That use is calculated based on impervious area as explained above. The money raised through the fee is used to pay for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the storm drainage system. A stormwater utility allocates the costs of the stormwater program based on how much a property contributes to the need for the system. The fee for the stormwater utility is based on the amount of impervious area on each piece of property. Impervious area is any area that impedes the absorption of water into the ground, thus paved areas and buildings are impervious.
Impervious area leads to runoff of rainwater.
The water runs into the storm sewer system and contributes to the need for the system. The more impervious area on a piece of property, the larger the amount of runoff. A property with a large amount of impervious area will pay a higher fee than one with less impervious area. The operation and maintenance of the system is currently being funded from the sanitary sewer fees. Since the fees are primarily dedicated to the sanitary sewer system, the storm sewer system receives limited funding from this source.