The reason that you receive a stormwater utility bill is not because of the water itself. It is because of the silt, oil, gasoline, fertilizers, pesticides and other litter that is carried by the stormwater to the drainage systems that have been developed to prevent flooding during heavy rainfall. Stormwater drains not only have to remove water from the streets as quickly as possible, but they now also have to deal will all of the contaminants that get picked up along the way.
The stormwater utility was established in 1991 to solve the problem of polluted storm water and to improve the drainage capability of areas that are susceptible to flooding. Because of continuous urban growth and boundless development, the “open space” in Miami-Dade County is being reduced. The buildings, streets, and parking lots become a barrier to rainwater, limiting the ability of water to soak into the ground and recharge our aquifer. Special structures need to be built to drain these areas. The stormwater utility fee provides a funding source for the various drainage projects that are needed in Miami-Dade County.
How Your Stormwater Utility Bill Is Calculated
The Stormwater Utility uses an engineering approach to determine its fee structure. Instead of tacking the fee to everyone’s property tax, the Utility determines the size of a given property that is “impervious” to rainwater and calculates the fee based on that figure. That way, the Stormwater Utility is charging a fee based on the runoff generated from those impervious surfaces (like rooftops and parking lots), since this runoff is what the Stormwater Utility is going to have to handle.
The Utility conducted a statistical analysis to establish an “Equivalent Residential Unit” for residential properties. The value of one ERU is set at 1,548 square feet and incurs a charge of $4.00 per month for residential homes. The $4.00 a month Utility fee is one of the lowest rates in the State of Florida.
Commercial, industrial, and other non-residential properties are calculated using the same ERU concept, but account for the exact footage of a facility and all impervious surfaces when determining the total monthly stormwater fee.
To determine the Stormwater Utility fee for non-residential properties, take the total square footage of the property’s impervious surfaces, divide by 1,548 (the size of one ERU) and multiply by $4.00 (the cost of one ERU). "As an example, a non-residential property with a total impervious area of 4,644 square feet would pay $12.00 per month in Stormwater Utility fees. 4,644 / 1,548 X $4.00 = $12.00"
Why charge me?
Some people may ask why they have to pay a stormwater utility fee when their property never floods during storms. The reason being that your stormwater utility fee aids in stormwater drainage improvements for the whole County, not just your property. Your contribution helps to enhance the drainage ability for roadways, making it easier for you and others to travel throughout the county in all but the heaviest of rainstorms. < br>
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