Just like water, sewer, gas, and other vital utility services, users are charged a fee for the service of controlling stormwater. The stormwater management fee would apply to all developed properties, including homes, businesses, and non-profit organizations. These fees would be a dedicated revenue stream, which would be restricted for use only on stormwater system maintenance and operations of stormwater management devices, for stormwater systems planning and construction.

The Stormwater Utility would provide funding to implement new programs for preventive maintenance, repair and improvements to the City’s storm drain system. With these programs, entire storm drain systems in large areas of the City would be systematically cleaned on a periodic basis before serious problems occur. Funding from the Stormwater Utility would also allow for improvements that directly target local flooding problems.

Stormwater runoff is the portion of rain and melting snow that does not soak into the ground. It runs off driveways, parking lots, roads, and other impervious surfaces that do not allow the water to soak through to the ground below.

Impervious areas are surfaces that have been paved or otherwise covered with material that is resistant to infiltration by water, therefore hindering infiltration of rainwater into the ground. Impervious surfaces are mainly constructed surfaces - rooftops, sidewalks, roads, and parking lots - covered by impenetrable materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick, and stone. The impervious surface is NOT equal to the inside square footage of a structure.

The continued urban growth within the City has caused an increase in accumulated runoff. This additional runoff can cause flooding, threats to public safety, and pollutants to enter receiving waters.

This Stormwater Utility is needed to provide a proactive, strategic and customer service driven approach to stormwater management that will produce increased benefits and improved services to residents and business owners. In addition, the funds will be used to implement a comprehensive stormwater quality management plan.

Dedicated funds for stormwater management will provide:

Enhanced public safety and health.
Resources to help mitigate flooding.
Increased maintenance actions.
Resources to meet existing and future regulatory requirements.
Synergy/cooperation with the CSO program.

Improvement of water quality by reducing non-point source pollution (NPS).
Prevention of stream bank erosion.
Healthier habitats for the James River and associated tributaries.
Cleaner waterfront and park areas.
Reduces chance of sewer back-ups.
Reduces threat of West Nile Virus.

Non-point source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water. These pollutants include:

Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas
Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production
Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks
Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines
Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic systems

No. Historically, money from the City’s General Fund has provided limited funding for stormwater operations. However, these funds are used for many other city programs and the funds are not adequate for the necessary improvements and maintenance to the stormwater system and the reduction of potential pollutants into our streams and creeks.

A dedicated funding source, such as a Stormwater Utility, provides the City of Richmond with many benefits:

Improved public health and safety
Improved customer service and a reduced backlog of customer complaints
Reduction of long-term capital costs through proactive maintenance
Protection of property value
Resources to help mitigate flooding

Improved city services
Cleaner and safer streets, which help improve the business climate
Support of economic development objectives
Availability of more property to develop, resulting in increased tax
Revenue

Yes, there are approximately 400 stormwater utilities nationwide and several in Virginia, including the Cities of Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Chesapeake, and Newport News. The municipalities that adopted Stormwater utilities selected this approach because it is both fair and equitable.

ALL developed properties would be charged a stormwater fee. Properties paying the fee will include residential properties, *commercial and industrial properties, non-profit organizations, schools, colleges/universities, state and federal owned properties and parking lots.

* Commercial, industrial, non-profits, schools, colleges/universities, state and federal owned properties and parking lots that have infrastructure or facilities set up to control the quality and quantity of stormwater run-off from their property may apply for a full or partial credit, up to 50% of the stormwater fee that is assessed.

Yes, because it is a fee, not a property tax. Property taxes are based on the assessed value of the property. The Stormwater Utility Fee would be assessed based on how much the property contributes to the amount of stormwater runoff from the property.

Full waivers of the charges are granted for the following: Undeveloped properties, public streets and roadways, cemeteries and *City of Richmond owned properties are excluded from paying the stormwater fee.

* Richmond Public Schools and properties owned by Richmond Redevelopment Housing Authority (RRHA) are not owned by the City of Richmond and are therefore required to pay

Yes, because that property contains impervious area.

Everyone in the City benefits from the Stormwater maintenance program. If stormwater runs off your property, the City must have a program and funding to manage the increase in runoff and pollutants. Direct benefits include protecting your property from upstream runoff, protecting properties downstream from your runoff, and improving water quality in the James River.

Richmond proposes a three-tiered rate structure for single family residential (SFR) parcels based on the amount of impervious surface area that a parcel contains.

Rates per Single Family Residential (SFR) parcel	Annual Fee
SFR parcels less than or equal to 1,000 sq. ft	$25/yr.
SFR parcels between 1,001 - 2,399 sq. ft.	$45/yr.
SFR parcels greater than 2,400 sq. ft.	$70/yr.

Rates per *ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit) *Equivalent Residential Unit = 1,425 sq. ft	Annual Fee
Multi-family Residential	$45/ERU
Non–Residential (includes but is not limited to commercial, residential, non-profits, churches, schools, colleges/universities)	$45/ERU

Minimum fee for all property classes is $25

EXAMPLE: The fee for a Non – Residential property with 14,250 sq. feet of impervious area would be $450. See the following calculation:
14,250 sq. feet/1,425 sq. feet = 10 ERU’s, 10 ERUs x $45 = $450 per year.

The City of Richmond’s ERU was derived utilizing property classification data from the City Assessor’s Office and impervious area calculations from the City’s Geographic Information System (GIS). The base unit ERU is the median value of the estimated total impervious area for all single family residential units within the city of Richmond. This calculation for the City of Richmond is 1,425 square feet.

The fee will be sent as a separate bill mailed directly to the property owner on an annual basis.

No, not at this time. City charter (Section 13.11) does not allow exemptions or credits to residential property owners based on income. Because Virginia is a Dillon Rule State, if the provision is not expressly stated in the law then a locality of that state cannot implement it. City charter would have to be changed through the General Assembly in order to offer residential credits or to offer income-based fee reductions.

No, not at this time. City charter (Section 13.11) does not allow exemptions or credits to residential property owners. Because Virginia is a Dillon Rule State, if the provision is not expressly stated in the law then a locality of that state cannot implement it. City charter would have to be changed through the General assembly in order to offer residential credits.

Note: At this time multi-family residential properties are not eligible for any credits or reductions in the Stormwater fee.

Yes. Non–residential properties may apply for partial credits up to a maximum allowable credit of 50% of the proposed fee providing they meet defined criteria. Examples of this would be implementation or construction of low-impact development (LID) methods or techniques.

The practice of using techniques in building and construction that minimize the effect that development will have on the quality of the surrounding environment. Low Impact Development emphasizes conservation and use of on-site natural features to protect water quality. (Examples of LID techniques include permeable pavers, green roofs, green alleys, rain barrels and rain gardens.)

Yes. The City of Richmond is currently working on a Green Alley initiative that will utilize permeable pavers in two locations - the 5th Street alley that runs north/south located between Main and Cary Streets and 4th and 5th streets. The second location is the 12th Street alley that runs east /west located parallel between 12th and 13th streets and perpendicular between Main and Cary Streets.

The City continues to look for opportunities to partner with other organizations interested in improving the environment by using LID techniques.

The main components of the program are:
Regulatory Compliance including water quality monitoring, floodplain management, and meeting the requirements of the City Stormwater Permit.
Capital Improvements including storm sewer installation, culvert and ditch upgrades, stream restoration, water quality retrofits, and storm drainage master planning and engineering
Operation and Maintenance including inspection and maintenance of catch basins, drainage ditches, detention ponds, and other stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) facilities
Asset Renewal including catch basin and storm drain rehabilitation and replacement
Example: Battery Park & Shockoe Bottom projects.

A more equitable system: All the contributors to stormwater runoff share the costs of maintaining and improving the storm drainage system.
A stable level of funding: Ensures that stormwater management receives adequate support, independent of the City’s tax rate and General Fund.
A dedicated fund: Revenues are used solely for stormwater management.

As with any new program, it will take time for the full effect of the stormwater utility to show, however, you should be able to see the effects of ongoing improvements in drainage and maintenance.

The water that leaves your property (runoff), either from irrigation or rainfall, ultimately drains into a City maintained drainage facility. You are assessed a fee because this runoff contributes to the need for maintenance.

No. The responsibility for maintaining the ditch, pipe or channel falls on the property owner. Stormwater Utility crews can only maintain ditches or other drainage facilities on private property if the facility is within the drainage easement granted to the City and if the facility carries runoff from upstream property. Without an easement, the responsibility for maintaining the ditch, pipe or channel falls on the property owner. For more information about easements call DPU’s Customer Care Center at (804) 644-3000

Drainage easements must be accessible to maintenance crews at all times. Any owner-initiated obstruction of an easement (such as a shed, fence, patio or other structure) is subject to removal at the owner's expense.

The Department of Public Utilities Stormwater Utility will regularly clean and clear the storm drain system by following a bi-yearly cleaning schedule for more than 178 miles of City maintained drainage pipes. Some pipes will be cleaned monthly. Storm drain inlets may not have debris on or around them, but the pipes underground may be clogged, causing a water backup. The Stormwater Utility welcomes calls from the public notifying us of problem storm drains and encourages residents to help by keeping storm drains near their homes and businesses clear of debris.

The information was obtained from base mapping that is maintained in the City Assessor’s office and from aerial photos.

The last aerial photos were updated in 2007. Subsequent photos will be updated every 2-3 years; however we can obtain the information on an "as needed basis", should changes be implemented that might change the amount of a customer’s Stormwater utility fee.

Customers who do not agree with the Stormwater assessment notice they receive should first contact DPU’s Customer Care Center at 644-3000. Customers who wish to appeal the Stormwater Assessment have 60 days to do so.

Owners who wish to appeal their Stormwater Assessment may do so for the following reasons: 1. Parcel ownership 2. Amount of impervious area 3. Stormwater classification

Note: Onus of proving the above appeals is on the property owner. A dispute of impervious area must be proven using drawings and measurements certified by a licensed engineer.

Yes. Customers who do not agree with the decision of the City’s review committee or who forfeit an appeal during the 60-day appeals process may file for a hearing. To learn more about the hearing process contact DPU’s Customer Care Center at 644-3000.