Stormwater Utility

Athens-Clarke County is working to responsibly manage its stormwater runoff. This work is funded through a stormwater utility fee. You may be wondering why Athens-Clarke needs stormwater management and what sort of things a utility fee would fund.

Stormwater Management

Have you ever driven down a street on a rainy day and seen gallons of water rushing off of the road and into a stormdrain? Well, that drain - and the system that it connects to - must be maintained in order to allow you and your family safe passageway to schools, hospitals, malls, restaurants, and other destinations in Athens-Clarke County.

Stormwater management protects our community from flooding and the health of our local waters while making sure that Athens-Clarke is in compliance with state and federal guidelines. ACC is required by the state of Georgia and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to operate and to fund a stormwater program. Athens-Clarke raises the revenue needed to fund stormwater management through a stormwater utility.

Stormwater utility

A stormwater utility is a user-fee that charges properties in Athens-Clarke based on that property's contribution to the need for stormwater management. The user-fee system represents a way to raise revenue for the program by charging those who directly contribute to its need. The amount of impervious surface on a property is the primary basis for the fee. The stormwater utility presents our community with an alternative to an across the board tax hike.

A stormwater utility is just like the other utilities that serve the Athens-Clarke County area. Much like water or trash collection service users, stormwater utility users will pay a fee for the system that provides services to properly manage stormwater runoff. The implementation of a user-fee for stormwater related charges ensures that customers only pay for the services they receive.

The stormwater utility fee raises the revenues needed to fund the stormwater management program. This program brings us into compliance with the federal NPDES Phase II regulations and safeguards our community through improved drainage and protection of local waters.

Read some Frequently Asked Questions about the stormwater utility fee.