What are the problems?

In Greater Cleveland, there is not a collective effort among the communities or agencies to reduce the detrimental impact of stormwater on the entire region. The result: an increase in flooded streets, sewers, and basements, erosion of our streams and creeks, and more pollutants (including litter, lawn chemicals, and oils) entering our local streams, rivers, and Lake Erie.

Why is regional stormwater management necessary?

Regional stormwater problems are numerous and difficult to solve. By implementing a regional stormwater management program, the flooding and erosion issues can effectively be addressed. Additionally, stormwater management can be used to reduce the pollutants from stormwater while protecting our natural resources. If these issues are not addressed today, the problems will continue to get worse and will be more costly to solve in the future.

Why should I care about stormwater issues?

Clean water is one of our region's most valuable resources. It affects your quality of life, your property values, and your community. Protecting our clean water is not something that can be done by one person or one community alone. A regional stormwater management program is a critical component in protecting our clean water.

What is being done now to manage stormwater?

Some individual communities are taking steps to reduce the impacts of stormwater. However, each community can only work within their own boundaries and borders to solve problems. This is problematic because the issue is regional in that much of the flow from one community drains into another community. Adding to the problem is that there is not a regional agency coordinating stormwater efforts between all communities.

Why should the Sewer District coordinate and lead the regional stormwater management effort?

The District has been the leader in clean water for 35 years, protecting the environment and the health of over 1 million residents in 62 Greater Cleveland communities. As an established regional organization, the District is uniquely positioned to address the issues of stormwater because the problems most often stretch across community boundaries requiring multi-jurisdictional solutions and coordination.

How would we pay for this?

Since there are no dedicated federal funds available, local communities and wastewater treatment agencies are 100% financially responsible for funding stormwater programs. Monies can be obtained through a dedicated stormwater fee, which are typically based on the amount of impervious surfaces, such as pavement and rooftops.

In an effort to assess a fair and reasonable fee, those with more impervious surfaces, like shopping malls, will be charged with a higher "impervious" fee. In short, those who pave more will pay more. Credits reducing the fee will be considered to recognize individual efforts made to reduce a property's impact.

Are other cities charging for stormwater?

Yes, there are about 800 cities around the country and many cities and counties in Ohio, including Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Lake County who assess a dedicated stormwater fee.

Couldn't the current sewer bill charges pay for the stormwater programs?

Our current sewer bills are related to treating water from homes and businesses. These monies can not be used to fix the flooding and erosion problems across our service areaement Program will address.

What is the difference between the stormwater management program and $3 billion Project Clean Lake? Don't they both have to do with the amount of rainwater entering the sewer system?

Send us your questions.