our local government/city should lead.

•Benefits will result.

•Current methods are not working.

•Aging infrastructure.

•Adequate and stable funding is needed.

•A utility is the most effective tool.

Build Your Case for Justification

•Statistics

•Number of complaints, issues (Flooding,

plugged outlets.

•Growth in community, major impacts on

stream flows.

•Of these how many are resolved vs.

unresolved?

•Provide Cost and Infrastructure

Information

•Lost revenue, Regulatory Information

Your Program

Needs, Goals

Priorities,

Objectives

Analysis Service

Costs

Organizational

Structure

Implementing

Utility

Considerations When Developing the Utility

Small, visible

projects first

Program

•Defensible cost, meet real needs

•Address all needs and levels

•Fit revenue and staff needs

•Follow logical developmental steps

What Type of Program Do You Want??

•Minimum, Moderate, Advanced,

Exception/Outstanding

•Adjust program based on revenue

$1 $2 $3 $4 $5 $6 $7 $8 $9 $10

What is your communities comfort zone?

Community demographics play a role.

Adequate Program?

$200

$100

For every

$/month per

household…

A utility can

generate about

$20-$50 per

acre/year.

(Andrew Reese,

AMEC)

$0

$50

$150

Incidental

Minimum

Making Progress

Advanced

Exceptional

Utility Program Organizational Categories

•Administration

•Special Programs-GIS, Mapping, Public Education,

Citizens Group

•Infrastructure

•Billing and Finance

•Indirect Costs-Overhead

•Flood Control

•Stormwater Permit Program

•Water Quality Control Program

Continued…………………..

•Capital Improvements, major and minor.

•Engineering and Planning

•Operations

•Regulations and Enforcement-General Permit

#2, Construction site erosion and sediment

control program-Ordinance.

Considerations When Developing the Utility

Your Public

Develop

Info/Ed Plan

Identify

Stakeholders

Implement

Plan

Critical!!!!

Considerations When Developing the Utility

Financial Matters

Funding Legal Aspects

Funding Policy

Rate Structure Study

Rate vs Program Expenses

Ordinance Development-

Rate

Conduct A Rate Analysis

•Unlike other utilities, stormwater services to runoff

dishargers in not voluntary and cannot be metered.

•Most based on percent impervious.

•Compare fee structures in comparable cities to

increase comfort level of residents.

•Distinguish between a user fee and a tax.

•Most Midwest cities base charge on Equivalent

Runoff/Rate Units (ERU) for each property. One ERU

= the average amount of impervious area on an

average residential lot.

Rate Methods

•% Impervious Area

•Impervious Area and Gross Area

•Gross Area with Intensity of Devel.

•Flat Rates

•Zoning

•Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Other

Community Residential Rate Other Rate

Ames $2/mo for single family; $1/unit

for multi-structure

Commercial $2/mo base

rate .75/ERU up to 3,129

Bettendorf

Boone

Burlington

Carroll

Coralville

Dubuque

Iowa City

Some Rates for Communities in Iowa

Currently about 23 cities with stormwater utility

fees in Iowa.

Call Your Neighbor to Get Their Rates

But……Important to Evaluate Program

Costs Before Setting Rates.

Considerations When Developing the Utility

Database Mgmt.

Policy

Data, Information

Account File and Billing Info.

Billing System

Complaint/Issues

Quality Assurance

Billing System Considerations

•Utilize Current Water/Wastewater Bill-usually best for

cities, monthly, looks like user fee.

•Independent Billing-expensive, collection difficulties.

•Attach to Some Tax.

•Other utility System?

Fee Data Considerations

Some Options:

•Geographic Information System Data

•Satellite Images

•Aerial Photography - (contact local

NRCS office)

Measuring Impervious Surfaces

GIS Mapping Percent Impervious Surface

Utility Development Process

Before the First Billing

-Keep politicians, public informed-no

surprizes!

-Educate/inform, get support all

directions.

-Hold meetings.

At First Billing

-Handle customer issues, good first

impression.

After First Billing

-Keep up support for utility, share

projects and successes, visibility.

Organize Steering Committee

Community/Political Leaders

Citizen Groups

Suggestion for Entire Utility Fee Process

Forming a Stormwater Utility

……..Educate, Communicate, Gain Support

The Key to Successful Stormwater Programs

Website www.iowastorwater.org (PWP area) Meeting for members, IAMU, Eastern Iowa

Educational Toolbox Speakers

Networking Regulatory Updates

Members 31 City Members

3 SWCD 2 Companies

Work with cities on specific issues Audits of certain portions of program

Annual Reports GP # 1 Pollution Prevention Training

Train staff

Stormwater Design Construction Site Erosion and Sediment Control

Raincaping Iowa Annual Stormwater Conference

www.rainscapingiowa.org

Statewide educational campaign

Partners promotes urban stormwater practices • Practices protect water quality and reduce runoff • Advisory board that guides and endorses program

Ultimate goal • Build awareness, behavioral changes, and demand • Build capacity for implementation of practices

Results • Improvement and protection of water resources in Iowa • Help businesses grow by providing Rainscaping services

Rainscaping Iowa

You live on waterfront property!

You have waterfront property if there are storm drain inlets in the street.

Storm drains are connected to streams, ponds, and lakes.

Water is not treated before it flows to the stream.

Storm Drain Inlet & Outlet in River

Rain gardens

Bioretention Cells

Bioswales

Soil Quality Restoration

Native Landscaping

Permeable Pavements

Rainwater Harvesting

Green Roofs

Streambank and Shoreline Stabilization

Tree Filter Structures

Rainscaping Practices

Rainscapers are professionals who create beautiful and functional landscapes that protect Iowa’s water and soil resources.

Design professionals

Contractors

What is a Certified Rainscaper?

Understand stormwater management concepts and the hydrologic footprint of landscapes.

Have undergone specific training

Have demonstrated competency in the design, installation, and/or maintenance of Rainscaping practices.

Follow the Rainscaper Code of Ethics

Certified Rainscapers:

Landscape Designers

Landscape Architects

Engineers

Contractors

Horticulturalists

Master Gardeners

Urban Conservationists

Others

Rainscaping Professionals

Attend a Rainscaper training classes

Pass a written exam for each practice

Submit two case studies per practice, 1 case study for pavement systems

Complete an application form

Case study reviewed by a designated urban conservationist

Certificate awarded to new “Rainscaper” as design professional or installer

Certified Rainscaper Program

5 certified Rainscapers as of 9/12

Attend a Rainscaper training classes

Pass a written exam for each practice

Submit two case studies per practice, 1 case study for pavement systems

Complete an application form

Case study reviewed by a designated urban conservationist

Certificate awarded to new “Rainscaper” as design professional or installer

Certified Rainscaper Program

5 certified Rainscapers as of 9/12

Non-engineers and non-design professionals limited to design certifications for non-engineering practices such as rain gardens, soil quality restoration, native landscaping, ecological restoration, roadway plantings.

Contractors/installers can be certified to install most practices, some practices under the guidance of design professionals.

You can be certified for more than one practice, you pay the same annual fee for one vs. more than one certification.

Certified Rainscaper Program

Rainscaper Program

Rainscapers have access to education

and marketing resources

Networking

Rainscaper pays an annual fee to help support the Rainscaping program.

Future: Statewide marketing effort

Billboards, TV and radio, social media, adopters

Additional training events for practices and certifications

Some programs may require that practices be designed/installed by certified Rainscapers

Annual networking conference

Rainscaping Iowa

Soil Quality Restoration, October, Iowa City

Rainwater Harvesting, November 8, Iowa City

ICCSPPI, October 13, IAMU Stormwater Utility Workshop,

November 9, IAMU ISWMM Training, December, Cedar

Rapids VISIT: www.rainscapingiowa or

www.iowastormwater.org

Upcoming Training

How beautiful is the rain!

After the dust and the heat,

In the broad and fiery street,

In the narrow lane,

How beautiful is the rain!

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Rain in Summer

www.iowastormwater.org

www.rainscapingiowa.org

Pat Sauer, Stormwater Program

Coordinator

Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities

800-810-4268

Ankeny, Iowa

www.iowastormwater.org

www.iamu.org