As communities grow, and stormwater management needs increase, more and more communities are developing Stormwater Utilities. Stormwater Utilities behave much like a water utility, they seek to charge customers for a service they receive. Municipalities must spend money to maintain their stormwater infrastructure, including everything from cleaning inlets of debris to street projects that update pipe sizes to accommodate larger storms. These expenses add to the community’s operating budget. Rather than raising taxes, many communities are opting to create Stormwater Utilities.
There are many types of Stormwater Utilities, and they vary depending on community needs. Spatial components are often part of a Stormwater Utility and are used as a way to organize the stormwater customers, the benefits they receive, and their bill based on parcel size or impervious area. As technology and record keeping strategies advance, the incorporation of GIS into Stormwater Utilities can help streamline maintenance and add a visual component to an otherwise static and “paper only” record system.
This presentation will focus on how GIS can assist in creating and maintaining a Stormwater Utility.
