What is a stormwater utility?

A stormwater utility – or user fee system – is a program with a user fee charge to help local government recover the costs of managing stormwater runoff generated by a parcel or customer. The utility creates a reserve for stormwater management services; funds collected pay for stormwater management-related projects and regulatory compliance programs.

What is the money used for?

In short, the fees are used to operate and fund a stormwater management program. This program includes maintaining and repairing streams, ponds, stormwater pipes, ditches, catch basins, and other similar features and costs. Typical stormwater management programs include the following functions:

• Drainage Improvement Projects
• Storm System Maintenance & Repairs
• Floodplain Management
• Cleaning of Pipes/Ditches
• Water Quality Protection & Improvement
• Compliance with State & Federal Regulations

For Suwanee, it is anticipated that most of the funds will go directly towards preventative maintenance and repairs of stormwater infrastructure.

Why is this needed?

Stormwater pipes, catch basins, and related infrastructure deteriorate over time, impairing their ability to convey stormwater, threatening property and causing flooding and road closures. To address these problems and comply with increasing state and federal regulations, many communities develop and implement comprehensive stormwater management programs funded by a stormwater utility user fee system. Maintenance and repairs to this infrastructure is very costly. A dedicated funding source will help the city better maintain a functional system.

Stormwater utilities are a more equitable way to fund stormwater systems. Those that generate more demand pay their proportionate share. Those that have less demand in turn pay less. 

Why now?

The city engaged professional consulting firm Integrated Science & Engineering (ISE) to evaluate the city’s system; ISE identified around $12 million in needed maintenance and repairs. CLICK HERE to download ISE's Storm System Assessment & Report The stormwater utility provides funding for a proactive maintenance-based approach, rather than a reactive repair-based approach. Maintenance is significantly cheaper than repairs. (The city recently had a significant pipe failure that cost about $2 million to replace; additionally, the city also recently engaged in preventative maintenance on a very similar pipe that cost only $400,000.)

Many of the city’s stormwater pipes are corrugated metal pipes that were installed in the 1980’s, 1990’s, and early 2000’s. These pipes have typical lifespans of 20-30 years. As such, some of the pipes are nearing the end of their expected term of service. Many of these pipes can be rehabilitated with preventative measures that will extend their service lives by 30+ more years. 

How are the fees calculated?

Generally speaking, the fees are based on the amount of impervious surface on a parcel. Impervious surfaces include asphalt and concrete driveways and parking lots, rooftops, and other features that prevent water from absorbing into the ground, thereby increasing stormwater runoff into pipes and streams.

The amount of impervious surface area is related to amount of stormwater runoff the site produces; this increased demand impacts the local government’s drainage system and local waterbodies. This information is then used to determine a parcel’s proportionate share of the cost-of-service provided by the local government. The fee is designed to be fair and equitable to all property owners that utilize the local government’s drainage system, facilities, and services. The Stormwater Utility Ordinance contains a specific formula for calculating the fees. 

How much will it cost me?

Most detached homeowners will pay less than $7.50 per month (around $89 per year). Attached townhouse owners will pay about $35 per year. Commercial properties and other parcels with large impervious areas will pay proportionately more based on their specific amounts of impervious surface. A typical shopping center is expected to pay around $15,000 annually. 

How much money will the utility generate?

It is estimated to generate about $1.5 million per year in the early years.

Can the money be used for other things?

No. It is dedicated to stormwater related items.

Do other communities have this?

Yes. There are stormwater utilities all over the nation. Gwinnett County and nine other cities in Gwinnett County already have stormwater utilities in place.

Was the community involved in this? Did the community have input?

Yes. It was a community solution for an ongoing challenge. The city established a Citizen Stakeholder Committee to review the study done by the consultants and make their own recommendations. This 14-member group of citizens met multiple times over several months. Ultimately, the group recommended to the City Council to create a Stormwater Utility. ISE also provided several presentations to the City Council during various public meetings. Along the way, there were articles in the 2022 April and June newsletters.

There will be ongoing additional public information efforts in the coming months.

I have a large yard with little impervious surface. Can I do something to avoid or reduce the fee?

If a parcel is vacant, or has less than 500 square feet of impervious surface, there is no fee. For more specific information about credits to partially offset the fee for sites that meet certain criteria , download the credit manuals below:

Stormwater Utility Residential Technical Credit Manual

Stormwater Utility Non-Single-Family Residential Technical Credit Manual

How will this be billed?

It will be part of the property tax bill.