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1. Why does Zanesville need a new Stormwater Fee?

The City of Zanesville Stormwater Utility will take a proactive approach in managing the city’s stormwater. Rather than raise income taxes or cut services, the proposed stormwater fee will cover the majority of the utility’s costs. This new approach will address and enforce the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) mandate referred to as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II stormwater regulations, which are part of the Federal Clean Water Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 1972. The funds will also be used to manage some stormwater flooding and drainage discharges, cover associated stormwater infrastructure costs, and finance capital improvement projects.

Helpful Documents

• Stormwater Utility Presentation to the Public Service Committee (PDF)

2. How did Zanesville pay for stormwater activities before the creation of the Stormwater Utility?

Stormwater services were previously funded from revenue derived from income taxes collected by the City general fund, revenue from the sanitary sewer fund and revenue from a temporary stormwater elimination surcharge fee that was approved by city council in 1987. This elimination surcharge fee, which funded small capital projects in the areas of the city that require flood protection and water quality solutions, was rescinded and replaced with the current stormwater utility fee.

3. Who has to pay the stormwater fee?

All developed properties that contain impervious area are charged a stormwater fee. Commercial properties are billed per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) (2,300 square foot), while single-family residential properties, duplexes, some condominiums, and some agricultural land are billed at 1 ERU. Undeveloped lots will be excluded since there is no impervious area on those properties.

4. What types of projects and activities will be the responsibility of the new stormwater utility?

• Bridge clearing
• Comply with the USEPA mandate referred to as the NPDES Phase II stormwater quality regulations (MS4 Program)
• Construction inspection
• Curb replacement and sealing
• Flooding and drainage maintenance
• GIS mapping
• Inlet cleaning, repair, replacement
• Inlet clearing (stormwater hotspots) after every rain event and as needed
• Project design and management
• Public education and outreach
• Repair and/or replace catch basins
• Roadside ditch repair
• Shoulder and ditch maintenance within the publicly owned right-of-way
• Storm drain cleaning and repair
• Stormwater capital improvement projects
• Street sweeping

5. What is impervious area?

Impervious area is any hard-surface that does not allow stormwater to be absorbed into the ground. Impervious areas include:

• Driveways
• Gravel surfaces
• Parking lots
• Rooftops
• Sidewalks
• Many other hard areas

6. What is an ERU?

ERU stands for "equivalent residential unit." In Zanesville an ERU is equal to 2,300 square feet, which is the average impervious area of a random sampling of residential property within the city. 

7. Are there credits available to offset the ERU Fee?

Yes. Some impervious area credits (PDF) are available. The maximum total credit cannot exceed 50% of the equivalent residential unit fee.