Do properties that retain and infiltrate some of their stormwater onsite get any credit (reduced stormwater user fee)?

The City will provide a stormwater user fee credit to non-residential properties that retain and infiltrate their stormwater onsite and meet certain criteria. 

Onsite retention and infiltration of stormwater runoff promotes groundwater recharge and reduces the volume of runoff from a customer’s property, which reduces the level of City stormwater services received by the customer.

However, it should be noted that in our region infiltration is not practically possible. Other areas have soil and bedrock conditions that allow the water to infiltrate down into the ground. Our clay soil and layers of basalt prevent this from happening effectively on the Palouse. This has been confirmed by an infiltration feasibility study commissioned by the City in the spring of 2021.

Show All Answers

1. How was the billing for residential properties determined?
2. We heard that you were waiving some types of properties or offering credits. How can this be fair to the rest of us?
3. Why are you collecting money for water, wastewater and now stormwater? Isn't it all the same thing?
4. Is money going to be siphoned off to go to non-stormwater activities?
5. Why not wait to collect fees until later?
6. Why should I pay if all my stormwater stays on my property or in my parking lot?
7. What about property owners that have their own NPDES Multi-Sector or Municipal Stormwater Permit, why should they pay too?
8. What about people on fixed incomes like senior citizens?
9. Are sidewalks included in the calculation of my stormwater fee?
10. What kind of technical help is available for small developments?
11. I heard that the City of Lewiston had a stormwater utility and user fees that was repealed by the Courts. Isn’t this the same thing?
12. Why aren’t stormwater user fees being voted on by the people?
13. Why can’t the City get a waiver from NPDES?
14. Why does the City have to implement a stormwater management program and fees? Aren't there alternatives?
15. How does this stormwater program benefit me?
16. What is the money raised by stormwater fees going to be used for?
17. Do properties that retain and infiltrate some of their stormwater onsite get any credit (reduced stormwater user fee)?