|
Stormwater Rates Frequently Asked Questions
The Need
Q: What is stormwater?
A: Stormwater is the surface runoff of rain and snowmelt. In undeveloped areas such as grasslands and forests, the surface flow of water is slowed by vegetation and much of the water seeps into the ground. With urban growth and development, open land is replaced by "hard surface" areas, such as buildings, streets and parking lots, which are unable to absorb stormwater. Because development results in increased amounts of stormwater runoff, a stormwater drainage system is necessary to channel the runoff out of urban areas and reduce the occurrence of flooding.
Q: What are the stormwater drainage issues in Indianapolis?
A: Many parts of the city lack adequate storm sewers and drainage, leading to standing water in yards and flooded streets and basements. Standing water can increase inflow and infiltration of "clear water" into the sanitary sewers and combined sewers, contributing to overflows and backups. Standing water also can prevent septic system drainage fields from working properly. In the winter, poor drainage leads to dangerous black ice on roadways. Over a five-year period, the city logged more than 12,500 stormwater and drainage complaints through the Mayor's Action Center. Poor stormwater control in outlying parts of Marion County also can contribute to raw sewage overflows into our rivers and streams.
Q: What stormwater drainage improvements is the city making?
A: In the late 1990s, the city developed the Marion County Stormwater Masterplan to identify project-by-project stormwater needs. Projects in the plan are prioritized to address the worst problems first. Improvements will help:
Alleviate neighborhood and street flooding and resolve many drainage complaints
Assist neighborhoods undergoing septic conversions with drainage improvements
Reduce raw sewage overflows by improving neighborhood drainage and reducing clear water infiltration into the sanitary sewer system
Ensure continued maintenance and repairs to levees and dams that protect the city from flooding
Meet the regulatory requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit
Q: When will the city address drainage problems in my neighborhood?
A: For a list of projects, go to www.indycleanstreams.org and click on the "projects" tab. From there you can search for projects by township, council district or type.
Q. Where can I get more information about the city's plans?
A: For more information about improvements to the city's drainage, flood-control or clean waterway projects, please visit www.indycleanstreams.org. To report street drainage or flooding concerns, call the Mayor's Action Center at 317-327-4622.
The Cost
Q: How much will the stormwater improvements cost?
A: The Marion County Stormwater Masterplan, completed in the late 1990s, identified more than $300 million of necessary maintenance and capital improvement needs. Of these projects, 350 were identified as high priorities at a cost of $85 million.
Q: How will the city fund stormwater improvements?
A: In 2001, the city implemented a stormwater utility fee to generate the capital required to address these high priority projects. Since 2001, the program has funded more than $12 million for specific planning, design and construction projects and more than $7.5 million for other stormwater activities. In October 2005, the City-County Council approved a stormwater rate increase that will fund an additional $35 million in drainage and flood control projects over the next three years.
Q: How do the new rates affect my bill?
A: The city has assessed property owners an additional $1 per month. For example, under the new rates, a single-family residential bill of $1.25 per month has risen to $2.25 per month. This appears as a six-month charge on semiannual property tax bills. Single-family homeowners pay a flat rate of $2.25 per month. Business and commercial property owners pay an amount proportional to the amount of hard surface area on their property (rooftops, driveways, parking lots, etc.) This is because the more hard surface area, the more stormwater runoff the city's system must handle.
Q: Didn't my sewer rates also just go up?
A: Yes. The City-County Council also voted to fund approximately $400 million in sanitary sewer improvements during 2006-2008. This rate increase began in January 2006. The stormwater assessment and sanitary sewer rate increases are separate. Even with the rate increases, average stormwater and sewer bills in Indianapolis are lower than in most Indiana communities and other Midwestern cities. See the chart below.
Q. Will these be the last stormwater rate increases?
A. That can not be determined at this time. In October 2005 the City-County Council did discuss the need for additional increases beyond this one. Any future rate increase will require the approval of the City-County Council.
Q. Where can I see what projects will be completed with the $435 million?
A. A complete project list is available at www.indycleanstreams.org.
Q. My property has a significantly limited impact on the public stormwater drainage system. Can I apply for a credit adjustment to my stormwater user fee?
A. The city has developed a system of credits and the Stormwater Credit Manual details the policies and procedures applicable to the stormwater user fee credit program.
|
