About Us
Our History
The Abilene City Council voted on August 28, 2003 to create a Stormwater Utility Division to assist the City in complying with state and federal regulations regarding water quality protection, and to assure consistent attention to mitigate flooding problems. The newly focused efforts include instituting methods to clean and maintain creeks, which will serve to protect the quality of runoff, as well as reduce the impact of the associated volumes. Water in West Texas is a valuable resource that must be protected from pollutants at all costs.
Designated employees and equipment from the city’s Streets and Drainage Services Division were transferred to the Stormwater Utility Division. Functions and positions - such as creek maintenance, street sweeping and cleanup - that prevent pollution to our water supply will be dedicated to stormwater issues and projects. Also included is the development of a capital reserve to work towards long term, potentially large-scale projects that will address flood and stormwater runoff issues.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Discharge Permit
The City of Abilene was issued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Discharge Permit for its municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) in September of 1998. In response to the issuance of the permit, the City has implemented numerous Best Management Practices (BMP’s) in City Departments to help minimize stormwater pollution. These BMP’s include responsible ways for dealing with chemicals and other materials which may have a negative impact on water quality as well as training of City employees in how they can perform their daily tasks in a way that will minimize the potential for polluting our local waterways.
Later, The City of Abilene renewed the NPDES permit with a Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), which has acquired regulating authority from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Fees
Stormwater Utility Fee
The stormwater utility is a monthly user fee that pays for maintenance, improvements to the stormwater drainage system and other stormwater program activities. This fee is similar to other utility fees for water, sewer, and garbage.
Stormwater utility rates are included on users monthly water bill and are shown on this schedule under Water Bill Commercial or Water Bill Residential, as appropriate.
- Square Feet (Square footage is calculated on all impervious cover; i.e. roof, asphalt, concrete, patio, sheds, barns, etc.)
- Parcel: Contiguous properties under the same ownership that is not separated by property owned by another or separated by public right or way (street, alley, easement)
Residential Fees
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Tier 1: less than or equal to 1,280 square feet | $3 |
| Tier 2: 1,281 to 2,880 square feet | $4 |
| Tier 3: 2,881 to 3,500 | $4.75 |
| Tier 4: greater than 3,500 square feet | $5.75 |
Commercial Fees
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Per Square Foot: per month, per property parcel (rate times area) | $0.00080 |
| Minimum Monthly Rate: per parcel (9,088 square feet or less) | $7.50 |
| Maximum Monthly Rate: per parcel (90,808 square feet or more) | $73 |
Environmental Charge
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Environmental Charge: Stormwater Utility’s share for every water bill account | $1.50 |
Stormwater Management Program
The City of Abilene, as part of its regulatory and public responsibilities, must develop a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP). The SWMP was created to meet the regulatory requirements of the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Phase I Rule. The program is mandated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in an effort to improve the quality of storm water discharged to public water bodies. The Stormwater Management Program document outlines the City’s approach to address any impacts to water quality.