Storm water fees

CONCORD, N.C. -- Many cities in the Carolinas have chosen a storm water fee to pay for all or part of the storm water program.

The storm water fee may be a separate monthly fee or a part of your water and sewer bill.

In the city of Concord, you pay a monthly storm water service fee. Part of the fee goes to the street sweeper you see in the street. It travels 319 miles a month and picks up 65 tons of leaves, trash, silt and grass clippings.

The street sweeper isn’t the only thing that comes out of the storm water bill.

Jeff Corley, Storm Water Engineer with the city of Concord, says they have an extensive public education program in Concord. The program educates civic groups and homeowners association on what they can do to help improve water quality. They also maintain all of the city maintained infrastructure within city limits.

The motto in Concord is let’s make it clear. The environmental educator wants to remind all of us to make sure only rain goes down the storm drain.

Most cities must also provide new programs to comply with their storm water discharge permit issued by the state.