Stormwater in the City of Lynchburg

AboutLynchburg

Founded 1786Situated along the James

50 miles2 land areaPopulation ~ 75,000

Combined Sewer System• Separation currently underway• 106 of 132 overflows closed• Incorporating green infrastructure into long-term management plan

You Are Here

Regulatory Permits

• Phase II NPDES Permitted locality• Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)• Population > 50,000

• MS4 Permit• Education and Outreach

• Public Involvement

• Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

• Construction Management

• Post-Construction Management

• Good Housekeeping

Chesapeake Bay TMDL

• $120 million approximated cost of implementation

• Water quality improvement projects to meet TMDL goals

• 5% in first permit cycle• 35% in second permit cycle• 60% in third permit cycle

Pollutant Reduction Goal

Total Nitrogen 7,286 lbs/yr

Total Phosphorus 2,128 lbs/yr

Sediment 1.06M lbs/yr

Implementation PlansRiverfront Master Plan

Jefferson Street Rain Garden and Porous Pavers

WWTPWWTP

TMDLsTMDLs

Bacteria & Nutrients

CSOCSO

E&SE&S

StormwaterStormwaterBacteria & Nutrients

Bacteria & Nutrients

Discharge limits

Separation

Store and Treat

How to answer…

How to fund stormwater programs?

Is current organizational

structure adequate?

Are we meeting

current and future

regulations?

Reorganization• Identification of current staff who perform stormwater duties

to better capture cost

• Moved stormwater management under Dept. of Utilities• Lead to a rebranding of the department

Stormwater Advisory Committee

• Met monthly for eight months. Meeting presentations and minutes made available on city website.

• Provide input and feedback on the future level of service and funding for the stormwater management program

• Discussed the current and future stormwater challenges that the City faces, why stormwater management is important and options for the future level of stormwater service and funding

SWAC Recommendation• Recommendation of implementing stormwater fee

• Recommended slightly higher level of service than presently provided

• Recommended utility be funded through a combination of fee and general funds.

• Creation of Credit Program

Council Meetings and Feedback• Staff presented at multiple informational meetings

• Presented recommendation of SWAC at March 2011 Public Hearing

• Council undetermined on fee• Wanted more public participation• Additional public meetings and webcasts

Timeline • December 2011• The Utility was created after a citizen advisory committee, City staff and

City Council spent two years evaluating ways to fund stormwater services.• User fee would apply to ALL properties within the City based on the

amount of impervious area on the property and would appear on customer’s utility bill

• Set the stormwater rate at $0• Provide staff time to develop billing information in anticipation of Council

decision• Provide additional time during FY13 budget hearings to discuss rate

• April 2012• Council set a $4/SFU stormwater rate• To be implemented July 1, 2012

Single-Family ResidentialSmall Single-Family

>4,301 ft2 = 1.6 SFU1,301 to 4,300 ft2= 1.0 SFU < 1,300 ft2 = 0.5 SFU

Medium Single-Family Large Single-Family

There will be a credit program available to residents that implementStormwater Best Management Properties that help reduce the burdento the stormwater system.

Rain Barrel Rain Garden

Non-Residential & Multi-family

Non-ResidentialImpervious Area (555,776 sq. ft.)

SFU = ---------------------------SFU (2,672 sq. ft.)

SFU = 208

SW Fee = 208 X rate

There will be a credit program available to properties that implementStormwater Best Management Properties that help reduce the burden

to the stormwater system.

Planning Ahead• Comprehensive Planning

• System mapping updating

• Inventory and Assessment of Infrastructure