Stormwater Utility Basics

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
500

250

1975

1985

1995

2011

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
* USEPA * USEPA

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

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

Wetlands Riparian Buffers Along Streams

Bioswale

Water Quality BMPs

Conservation Subdivisions

Rain Gardens

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

Considerations When Developing the Utility Your Program Needs, Goals Priorities, Objectives Analysis Service Costs

Organizational Structure
Implementing 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
Exceptional $150

For every $/month per household

A utility can generate about $20-$50 per acre/year.

Advanced
$100 Making Progress

$50
$0

Minimum
Incidental

(Andrew Reese, AMEC)

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 Critical!!!! Develop Info/Ed Plan Identify Stakeholders Implement Plan

Considerations When Developing the Utility

Financial Matters Funding Legal Aspects Funding Policy Rate Structure Study Rate vs Program Expenses

Ordinance DevelopmentRate

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

Some Rates for Communities in Iowa

Community Ames Bettendorf Residential Rate $2/mo for single family; $1/unit for multi-structure Other Rate Commercial $2/mo base rate .75/ERU up to 3,129

Boone

Burlington
Carroll

Coralville
Dubuque Iowa City

Currently about 23 cities with stormwater utility fees in Iowa.

Call Your Neighbor to Get Their Rates ButImportant 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.

Suggestion for Entire Utility Fee Process

Organize Steering Committee

Community/Political Leaders

Citizen Groups

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

Rainscaping Iowa
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

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

Rainscaping Practices
Rain gardens

Bioretention Cells
Bioswales Soil Quality Restoration

Native Landscaping
Permeable Pavements Rainwater Harvesting

Green Roofs
Streambank and Shoreline Stabilization Tree Filter Structures

What is a Certified Rainscaper?

Rainscapers are professionals

who create beautiful and functional landscapes that protect Iowas water and soil resources. Design professionals Contractors

Certified Rainscapers:
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

Rainscaping Professionals
Landscape Designers Landscape Architects Engineers Contractors Horticulturalists Master Gardeners Urban Conservationists Others

Certified Rainscaper Program

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

5 certified Rainscapers as of 9/12

Certified Rainscaper Program

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

5 certified Rainscapers as of 9/12

Certified Rainscaper Program

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.

Rainscaper Program
Rainscapers have access to education and marketing resources Networking Rainscaper pays an annual fee to help support the Rainscaping program.

Rainscaping Iowa

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

Upcoming Training
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

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