FAQs

General Stormwater Issues

Q: What is stormwater runoff?

A: Stormwater runoff is water resulting from rainfall that does not get absorbed by the surfaces it touches and can be observed flowing over yards, streets, buildings, parking lots, and other surfaces when it rains. Stormwater runoff flows into the stormwater system which consists of storm drains (aka catch basins), pipes, and ditches. It is ultimately conveyed to our local streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes.

Q: How does the stormwater get into our streams and Lake Champlain?

A: When it rains, stormwater runoff flows into drainage ditches and storm sewers that drain into our streams. The streams transport this runoff to bigger bodies of water, and ultimately to Lake Champlain.

Q: How is stormwater related to flooding issues?

A: As cities like South Burlington develop over the years, much of the natural ground surface is replaced with building and pavement surfaces. These surfaces do not allow rainfall to soak into the ground, as do natural surfaces, and thus the volume of stormwater runoff flowing to the public stormwater system increases. In many cases, the existing stormwater system does not have the capacity to adequately drain the volume of stormwater runoff that continues to increase with every new development. With increased runoff, many portions of the system become inadequate to handle the additional drainage, the system becomes inundated, and flooding results.

Stormwater Utility Questions

Q: What is a stormwater utility?

A: In the City of South Burlington, the Stormwater Utility is the method that is being used to provide dedicated funding for the City’s stormwater management program. The funding is provided via the stormwater user fee.

Q: How much does the City’s stormwater program cost?

A: The City spends approximately $1.3 million per year on the stormwater management program. These costs adequately cover all personnel and stormwater division services including: stormwater system maintenance, capital improvement projects, permit compliance, erosion and sediment control, illicit discharge detection and elimination, engineering and design, stormwater system inventory and inspection, watershed assessments, and plan reviews. These funds are also used to leverage state and federal grants available for stormwater projects.

Q: How does the City pay for the stormwater management program?

A: The stormwater program is funded through the collection of stormwater fees. All developed properties in the City of South Burlington are charged a stormwater fee. The revenue generated via these fees is collected solely to fund the City’s stormwater management services.

Q: Which properties pay the stormwater fee?

A: All developed properties in the City of South Burlington pay the stormwater fee. Impervious surfaces such as buildings and pavement are primarily responsible for increased stormwater runoff. Therefore, all developed properties with impervious surfaces are charged the fee. This includes tax-exempt properties such as churches, schools, federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, etc. In fact, the City of South Burlington pays the fee for its buildings and roadways.

Q: How is the fee determined fairly?

A: Each property's stormwater fee is based on a measure of the demand that each property places on the stormwater system. This demand is measured using the amount of impervious surface on that property. The more impervious surfaces (e.g., buildings, driveways and roadways) a property has, the more stormwater runoff is generated by the property, and therefore the property places an increased demand on the stormwater system. Properties classified as single-family residential are all charged a flat fee of $4.50 per month. All other developed properties are charged a fee based on a measurement of the amount of buildings, roads, parking and other impervious surfaces that are located on that property.

Q: Is anyone exempt from paying a stormwater fee?

A: All developed properties, including tax-exempt properties, are charged the stormwater fee. Only undeveloped properties and railroad tracks are exempt from paying the fee.

Q: What is a credit against the stormwater fee?

A: A stormwater credit is an ongoing reduction in the stormwater fee for activities or practices that can reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff that is discharged into the public stormwater system. The rationale behind stormwater fee credits is to encourage property owners to reduce both their dependency on, and contribution to, the public stormwater system. Credits are available for up to 50% of the total stormwater fee for a property.

Q: Who is eligible for a credit?

A: The following types of credits will be granted to those non-single residential properties that qualify:

• A Stormwater Treatment Practice Credit is available to properties that construct and maintain Stormwater Treatment Practices (STPs) as defined in the Vermont Stormwater Management Manual.
• An Education Credit is available to public and private schools that educate and inform their students about the importance of stormwater and water quality.
• An MS4 Credit is available to municipal separate storm sewer systems that comply with the MS4 permit issued by the State of Vermont. The only MS4s in South Burlington, excluding the City, are the Burlington International Airport, the University of Vermont, and the Vermont Agency of Transportation. In addition, non-single family residential properties (“non-MS4 supporting entities”) that, due to federal requirements, perform best management practices (BMPs) specifically intended to reduce impacts on non-point source stormwater runoff and/or provide an on-going public benefit related to stormwater management are also eligible to receive this credit. An example of a "non-MS4 supporting entity" within the City is the Champlain Water District (CWD).

Contact the Stormwater Superintendent at (802) 658-7961 for more information on credits and how to apply.

Residential Stormwater System Takeover by the City

Q: Our association has a Vermont Stormwater Discharge Permit, and is located in a stormwater-impaired watershed (Potash, Bartlett, Centennial, Englesby or Munroe Brooks). Will the City take over renewal and maintenance of the stormwater system?

A: The State of Vermont issued these expired permits and has the responsibility for determining how these permits can be renewed. To date, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has not come up with a protocol for renewing these permits. At such time that the State puts procedures in place for obtaining valid permits, the City will determine an appropriate course of action for turning these stormwater systems over to the City.

Q: Our association has a Vermont Stormwater Discharge Permit, and is located in a stormwater-impaired watershed (Potash, Bartlett, Centennial, Engelsby or Munroe Brooks). Even though the State has not identified a way to renew our permit, we would like to do our part to address the stormwater pollution that is generated on our property. What options are available to us?

A: The City is willing to enter into a maintenance agreement with homeowner associations who complete upgrades of their stormwater systems. In order to be eligible, stormwater systems in impaired watersheds must be upgraded to a “2002 best fix” standard – meaning that they must be modified and upgraded to come as close to the 2002 Vermont Stormwater Management Manual treatment standards as feasible. However, because the State has not yet come up with a protocol for renewing these permits, the City can not accept responsibility for obtaining the actual permit until the State’s situation is clarified. At such time as the State’s permit situation is clarified, the City will determine an appropriate course of action for turning the permit requirements of these systems over to the City.

In order to enter into a maintenance agreement with the City, associations in this situation must do the following (we will provide staff support and guidance throughout this process):

1. Hire a Professional Engineer licensed in Vermont to evaluate the existing permit, and the condition of the existing stormwater system.
2. Have the engineer complete the City’s “Residential System Acquisition Application” that also includes the State’s Engineering Feasibility Analysis or “EFA.” The purpose of using the EFA procedure is to determine how closely the system can come to meeting the 2002 VT standards on site.
3. Discuss the options for meeting these new standards on site, and choose the option that best suits your association and property.
4. Submit the completed application and documents related to the permit to the Stormwater Superintendent. The Stormwater Superintendent has the final say as to whether the proposed upgrade is acceptable for City takeover.
5. Choose a contractor and complete the required upgrades.
6. Have the system inspected by the Stormwater Superintendent or his designee.
7. Complete the legal documents for necessary easements or deeds, to allow City staff to access the property and maintain the system.

As part of this process, your engineer will advise your association of any other permits or amendments that are necessary to complete this process. Obtaining these permits (which may include an amendment of your Act 250 permit or a wetlands permit) is your association’s responsibility, but City staff will provide assistance wherever we can.

Q: Our association has a Vermont Stormwater Discharge Permit, and we are located outside of the stormwater-impaired watersheds (Potash, Bartlett, Centennial, Englesby or Munroe Brooks). Will the City take over the permit and maintenance of the system? What standards must the system meet?

A: The City will work with homeowner associations in this situation to take over responsibility for the permit and maintenance of the stormwater system. The system must meet the standards under which it was permitted in order to be eligible for take over by the City. Associations in this situation must do the following prior to a City takeover of the permit and maintenance responsibility (we will provide staff support and guidance throughout this process):

1. Hire a Professional Engineer licensed in Vermont to evaluate the existing permit, and the condition of the existing stormwater system.
2. Have the engineer complete the City’s “Residential System Acquisition Application”
3. Submit the completed application, and documents related to the permit, to the Stormwater Superintendent.
4. Choose a contractor and complete any required work to bring the system into compliance with its current permit.
5. Have the system inspected by the Stormwater Superintendent or his designee.
6. Complete the legal documents for necessary easements or deeds that would allow City staff to access the property.
7. Complete State of Vermont ANR paperwork necessary to transfer the stormwater permit to the City.

As part of this process, your engineer will advise your association of any other permits or amendments that are necessary to complete this process. Obtaining these permits (which may include an amendment of your Act 250 permit or a wetlands permit) is your association’s responsibility, but City staff will provide assistance wherever we can.