Stormwater Financing
The City of Windsor is changing how it calculates the stormwater component of the sewer surcharge.
Currently, the sewer surcharge funds both wastewater and stormwater services in Windsor. In 2021, City Council approved the Stormwater Financing Study recommendation to separate the sewer surcharge into two different fee structures: wastewater and stormwater. This will improve the management and maintenance of our stormwater system to prevent flooding of homes, businesses, schools, and roads; and reduce pollutants from entering our waterways.
Starting in January 2025, the wastewater fee will still be based on your water usage, but the stormwater fee will now be based on the amount of impervious area (hard surfaces) on your property.
What is Stormwater?
Stormwater is the water that flows into our sewers, creeks and rivers after it rains or from melting snow. In natural areas, stormwater can soak into the ground where it lands or be absorbed by vegetation.
In urban areas, stormwater runs off hard surfaces (such as rooftops, parking areas, patios, sidewalks, etc) which can carry debris and chemicals into streams and rivers. Stormwater runoff from urban areas is greater in amount (since water cannot get into the natural ground that is covered with houses, roads, parking lots etc.), and flows off the land much more rapidly, increasing the potential to cause flooding and erosion along the way. Pollutants carried in stormwater enter the natural environment and have negative effects on water quality and the natural environment.
Stormwater must be managed to reduce the risk of flooding and erosion, and to minimize harm to the environment.
What is the City’s role in managing stormwater?
The City is responsible for managing stormwater within the municipality. Stormwater management is key in protecting public safety and health, and works to reduce flood risk, control erosion and maintain water quality.
Managing stormwater includes planning, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining stormwater management structures. These structures consist of storm sewers, ditches, inlets, stormwater management facilities (ponds), bridges, culverts, infiltration facilities, oil grit separators, engineered and natural channels, and storm sewer outfalls to streams and watercourses.
Did you know?
The City manages:
- More than 1025 kilometres of pipes
- Approximately 15,300 manholes
- More than 22,615 catch basins
- 29 stormwater ponds (wet and dry)
- 39 pump stations
- Approximately 124 kilometres of municipal drains
- Approximately 254 kilometres of roadside ditches
The estimated replacement cost value of the existing stormwater system is approximately $2 billion (in 2023 dollars).
Some of the City's management activities include the following:
- Undertaking flood protection projects
- Maintaining, repairing and restoring existing infrastructure
- Providing emergency response to flooding, spills and clean-up
- Carrying out street sweeping
- Enforcing by-laws to protect the environment and prevent interference with the operation of the stormwater management system
Stormwater Fee Credit Program ManualA credit program was approved by Council on March 18, 2024 as a financial incentive to non-residential and multi-residential and properties. The credit program aligns with the City’s mandate to mitigate flooding and increase resiliency during storms, namely towards peak flow reduction, runoff reduction and water quality improvement. Learn more by reading the Stormwater Fee Credit Program Manual.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A credit program was approved by Council on March 18, 2024 as a financial incentive to non-residential and multi-residential and properties. The credit program aligns with the City’s mandate to mitigate flooding and increase resiliency during storms, namely towards peak flow reduction, runoff reduction and water quality improvement. Learn more by reading the Stormwater Fee Credit Program Manual.
Learn more about how the City manages stormwater and about the Stormwater Financing Project by reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions.
Don’t see your question? Ask it here: sfs@citywindsor.ca