What is stormwater?

HOW MUCH will the Program cost?

A stormwater utility is based on the premise that the urban drainage system is a public system, similar to water or wastewater systems. When a demand is placed on these sys­tems, the user pays.

When a forested or grassy area is paved, a greater flow of water enters the drainage system. The greater the de­mand created (i.e. the more the parcel of land is paved), the greater the user fee.

Residential Properties The stormwater user fee is based on an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) equal to 3,000 sq. ft. of impervious surface (such as roof and driveway). The approved rate for one (1) ERU is $5.05 per month.

Residences are placed in one of three categories: • Small (less than 2,000 sq. ft.)

• Medium (2,000 to 4,000 sq. ft.)

• Large (more than 4,000 sq. ft.)

A small house pays $3.03 per month, a medium house pays $5.05 per month, and a large house pays $9.09 per month.

Non-residential Properties A typical non-residential property is billed on the number of ERUs of impervious surface it has.

Credits Customers can receive a reduction in fees if they take measures to reduce the stormwater volume or minimize the pollutants flowing from their properties. These can include on-site practices that keep stormwater at its source, including:

Rain Gardens are

landscaped areas built in a depression that capture and filter stormwater runoff from a roof or other surface.

What is

stormwater?

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

Stormwater Management Program

ON-SITE STORMWATER STORAGE

includes rain barrels, cisterns, rain bladders, or other devices approved by the District.

Roof + parking lot = 120,000 sq. ft. = 40 ERUs

(minus any credits) PERVIOUS PAVEMENT can

In this example, the amount of paved surface is 40 times the size of one ERU, so the fee is based on 40 ERUs. So if the fee is $5.05 per ERU, the monthly bill to this property would be 40 x $5.05 = $202 (minus any credits).

Roof + driveway = 3,000 sq. ft. impervious surface = 1 Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU)

brochure_updated053012_spreads.i1 1

be used for driveways and patios.

A stone reservoir underneath stores surface runoff before infiltrating it into the soil below.

Credit also can be obtained if an applicant removes 500 sq. ft. or more of existing paved surface and replaces it with a vegetated, pervious surface.

For more information, contact: Betsy Yingling, Manager of Watershed Technical Support yinglingb@neorsd.org

neorsd.org/stormwater

• What are the problems?

• How can we address them?

• What are the costs?

facebook.com/yoursewerdistrict

5/30/2012 10:26:03 AM

WHY do we need a Stormwater Management Program?

flooding

THE INABILITY to effectively deal with stormwater results in flooded homes and streets, more pollutants entering our waterways, and serious erosion problems.

EROSION Streambank erosion threatening Warner Road in Garfield Heights Flooding of Interstate 77 in Cuyahoga Heights

Stormwater

As stormwater flows over the ground, it picks up debris, chemicals, and pollutants that can contaminate our drinking and recreational water supply.

problems are

real.

Across our region, pavement has replaced the natural green spaces that once slowed the pace of stormwater runoff (rain and melted snow and ice). Roads, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks can’t absorb water, so it moves quickly over these surfaces into nearby streams or sewers.

Streambank erosion alongside homes near Chippewa Creek in Broadview Heights

POLLUTION Problems like these require planning, modeling, construction, and innovative green practices like bioretention and stream restoration.

An established regional organization, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is joining more than 1,000 communities— including Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo—that have created user fees to support stormwater programs.

WHAT will the Program do?

The District will build projects and perform maintenance in streams and in the large pipes that carry stormwater.* We will maintain our rigorous water-quality monitoring activities.

We can provide the technical expertise to integrate multiple objectives (such as flood reduction, green space development, and stormwater pollution reduction) that benefit each other.

brochure_updated053012_spreads.i2 2

Solving stormwater problems can be difficult, since runoff from one community drains into another. A regional approach is needed.

Stormwater problems must be addressed regionally, and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District has the experience to manage them.

To address regional drainage problems, we will expand watershed planning and floodplain management support.

Chronic backyard flooding along Bishop Road in Highland Heights

Unlike residential wastewater (from toilets, showers, and sinks) that is filtered through a wastewater treatment facility, anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged directly into local streams and eventually Lake Erie.

We will coordinate educational programs that promote awareness of the importance of healthy watersheds, and develop regional partnerships to address the problems that cross community borders and boundaries.

When possible, the regional program will promote on-site, green alternatives to traditional “pipe and pond” practices. Bioretention, floodplain restoration, vegetated swales, pervious pavement, and other low-impact development practices will be priorities.

Fewer flooding incidents, healthier waterways, and a better quality of life for Greater Cleveland are the goals of the District’s Stormwater Management Program.

terms to know: Bioretention A shallow, vegetated depression (a rain garden, for example) that filters and stores stormwater.

ERU Equivalent Residential Unit.

Under the District’s program, one (1) ERU equals 3,000 sq. ft. of impervious surface.

Floodplain Land next to a river or stream that experiences flooding.

Impervious surface An artificial structure, like pavement or a rooftop, that cannot absorb or hold water.

Low-impact development Planning and engineering approaches that maintain, restore, or enhance pre-development flow patterns in watersheds.

Stormwater Rainwater and melted snow or ice that flows downhill to streams and the lake.

Vegetated swale A shallow channel, densely lined with vegetation to remove silt and pollution, promote infiltration, and slow runoff.

Watershed The area of land that drains into a common body of water.

Healthy watersheds provide drinking water and water for irrigation, industry, and recreation.

* The District’s program focuses on large regional problems. Catch basins * and small sewers will remain the responsibility of local communities.

5/30/2012 10:26:09 AM

WHY do we need a Stormwater Management Program?

flooding

THE INABILITY to effectively deal with stormwater results in flooded homes and streets, more pollutants entering our waterways, and serious erosion problems.

EROSION Streambank erosion threatening Warner Road in Garfield Heights Flooding of Interstate 77 in Cuyahoga Heights

Stormwater

As stormwater flows over the ground, it picks up debris, chemicals, and pollutants that can contaminate our drinking and recreational water supply.

problems are

real.

Across our region, pavement has replaced the natural green spaces that once slowed the pace of stormwater runoff (rain and melted snow and ice). Roads, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks can’t absorb water, so it moves quickly over these surfaces into nearby streams or sewers.

Streambank erosion alongside homes near Chippewa Creek in Broadview Heights

POLLUTION Problems like these require planning, modeling, construction, and innovative green practices like bioretention and stream restoration.

An established regional organization, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is joining more than 1,000 communities— including Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo—that have created user fees to support stormwater programs.

WHAT will the Program do?

The District will build projects and perform maintenance in streams and in the large pipes that carry stormwater.* We will maintain our rigorous water-quality monitoring activities.

We can provide the technical expertise to integrate multiple objectives (such as flood reduction, green space development, and stormwater pollution reduction) that benefit each other.

brochure_updated053012_spreads.i2 2

Solving stormwater problems can be difficult, since runoff from one community drains into another. A regional approach is needed.

Stormwater problems must be addressed regionally, and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District has the experience to manage them.

To address regional drainage problems, we will expand watershed planning and floodplain management support.

Chronic backyard flooding along Bishop Road in Highland Heights

Unlike residential wastewater (from toilets, showers, and sinks) that is filtered through a wastewater treatment facility, anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged directly into local streams and eventually Lake Erie.

We will coordinate educational programs that promote awareness of the importance of healthy watersheds, and develop regional partnerships to address the problems that cross community borders and boundaries.

When possible, the regional program will promote on-site, green alternatives to traditional “pipe and pond” practices. Bioretention, floodplain restoration, vegetated swales, pervious pavement, and other low-impact development practices will be priorities.

Fewer flooding incidents, healthier waterways, and a better quality of life for Greater Cleveland are the goals of the District’s Stormwater Management Program.

terms to know: Bioretention A shallow, vegetated depression (a rain garden, for example) that filters and stores stormwater.

ERU Equivalent Residential Unit.

Under the District’s program, one (1) ERU equals 3,000 sq. ft. of impervious surface.

Floodplain Land next to a river or stream that experiences flooding.

Impervious surface An artificial structure, like pavement or a rooftop, that cannot absorb or hold water.

Low-impact development Planning and engineering approaches that maintain, restore, or enhance pre-development flow patterns in watersheds.

Stormwater Rainwater and melted snow or ice that flows downhill to streams and the lake.

Vegetated swale A shallow channel, densely lined with vegetation to remove silt and pollution, promote infiltration, and slow runoff.

Watershed The area of land that drains into a common body of water.

Healthy watersheds provide drinking water and water for irrigation, industry, and recreation.

* The District’s program focuses on large regional problems. Catch basins * and small sewers will remain the responsibility of local communities.

5/30/2012 10:26:09 AM

HOW MUCH will the Program cost?

A stormwater utility is based on the premise that the urban drainage system is a public system, similar to water or wastewater systems. When a demand is placed on these sys­tems, the user pays.

When a forested or grassy area is paved, a greater flow of water enters the drainage system. The greater the de­mand created (i.e. the more the parcel of land is paved), the greater the user fee.

Residential Properties The stormwater user fee is based on an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) equal to 3,000 sq. ft. of impervious surface (such as roof and driveway). The approved rate for one (1) ERU is $5.05 per month.

Residences are placed in one of three categories: • Small (less than 2,000 sq. ft.)

• Medium (2,000 to 4,000 sq. ft.)

• Large (more than 4,000 sq. ft.)

A small house pays $3.03 per month, a medium house pays $5.05 per month, and a large house pays $9.09 per month.

Non-residential Properties A typical non-residential property is billed on the number of ERUs of impervious surface it has.

Credits Customers can receive a reduction in fees if they take measures to reduce the stormwater volume or minimize the pollutants flowing from their properties. These can include on-site practices that keep stormwater at its source, including:

Rain Gardens are

landscaped areas built in a depression that capture and filter stormwater runoff from a roof or other surface.

What is

stormwater?

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

Stormwater Management Program

ON-SITE STORMWATER STORAGE

includes rain barrels, cisterns, rain bladders, or other devices approved by the District.

Roof + parking lot = 120,000 sq. ft. = 40 ERUs

(minus any credits) PERVIOUS PAVEMENT can

In this example, the amount of paved surface is 40 times the size of one ERU, so the fee is based on 40 ERUs. So if the fee is $5.05 per ERU, the monthly bill to this property would be 40 x $5.05 = $202 (minus any credits).

Roof + driveway = 3,000 sq. ft. impervious surface = 1 Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU)

brochure_updated053012_spreads.i1 1

be used for driveways and patios.

A stone reservoir underneath stores surface runoff before infiltrating it into the soil below.

Credit also can be obtained if an applicant removes 500 sq. ft. or more of existing paved surface and replaces it with a vegetated, pervious surface.

For more information, contact: Betsy Yingling, Manager of Watershed Technical Support yinglingb@neorsd.org

neorsd.org/stormwater

• What are the problems?

• How can we address them?

• What are the costs?

facebook.com/yoursewerdistrict

5/30/2012 10:26:03 AM