None of my water goes into the storm drains; why do I have to pay a stormwater utility fee?
Eventually all basins drain to the Mississippi River and Rock River, even if it is only the rainwater caught in your or your neighbor's backyard or ravine. Your property is also likely to generate runoff in a severe rain storm, even if the ground absorbs it during normal events.

In any event, you always benefit from adequate, properly-functioning drainage and flood control systems which decrease the likelihood of flooding, erosion, and unlimited pollutants from surface and stormwater runoff. You also benefit from the regulation and monitoring of the properties above and around you. Finally, efforts to monitor and protect the river provide benefits to everyone.

If you have any questions, please contact the Engineering Department.

Show All Answers

1. Why does stormwater have to be managed?
2. What is a stormwater utility?
3. Why is the stormwater utility fee needed?
4. Who pays the stormwater utility fee? Why should churches, schools, and other non-profit organizations be charged a stormwater fee?
5. Under the new Stormwater Rate structure, how are properties with multiple renters handled?
6. What are the current stormwater utility rates?
7. How much will my rates increase?
8. Why a rate increase is required?
9. Can we delay the rate increase?
10. Can we implement a smaller rate increase?
11. Why are the new capital improvements required?
12. How do nearby municipalities handle stormwater charges?
13. How does a fee differ from a tax?
14. None of my water goes into the storm drains; why do I have to pay a stormwater utility fee?
15. What can nonresidential customers do if they think their bill may be calculated incorrectly?
16. I live on the edge of the city and water on my property drains away from streets and public drainage structures; why do I have to pay this fee?