City Of Newark Stormwater Utility (Proposed)
Stormwater Runoff
When it rains in Newark, water can either soak into the ground, evaporate, or run off into waterways such as the White Clay Creek or Christina River. Impervious surfaces such as parking lots and rooftops prevent water from soaking into the ground and increase the amount of stormwater runoff. This runoff picks up and carries pollutants such as fertilizers, pesticides, sediments, and motor oil directly to our streams and rivers, and can also cause flooding and erosion. This can be extremely damaging to our watersheds and communities– in Newark stormwater is drinking water!
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The more impervious surface there is, the less rain water infiltrates or evaporates, and the more runs off into our streams and waterbodies, increasing the likelihood of flooding, and possibly carrying contaminants into our drinking water supplies. Source: USEPA 2003
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Newark Stormwater Utility Fee (Proposed)
Newark maintains a complex stormwater system in the Christina River and White Clay Creek watersheds, including 60 miles of sewers, 200 miles of curbs and gutters, 3000 catch basins, 36 stormwater management areas, and 500 acres of floodplains along 10 stream miles.
The goals of the Newark stormwater management program are to:
- Prevent or reduce flood damage from flood events,
- Address stormwater drainage problems,
- Improve water quality in the White Clay Creek and Upper Christina River watersheds,
- Decrease pollutant loads entering the City’s drinking water streams and wellhead areas,
- Reduce soil erosion and sediment problems.
The City of Newark is considering a stormwater utility fee as a dedicated and sustainable funding source to finance administration, operation, and maintenance of stormwater, water quality, watershed, and floodplain programs largely required by State and Federal laws and regulations including:
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Delaware Stormwater and Sediment Regulations
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Delaware Source Water Protection Law of 2001
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Federal Clean Water Act, NPDES MS4 Permit and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)
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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Program
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Federal Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996
There are many benefits of a stormwater utility for the City and for residents:
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Promotes clean streams and drinking water by encouraging stewardship of runoff issues
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Treats stormwater as a valuable, utility resource (like drinking water) instead of a waste product
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Equitable payments are based on actual stormwater impacts
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Provides sustainable funding for important upgrades and maintenance
There are already over 600 stormwater utilities in effect across the country. Many college towns, such as Chapel Hill, NC, Palo Alto, CA, and Fort Collins, CO, have adopted stormwater utilities. If adopted here, the fee will begin in 2010 and will be included in your property tax bill. Single-family residential properties are charged a flat monthly fee based on zoning district, and all other, non-residential properties are charged based on the amount of impervious cover. Please see the proposed fee schedule below.
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Designation
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Stormwater Fee
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Single-family Residential Zones
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RD - One Family Detached and Semi-Detached
Minimum lot area - 6,250 square feet
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$1.42/month
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RS - One-Family Detached
Minimum lot area - 9,000 square feet
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$1.67/month
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RT - One-Family Detached
Minimum lot area - 15,000 square feet
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$2.00/month
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RH - One-Family Detached
Minimum lot area - 21,780 square feet
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$2.58/month
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Multifamily Residential, University, Business, Manufacturing, Industrial, Office
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$5.00/1000 sq. ft. of impervious surface annually
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