This section provides answers to anticipated frequently asked questions that customers may ask City staff regarding the stormwater utility. The section has been arranged into general topic areas and provides staff guidance for where to begin searching for answers. It is important that staff provide responses to the public in a consistent manner. This helps maintain the public’s trust and support for the stormwater program. 

If a customer’s question or inquiry cannot be answered by City staff with the provided information, the customer should be referred to the City stormwater manager. It is then the responsibility of the stormwater manager to resolve the issue with the customer. 

The stormwater manager’s contact information is as follows: 

Wade Burcham, PE (click to email)
Stormwater Utility Manager 

You can also download the Customer Service Manual for a full overview.

General Stormwater 

Q: What is stormwater runoff? 

A: Stormwater runoff results from rainfall that is not absorbed by the surfaces it contacts and flows over yards, streets, parking lots, buildings, rooftops, and other surfaces during and after rainfall events and ultimately flows to local ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers. 

Q: How does stormwater runoff get into local ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers? 

A: Stormwater runoff flows into nearby natural or manmade stormwater systems including catch basins, pipes, ditches, and channels and ultimately flows to local ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers. 

Q: Why should we be concerned with stormwater runoff? 

A: Stormwater runoff from developed areas can result in property damage and compromised roadways due to drainage and flooding problems. Stormwater runoff can also pick up or dissolve pollutants found on the ground surface. When discharged to local lakes, river, and streams, this stormwater runoff can degrade natural waterbodies, result in fish kills due to increased nutrient, impair water quality, or result in other conditions potentially harmful to humans or the environment. 

Q: How will this stormwater utility program address stormwater related problems? 

A: The stormwater utility will create a dedicated funding source that is earmarked for stormwater management program to address maintenance and implement capital improvement projects within the stormwater system. The stormwater user fee was set at a level to allow the City to make consistent, gradual improvements over time (as opposed to setting high fee to address all problems at once). The City has identified numerous capital improvement projects; however, a lack of funding previously has prevented the City from implementing these projects. The fee will allow the City to begin addressing these capital improvement projects. 

Q: How much does the stormwater management program cost? 

A: A preliminary stormwater management program budget has been prepared including estimates for maintenance and repair costs, capital improvement costs, and annual expenditures. The estimated costs for the capital improvement projects are estimated to be $1,950,000. The total estimated maintenance and repair cost is $2,387,550 and the total estimated annual expenditures is $101,000. 

The stormwater utility has been developed to allow the City to gradually and consistently address the repairs and maintenance and implement the capital improvement projects. For instance, approximately $75,000 annual would be reserved for maintenance and repairs to the existing stormwater system. Capital improvement projects would be implemented when sufficient funds from the utility are available. 

Q: How does the City fund the stormwater management program? 

A: The City maintains a stormwater utility which collects funds via stormwater fees. All developed properties, except those which are exempt, are charged a stormwater fee. The funds generated from the stormwater utility are dedicated to funding the stormwater management program. 

User Fees 

Q: What is a stormwater fee and why am I being charged for it? 

A: A stormwater fee is a fee charged to properties based on the total impervious area present on the property and the impact/demand the property places on the City’s stormwater management system. The stormwater fees fund the City’s stormwater management program. All developed properties (except those exempt) are charged a stormwater fee due to the impact/demand the stormwater runoff form the property places on the stormwater system. 

Q: What properties pay the stormwater fee? 

A: All developed properties with impervious surfaces (except those properties which are exempt) pay the stormwater fee because impervious surfaces are primarily responsible for increased stormwater runoff which impact and increase demand on the City’s stormwater management system. 

Q: Why was a stormwater user fee chosen to fund the stormwater program? 

A: According to the GAEPD, a stormwater utility is considered the most fair, equitable, and stable method for funding a local stormwater program services that provide a benefit to all property owners. The stormwater fee method distributes the cost of providing services fairly to all property owners that utilize the stormwater management system. Additionally, credits are available for reducing the fee (an option not available if a tax was implemented). 

Q: What is the funding generated through the stormwater user fee used for? 

A: The funds are used only for equipment and activities that are related to stormwater management in the City including repair and maintenance of the existing system, implementation of capital improvement projects, regulatory compliance, and pollution prevention. Funds generated via the stormwater user fee is dedicated only to stormwater management and cannot be utilized for any other purpose. 

Q: How is the stormwater user fee determined? 

A: The stormwater user fee is determined based on the impervious area of a property because the amount of impervious area affects the amount of stormwater runoff to the City’s stormwater system. Impervious area is a measure of the extent to which a property is using the City’s stormwater system. 

Q: Is this a tax? 

A: No. Although an additional cost to property owners, it is not a tax on the value of a property. All properties with impervious surface will be charged a stormwater fee (unless exempt). Further, properties that are considered exempt from property taxes (churches, schools, etc.) are charged a stormwater fee. Further, credits are available to customers to reduce or eliminate the stormwater user fee. 

Q: Why am I paying if I have no issues on my property? 

A: The stormwater runoff from your property, while it may be draining off your property, may contribute to downstream flooding or pollution. Additional local roadways need to be maintained so they don’t increase drainage problems or are impacted by floods. The stormwater utility is designed so all owners of developed properties contribute to the maintenance and operation of the City stormwater system regardless if problems are observed near your home or neighborhood. 

Q: Why do I have to pay if stormwater runoff at my property runs directly into the ground or a creek and I am not using the City stormwater system? 

A: Proper maintenance and operation of the City stormwater system benefits everyone. Stormwater runoff from a property ultimately contributes to part of the stormwater system. Further, you may be benefiting from stormwater services performed upstream of your property, therefore developed property owners must contribute to the maintenance and operation of the stormwater system. 

Q: How was the stormwater management program funded prior to the stormwater user fee? 

A: Property tax dollars from the General Fund, which also funds other City services including police, fire protection, recreation, etc. 

Q: How do our stormwater rate compare to other municipalities? 

A: The average rate among Georgia municipalities is $4.25 compared to $2.00 for the City of Rincon. Stormwater utility rates for local municipalities are provided below:

Municipality - Monthly Stormwater Utility Rate/ERU 

Brunswick - $3.95 

Garden City - $4.75 

Hinesville - $4.25 

Richmond Hill - $4.75 

Statesboro - $3.95 

Billing and Payment 

Q: Who is required to pay the stormwater user fee? 

A: All developed properties in the City are required to pay the stormwater user fee. The fee appears on the water/sewer bill. The following properties are exempt from the stormwater user fee: 

• Properties that have less than 500 (500) square feet of impervious surfaces 

• Linear railroad rights-of-way (i.e. tracks, rails, rail bed) outside of the defined rail yard limits shall be exempt from stormwater user fee charges. 

• City of Rincon streets and rights-of-way shall be exempt from stormwater user fee charges. 

• Effingham County roads and rights-of-way on the county road system located within the city limits shall be exempt from stormwater user fee charges inasmuch as Effingham County has legal responsibility to perform all drainage system maintenance and capital construction activities with respect to such roads and rights-of-way.

• Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) highways, federal interstates, and rights-of-way on the state highway system within the city limits shall be exempt from stormwater user fee charges. 

Q: How is the stormwater user fee determined? 

A: The stormwater fee is based on a measure of the demand that each property places on the stormwater system, which is determined based on the amount of impervious surface on a property. The more impervious surface on a property, the higher the demand on the stormwater system, therefore a higher fee. The City has determined that one equivalent residential unit is 3,000 square feet of impervious area (the median impervious area for single family residential properties in the City. 

All single family residential properties are assigned a flat rate of (one) 1 equivalent residential unit (ERU), and the fee for one (1) ERU is $2.00 per month. Non-single family residential properties are charged a stormwater user fee based on a measurement of the impervious area of the property as determined using satellite imagery. For example, a property with 30,000 square feet of impervious area would have 10 ERUs, and the monthly stormwater fee would be $20.00 per month. 

Q: How was the amount of impervious area determined for each property? 

A: Satellite imagery was used to determine the impervious area for all on-single family residential parcels within the City. A 15% representative sample of all single family residential parcels was evaluated to determine the median impervious area of these properties and establish the equivalent residential unit (ERU). The result established an ERU of 3,000 square feet of impervious area. 

The amount of impervious area for all non-single family residential properties is stored in the City’s stormwater billing database 

Q: What is a single-family residential property? 

A: All properties containing one residential structure with no more than two dwelling units in or attached thereto, situated upon a single lot of record are categorized as SFR. SFR properties shall not include improved property containing structures used primarily for nonresidential purposes and as defined herein; manufactured homes located within manufactured home parks where the land is owned by someone other than the owners of the manufactured homes; residential condominium developments with more than two units; or vacant/undeveloped property. 

All SFR properties are assigned a flat rate bill of one (1.0) ERU. 

Q: How are multi-family residential properties, such as condominiums, billed?? 

A: All parcels within multi-family developments are classified as NSFR. The impervious surface of the entire development was determined and the billing fee for the entire development is split evenly between the units and included on the units water bill. 

Q: What properties are not considered single family residential? 

A: Most common properties that are not SFR include, but are not limited to, businesses, industries, churches, multi-family residential, parking lots, and roadways. 

Q: What is an equivalent residential unit (ERU) 

A: An ERU is equal to the median amount of impervious surface one would expect on a typical single family residential property in the City. The median amount of impervious surface of SFR properties in the City was determined to be 3,000 square feet of impervious area. As such, one (1) ERU is equal to 3,000 square feet of impervious surface. 

All SFR properties are assigned one (1) ERU and charged flat fee of $2.00 per month. Non-single family residential properties are charged based on the ERUs calculated on their property. For example, a property with 30,000 square feet of impervious area would have 10 ERUs (30,000 square feet / 3,000) and the monthly stormwater fee would be $20.00 per month. 

Q: Why are all SFR properties are being billed the same rate when some houses are bigger than others? 

A: Significant time and money would be needed to determine, collect, and maintain the data for all single family residential properties in the City. All SFR properties were placed into a single category in order to be able to spend the stormwater fees on improving and maintaining the stormwater system; where the funds are needed most. 

Q: What is the billing period for the stormwater user fee? 

A: The Water/Sewer department sends bills on a monthly basis; therefore, the billing period will be once every month. 

Q: How was the stormwater user fee for my NSFR property determined? 

A: The calculation is not difficult, but it is easier to send the customer an example calculation in mail or email, rather than try to explain it over the phone. Take the name, property address, mailing address, and email address and offer to send the fee calculation to them 

Credits 

Q: Is anyone exempt from paying a stormwater user fee? 

A: All developed properties, including tax exempt properties are charged the stormwater user fee except for the following properties: 

• Properties that have less than 500 (500) square feet of impervious surfaces 

• Linear railroad rights-of-way (i.e. tracks, rails, rail bed) outside of the defined rail yard limits shall be exempt from stormwater user fee charges. 

• City of Rincon streets and rights-of-way shall be exempt from stormwater user fee charges. 

• Effingham County roads and rights-of-way on the county road system located within the city limits shall be exempt from stormwater user fee charges inasmuch as Effingham County has legal responsibility to perform all drainage system maintenance and capital construction activities with respect to such roads and rights-of-way. 

• Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) highways, federal interstates, and rights-of-way on the state highway system within the city limits shall be exempt from stormwater user fee charges. 

Q: What is a credit against the stormwater fee? 

A: A credit is a reduction in the stormwater fee for specific stormwater management activities to reduce their impact/demand on the City’s stormwater management services and the associated costs that would otherwise be expended by the City stormwater management system. The rationale behind the credits is to encourage property owners to reduce their dependency on, and contribution to, the City stormwater system. 

Q: Who is eligible for a credit? 

A: Credits are available to property owners who implement specific stormwater management activities on their property, as described in the Stormwater Utility Credit Manual (available on the City website). The property owner must complete an application and supply the appropriate documentation as described in the Stormwater utility Credit Manual 

Q: How do I apply for a credit? 

A: Policies and procedures for credit applications are outlined in the Stormwater Utility Credit Manual available on the City website. 

Complaints and Issues 

Q: What should I do if I have a stormwater problem to report? 

A: Please contact the City’s stormwater manager at 912-656-8150. 

Q: What do I do if I think my stormwater fee is not calculated correctly? 

A: If you are questing the fee for your single-family residential property, it should be $2.00 per month. If you are questing your non-single family residential property, please provide the property address and account number shown on the bill. 

City staff should verify the impervious area and the stormwater fee in the billing database and advise the customer of the ERU and user fee information recorded in the system. If the caller disputes the calculation, please have them contact the stormwater manager at 912-656-8150. 

Q: Why is my tax exempt property required to pay? 

A: The stormwater utility is based on the demand developed property places on the City stormwater system. Therefore, all developed properties in the City are required to pay the stormwater fee regardless of ownership or tax exempt status because they contribute stormwater runoff to the City stormwater system. The stormwater user fee is not a tax. 

Q: Why if property owner refuses to pay the stormwater user fee? 

A: The stormwater user fee is set up therefore, developed property owners share equitably in the stormwater management costs. The City will take appropriate legal action to collect any current and/or past due stormwater user fees associated with the property. 

Q: Why is the stormwater user fee on the water and sewer bill? 

A: Similar to the water and sewer fees, the stormwater user fee is a user fee. For convenience and cost savings purposes, the City made decision to consolidate user fees and place the stormwater user fee on the same bill as water and sewer.