PWD will now relate a property's burden on the sewer system directly to its stormwater charge by using the property's individual characteristics as the basis for this fee. We do this by using Geographic Information Systems technology, or high-tech mapping software, to measure a property's gross area and impervious area. Impervious area is classified as any surface that prevents water from soaking into the ground. Once we know a property's gross and impervious area, we use this formula to calculate the stormwater charge:
Stormwater Charge = (Gross Area Rate * Gross Area of Property) +
(Impervious Area Rate * Impervious Area of Property)
To lessen the burden on customers who will see an increase in their bill, we are phasing in the new charge over a period of four years. The breakdown for each phase-in year is as follows:
