What Is Storm Water and Why Does It Matter?
Storm water is water that falls as rain. When rain water falls on forested or open areas, much of this water soaks into, or infiltrates, the ground. When a house, building or road has been constructed on a piece of property, much of the rain water that used to infiltrate now runs off paved (impervious) surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks and parking lots, down storm drains and into local rivers. The excess runoff can result in localized drainage problems or flooding if not properly managed.
Storm water runoff also carries pollutants with it into local waterways, such as oil, grease, chemicals, sediment or anything else on the ground. Unlike waste water that leaves homes and businesses through the sanitary sewer system and is treated before being released, water that enters the storm drain system is never treated or filtered. Thus, anything that is dumped down a storm drain goes directly into local rivers.
What StormWaterProblemsDoesClermontCounty Have?
Drainage and flooding problems are widespread through ClermontCounty, and the number of problem areas isincreasing. Such problems result from a combination of continued growth, poorly drained soils, aging storm sewers and inefficient storm sewer system management in past years.
More Pavement Means More Storm Water
ClermontCounty has grown at a rapid rate over recent years, and this growth has put a tremendous stress on the system of drainage ditches, pipes, streams and rivers that carry storm water runoff. As more impervious surface is added in the form of roads, parking lots and buildings, more storm water is added to the system. As a result, many of the ditches and pipes that could handle the runoff prior to development are now undersized, which can lead to localized flooding as well as severe erosion problems along ditches and streams.
Clay Soils Don’t Help
Most of ClermontCounty has clay soils which contribute to drainage problems. Clay soils have a very low permeability, meaning that they drain very poorly. This can cause problems, particularly in areas that are very flat. Because the water does not run off or soak into the soils very well, residents in these areas may fight with standing water for days and weeks after a storm.
Aging Storm Water Infrastructure
Parts of the county also face problems with aging and deteriorating storm sewer systems in older developments. Pipes, catch basins and manholes that were installed 30 years ago or more are beginning to reach (or have reached) their life expectancy. When these fail, they cause or contribute to the excessive flooding and drainage problems that plague ClermontCounty. In the absence of an effective maintenance and repair program, the number of these problems grow over time.
History of Storm Water Management in ClermontCounty
Prior to the creation of the District, there was no single entity in place to manage a storm water system that known no political boundaries. Each local government did its best to manage its own portion of the drainage system – the system of ditches and pipes draining local roads – while each property owner made their own attempts to control storm water on their land. In most cases, little consideration was given to the system as a whole. The result was ineffective management of an interconnected system, which in turn contributed to the large number of storm water-related problems ClermontCounty has today.
Who’s Responsible for Fixing the Problems?
Many people are unaware that if problems exist on private property, it is the property owner’s responsibility to make the needed corrections. Local townships, villages and the CountyEngineercontinue to maintain the drainage system along their respective roads, but do not have the authority to conduct work on private property. In many instances, resolving drainage or flooding problems on private property can be quite complex and costly. In worst case scenarios, such problems remain unsolved because they are too costly for homeowners to correct, or it is impossible for homeowners to address because the problems on their property originate upstream.
Improving Water Quality and the Ohio EPA Mandate
When it storms, runoff from parking lots, construction sites, farm land and even open ground carries pollutants into nearby streams and lakes. Ohio EPA now mandates that “urban” governments – including 15 local governments in ClermontCounty – take action to reduce pollution from storm water runoff. The areas in ClermontCounty regulated by Ohio EPA are shown in Figure__.
To meet the EPA requirements, the regulated communities must develop, implement and enforce a Storm Water Management Plan that addresses EPA’s six minimum measures, shown (above/below/…).
ClermontCounty is fortunate to have some very high quality streams, including the Little Miami River, the East Fork and Stonelick Creek, and these resources need to be protected. The EPA program is designed to help improve the quality of our streams; however, there are significant costs related to this unfunded mandate.
Ohio EPA’s Six “Minimum Measures” (perhaps a sidebar?)
- Public Education
- Public Involvement
- Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
- Construction Runoff Control
- Post-Construction Runoff Control
- Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping
What is a Storm Water District and Why Does Clermont Need One?
A storm water district, or utility, is very similar to water, sewer and other utilities that you are familiar with. A utility charges a fee for services provided. In this case, the service is control of storm water runoff through construction, operation and maintenance of a storm water system.
There are two primary reasons the Clermont County Regional Storm Water District was created. First the County had to find a way to meet both current and future requirements of Ohio EPA storm water program, which is meant to reduce the amount of pollution entering streams from storm water runoff. Secondly, there was a great need address regional drainage and flooding problems, as well as a need to manage the system in such a way that new problems are prevented as the county continues to grow.
Mission Statement(perhaps as a sidebar?)
“The storm water program, through the collaboration with other agencies, strives to enhance the quality of life in Clermont County by reducing problems associated with drainage, flooding and infrastructure, and by improving water quality through construction and maintenance of the storm water system, and through the promotion and implementation of effective storm water management practices.” – Clermont County Regional Storm Water District mission statement
What are the Boundaries of the District?
The Regional Storm Water District is not countywide - it provides services within only those communities that must meet Ohio EPA’s storm water requirements. These communities are highlighted in the map on page ___. However, Clermont townships and municipalities that are not required to meet Ohio EPA’s mandate may petition the Board of County Commissioners to join the District at any time.
Who Do I Contact if I Have a Drainage Problem?
It does depend on where the problem is located. If the problem exists along the road, you should contact either the township, the CountyEngineer’s Office, or the Ohio Department of Transportation, depending on who maintains that particular road. Contact information is shown (above/below…)
Contact Information(sidebar perhaps?)
Clermont Storm Water District – (513) 732-7880
Clermont Co. Engineer’s Office – (513) 732-8857
ClermontCo.Building Dept. – (513) 732-7213
Ohio Dept. of Transportation – (513) 797-6008
Townships and Villages – check local numbers
If there is a problem with an active construction site, contact the County’s Building Inspection Department and submit a written complaint. To get a copy of the complaint form, look under “Forms and Handouts” on the Building Department’s web site ( or call the department at 732-7213.
For all other problems, including those on private property, contact the Storm Water District. If the problem is regional in nature, the District will come out and inspect it.
Will the District Correct My Problem?
The District does perform maintenance and conduct capital improvements on regional components of the storm water conveyance system. Before the District initiates any activity, problem areas are evaluated on a case-by case basis, in part to determine if it consistent with the roles and responsibilities of the District. Any improvements on private property will only be done with the property owner’s approval.
The District will always do its best to correct regional problems in a timely manner, but it is important for residents to understand that it is impossible for the District to correct all drainage and flooding problems in the county in just a few years. It is necessary to schedule maintenance activities following a prioritization process that considers such factors as the degree of risk to human health and safety, the magnitude and extent of the flooding and/or drainage problems, potential water quality improvements, the area affected, and the ability to mitigate the problem.
The District also has a capital improvement programs for larger, more costly improvement projects. Proposed capital improvements are reviewed and prioritized by a Project Advisory Board that consists of individuals from each of the local governments within the District to ensure that the concerns of every township and village are represented.
What Other Services Does the District Provide?
One of the most important services the District can provide is the prevention of problems through proper planning and efficient management of the storm water system. As with any piece of infrastructure, the storm water system must be managed in such a way that it keeps pace with growth and development. Through master planning and review of storm water management systems for new developments, the District is able to plan for the future and avoid the problems of the past.
How was the Service Charge Determined?
The first step was to define the level of service the District would provide. Two public advisory groups reviewed potential services, including all the services required to meet EPA regulations and those needed to address drainage and flooding issues, and made recommendations regarding these. Once the services were defined, the cost to provide these services was determined. The service charge was calculated as the fee needed to generate the revenue necessary for the District to provide its stated services.
What Do Single Family Residences Pay?
All single family residential propertiespay a flat monthly fee of $3.81 per month, which appears on the semi-annual property tax bill as a charge of $22.86. Single family residences are defined as: single family homes, two-family homes and duplexes, agricultural properties, and condominiums with individual parcel ID numbers and tax billing accounts.
What Do Other Property Owners Pay?
Any property not classified as a single family residence will pay a fee based directly upon the amount of impervious area on the property. A ClermontCounty study concluded that the average single family residential property contains 4,000 square feet of impervious area. This value is known as the Equivalent Residential Unit or ERU. The monthly storm water rate for non-single family residential properties is $3.81 per ERU per month, or put another way, $3.81 per every 4,000 square feet of impervious area per month.
What is Impervious Area?
When property is improved through buildings, pavement, trafficked gravel, patios and driveways, water is prevented or retarded from getting into the soil. These areas are termed impervious surfaces because they restrict natural infiltration and increase runoff from the property
Example: Non-Residential Rate Calculation
A commercial property owned by ABC Inc. has 40,000 square feet of impervious area. To calculate the monthly service charge for this property:
- Divide the total impervious area by 4,000 square feet to get the number of Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs).
No. of ERUs for ABC Inc. = 40,000/4,000 = 10 ERUs.
- To calculate the monthly service charge, multiply the number of ERUs by the rate.
ABC Inc. Service Charge = 10 ERUs x $3.81 per ERU per month = $38.10 per month.
How Will I Be Billed
After investigating different billing options, two public advisory committees both recommended that the storm water service charge be included on the property tax bill. Because the tax bill is received by almost everyone in the County, and not everyone is a customer of the Water and Sewer District, less “stormwater-only” bills would be needed than if the fees were included on the County’s Water and Sewer bill. Also, the costs and resources needed to maintain the billing database over the long-term are lowest if the property tax bill is used. This will allow the utility to direct more funds to management of the storm sewer system.
Where Does the Money Go?
The money collected through storm water service charges can not be used for any purposes other than those associated with the District’s level of service. Approximately 75 percent of the revenue generated by the District goes to fund inspection, maintenance and capital improvements. Administrative costs account for only four percent of the District’s budget.
Who Do I Contact with a Problem or a Question?
To contact the Clermont County Regional Storm Water District, call (513) 732-7880, or send an email to .