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Stormwater Facility Credit Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Stormwater Facility Credit Program?
This SPU program provides a discount on drainage bills for private stormwater management facilities that relieve some of the City’s stormwater management burden. Facilities must be built to City Code standards and be properly maintained and functioning to be considered for credit.
What is a private stormwater management facility?
A private stormwater management facility is a system that manages stormwater from a parcel or property. Stormwater management includes flow control (to reduce flooding) and/or water quality treatment (to reduce pollution). Common facilities (PDF) include underground detention vaults, oil water separators and infiltration trenches. Facilities installed more recently include rain gardens, green roofs and permeable pavement.
How do I know if I have a stormwater facility on my property?
The easiest way to determine if your property has a stormwater facility is to find plans used for original development and/or redevelopment of your property. Review the plans for pipes and stormwater facilities such as stormwater detention vaults.
Another way to determine if you have a stormwater management facility on your property is to evaluate it during a rainstorm. Starting from the roof downspouts and catchbasins, follow the path of the water to see and hear where it goes. You might need a crowbar to open grates and a flashlight to inspect the downstream pipes for the direction of flow. Follow that path to see if there are any structures in that direction. Another way is to find the nearest storm drain and work upward in a similar fashion to your property.
How can I receive a credit on my drainage bill?
First, you must complete an application form (PDF). SPU staff will review your completed application and may conduct an on-site inspection of your facility to ensure that it meets code requirement and is properly maintained. Credit will not be provided for facilities that are not properly maintained. To receive a credit in 2009, your completed application form must be received by SPU no later than November 1, 2008.
If my application is approved, when can I expect to see the credit on my drainage bill?
All applications received by November 1 are eligible for credit on the next drainage bill.
Applications received by SPU on or before November 1 and approved by December 1 of a given year will receive credit for the following calendar year. For example, applications received by November 1 and approved by November 1, 2008 and approved by December 1, 2008, would receive credit on the 2009 King County statement. Applications approved after December 1 will receive a retro active credit.
How big will my credit be?
Credit amounts are both site and facility specific. The maximum allowable credit is 50% of a property’s drainage bill. However, most facilities will receive smaller discounts.
Where can I find more information about drainage rates and my drainage bill?
SPU’s drainage fee is billed on the King County property tax statement. Learn more about SPU’s drainage rates.
You can view your current drainage fee by entering your property tax account number into the King County Property Tax Information System. The drainage fee is shown as the “Surface Water” or Drainage line item on the statement and will be net of any approved credits. Your property tax account number is found on the property tax statement you receive in the mail from King County. You may also find your property tax account number (or parcel number) by using the “Parcel Viewer” search feature found at the above King County website.
What are the benefits (in terms of the stormwater facility credit) of building a low impact development facility?
Low-impact development facilities, such as rain gardens and swales, generally provide a higher level of stormwater management and thus receive a larger credit than traditional stormwater management facilities such as detention vaults. Low impact development is a way to decrease the amount of impervious surface on your property during the development and/or construction phases. By decreasing the amount of impervious surface, you reduce the amount of rainwater runoff from the site onto the City street and right-of-ways.
Are low impact stormwater facilities the same thing as low impact drainage rates?
No. Low impact stormwater facilities are engineered facilities designed to manage stormwater run-off from impervious surface. Parcels with approved and properly maintained facilities will receive a credit against their total drainage bill, irrespective of parcel size or assigned rate class.
Low impact rates, which are rates used in the calculation of the drainage bill, apply to large residential and commercial parcels with significant amounts of highly pervious surface, such as forested land or other unmanaged vegetated areas such as pasturelands and meadows. Learn more about the drainage rate structure and low impact rates.
Can facility retrofits receive credit?
Yes, retrofits that comply with code requirements can receive credit.
How often will my facility be inspected?
Your facility may be subject to annual inspection.
What if the inspector tells me I need to clean my facility?
If the inspector finds that your facility has not been properly maintained or is not properly working, you will have two months to repair, clean and maintain the facility before a second inspection. Failure of a second inspection will terminate your credit. Non-functioning facilities may be subject to follow-up enforcement actions as required by code. For more information about maintenance requirements visit our stormwater related inspections website.
I own a condo. How do I get a credit for stormwater facilities that manage my building’s run-off?
If your condo property has a qualifying flow control or water quality facility, each unit in the condo may be eligible for the stormwater facility credit. Any approved facility credit will be shared equally among owners of individual units. To be considered for a credit, your condo homeowner association will need to submit an application form. If the application is approved, you will receive the credit on the surface water fee that is billed on your individual unit’s property tax statement. The condo association will be responsible for ensuring that the necessary maintenance is completed in order to continue receiving the stormwater facility credit.
I own a townhouse with no homeowners’ association. How do I get this stormwater facility credit?
Many townhouse developments have flow control or water quality facilities. Often, these townhouse developments do not have a homeowners’ association. If your townhouse development has no homeowners’ association and you want this rate adjustment, any individual owner may submit an application. Any approved credit will be divided among the townhouses in the development. SPU requires that flow control or water quality facilities be properly maintained in order to qualify for and continue to receive a facility credit. In the absence of a homeowners’ association, townhouse owners must work out the details regarding facility maintenance among themselves. Often, maintenance of common facilities is discussed in covenants specific to the townhouse development.
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