During flooding events, polluted runoff ends up in our homes and businesses, where it causes property damage and health impacts. Polluted runoff destroys our rivers and streams, it harms the Chesapeake Bay, and it can contaminate our drinking water. It causes beach closings and makes fish unsafe to eat. Polluted runoff is the only source of water pollution that is on the increase. Until recently, our communities lacked funding to reduce water pollution from runoff.
In 2012, the General Assembly took action against polluted runoff. It passed a bill mandating that our most densely populated counties and cities establish a dedicated funding source to create effective solutions for polluted runoff. Funds collected from the stormwater utility fee are being used to build green spaces that filter polluted runoff, replace and repair aging infrastructure, and plant trees along rivers to protect our streams from polluted runoff. These projects are funded locally to benefit local communities.
What's more, the Clean Water Act requires local jurisdictions to manage their polluted runoff. Under the current framework for Chesapeake Bay Restoration, densely populated counties and cities are mandated to meet ambitious cleanup goals. If jurisdictions lack the ability to raise funds, there is the danger that they might be defaulting on their legal mandates to clean up stormwater.
Now fee programs could be in jeopardy if the state legislature decides to weaken requirements to control polluted runoff. We need our state leaders to recognize our counties' efforts and use their time to do more to control water pollution, not less.
Stay tuned on the Chapter's efforts to defend the stormwater utility fee.