Stormwater Basics (again) - Council vote is February 2

Stormwater 101: Lessons on what PTC is facing and why
By BETSY TYLER
Public Information Officer
City of Peachtree City

(Note: This column was originally published prior to the Mayor and Council's January 12 Workshop on the Utility).

Peachtree City residents have been hearing about stormwater lately, and it seems we’re going to be hearing a lot more in the coming months. There’s talk about a “utility,” and “$9 million in capital improvement projects,” and my personal favorite, the “NPDES Phase II Permit and NOI.”

I confess that, when I’ve been at City Council meetings featuring stormwater presentations, my eyes glaze over and I start wondering how many holes are in the ceiling tiles.

Then I had to go to a meeting on stormwater public education. Unfortunately, I found myself a little behind on the subject. I posed what I thought were reasonable questions to help me get up to speed: What do we need a Phase II permit for? When did we get the Phase I Permit? Why don’t we just forget the whole permit idea? It wasn’t good; I hate it when engineers laugh at me.

So we had another, more remedial meeting for my benefit, and I reviewed all the presentations and position papers from the past two years. For those who don’t really want all the technical details, I thought I’d share what I learned.

I’ll start with a bit of school nostalgia. Remember the water cycle diagram from science class? A little cloud drops rain (precipitation), then the water soaks into the ground on its way to a stream (infiltration), where it rises back into the atmosphere (evaporation), turns into a cloud (condensation), and starts all over again. Sure, there are more arrows and ‘ations, but those are the basics.

Then the government got involved. Apparently, there is a growing problem with the infiltration part of the water cycle.

People have been constructing all these buildings, parking lots, streets, and paths — all important elements of a community, but they cover large sections of ground that used to soak up rainwater, and the part that doesn’t soak in is “stormwater runoff.” Aha, I’ve heard that term before!

Lesson 1: Stormwater runoff is basically any rain that doesn’t soak into the ground.

The result is the Federal Clean Water Act, which requires local governments to manage stormwater. The good news is that the city already has a stormwater management program.

For decades, the city has required developers to install stormwater runoff control elements as they build neighborhoods and sites — pipes under the roads, retention and detention ponds, etc. — and to leave much of the natural drainage system undisturbed so stormwater can flow naturally.

Because Peachtree City is so young, and because we have so much greenspace, we’re actually in pretty good shape compared to a lot of cities.

Unfortunately, we’re reaching an age when some of the early structures need replacement, while more runoff is being added from newer parts of town, and from development upstream in Tyrone and Fairburn.

Heavy storms in 2004 and 2005 added to the problem, requiring emergency repairs for collapsing culverts under roads and private land flooding due to older structures failing. Funding for these repairs had to come from other programs or projects. And about $9 million in other drainage system repairs are needed — that we know of.

Lesson 2: Stormwater Management is not new to Peachtree City, but we’re facing problems we’ve never had to face before.

So, we have a program in place, but the basic costs are rising every year as the city ages. And the new federal requirements will further increase these costs.

In 1993, the Clean Water Act required communities of 100,000-plus people to meet certain requirements in managing stormwater runoff (Phase I). In 2003, those requirements extended to communities with populations between 10,000 and 100,000 (Phase II). That includes Peachtree City.

And guess what: It turns out that these “permits” aren’t like building permits, and you can’t just say, “Never mind.” Each community has to file a Notice of Intent (NOI) with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) saying they will comply with the Clean Water Act by managing stormwater runoff and meeting the requirements. Our revised program must be fully operational by the end of 2006.

Now, back to my question: what happens if we just scrap the whole thing? Bottom line, it can still cost even more money.

Although it is a last resort, the EPD can fine communities that do not comply up to $100,000 per day. The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District can add fines to that. The EPD can also affect our sewer bills; they issue permits to the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) for treated wastewater that goes into local streams. If we don’t manage our stormwater runoff, EPD can increase WASA’s treatment requirements, and the additional costs will be passed on in our sewer bills.

Poor stormwater management also leads to silt buildup in our lakes and streams, requiring projects like Fayette County’s dredging of Lake Peachtree last year.

More importantly, not managing stormwater affects our quality of life. Most Peachtree City residents enjoy walking or golf carting along beautiful streams and scenic lakeshores. Now picture the same outing, but with clogged streams, no wildlife, and dead trees. We’ve lost our refuge, our home values drop, and suddenly we’re just like a lot of other areas around Atlanta.

Lesson 3: Stormwater management isn’t optional.

As I mentioned, our plan to meet the new requirements must be fully operational by the end of 2006. The Engineering Department has been working on that plan so that we can stay in good standing with the EPD and maintain the quality of life that Peachtree City citizens expect.

Our first step will be to inventory our existing drainage system, assess its condition, and develop a maintenance plan to keep it in good working order. Then staff will be better able to identify undesirable runoff (illicit discharges), track where it is coming from, and stop the problem.

This can include industrial pollutants, restaurant grease, auto repair and car wash runoff, even grass clippings and leaves dumped in a drainage culvert. All these affect the quality of water passing through Peachtree City.

Of course, the new tasks will require more staff time. Both Engineering and Public Works will need additional employees to inspect, plan, repair, and maintain our stormwater system and meet our permit requirements. There are also those $9 million in repair projects, approximately 40 in all, with about two-thirds of those categorized as “priority.”

All of this costs money. Staff estimates about $1 million per year will be needed for stormwater management to meet the requirements of our permit and obtain financing for the priority repairs. This is primarily money the city has not budgeted in the past.

Lesson 4: Stormwater Management isn’t cheap.

So, that is the overview of Peachtree City’s stormwater management program as it stands today. Now the city, like every other Phase II community, must decide how to pay for managing stormwater.

Peachtree City has examined various options in paying for the Stormwater Management Program. These include funding the program from the General Fund through property taxes, special assessments, impact fees, and the creation of a Stormwater Utility. For various financial, political, and legal reasons, staff has focused on the Stormwater Utility/User Fee program as the primary source of funds. The program will also continue to assess special service fees (for plan review, erosion control, etc.). Revenue bonds will be obtained to finance capital projects, and the City will continue to apply for Federal and State funding whenever possible.

The City believes that using a Stormwater Utility and user fee system is the most fair and equitable way to fund the future stormwater program. Under the current funding system, which relies primarily on the City’s General Fund Tax Revenues, a disproportionate amount of the cost burden is placed on residential property owners. Research has shown that approximately 70% of the City General Fund Tax Revenue comes from residential properties and 30% comes from non-residential properties (i.e. commercial, industrial, institutional, etc.).

Government studies have shown that impervious coverage on a piece of property is the primary factor influencing stormwater runoff characteristics (i.e. runoff volume, discharge rate, velocity and pollution), while there is no direct correlation between the appraised value of a piece of property and its stormwater runoff.

Council will be considering an ordinance creating the Stormwater Utility at their February 2 meeting (7:00 PM). For those interested in more detail, the Peachtree City Engineering Department also has more information posted on the City’s Web site at www.peachtree-city.org (select “Stormwater Utility/ Stormwater Management” on the main page).

Federal stormwater threats

Submitted by Sailon on Thu, 01/26/2006 - 7:30pm.

Are we in violation, or will we be soon, or not? Why do engineers laugh at you? Someone who pays taxes and fees needs to ask such questions. Doesn't the City or county ever depreciate or make reserves for things that wear out or need replacing? Bad bookkeeping if they don't. What happens to all those water run-off studies made before developers are allowed to build. Are they done by amateurs?
This is a bluff to get some federal money which our conservatives here in PTC say they don't want, but do.
Also very much like the golf cart fee thing: all a cop has to do is stop a few carts, check the drivers id with the town records and fine them if they don't own it. Just as they do for insurance on cars. Some of us are better educated than the average sixth grade education our colleges provide anymore, or so it would appear. There is no end to asking for more and more no matter what party is in power as long as they think they can get it. If you don't have it you shouldn't spend it or borrow it.

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Highgreen109 - Say Wha?

Submitted by Reality Bytes on Thu, 01/26/2006 - 7:59pm.

Ummm....you really don't understand the issue at all, do you?

This is a bluff to get some federal money which our conservatives here in PTC say they don't want, but do.
What federal money are you referring to? If you weren't so busy reading "A Million Little Pieces", you might have determined that there will be FINES and WITHHOLDING of monies to lots of folks. The federal government says this has to be done. This is the best way that the professionals have determined it is to be done. More than 20 other areas in Georgia alone have done the same thing - I guess they're all just as poor at bookkeeping, etc.

Also very much like the golf cart fee thing: all a cop has to do is stop a few carts, check the drivers id with the town records and fine them if they don't own it.
What magic "city records" are you referring to? The cart registration lists they have? Well, if you completely missed it, one of the reasons the City is doing the registration is because their "list" is not up to date. It's the citizen's responsibility to keep their cart information updated, but how many people do you think really do that (when not otherwise mandated by law, etc.). And driver's ID's? You don't HAVE to have a driver's license to drive a golf cart....maybe you missed that one too.

I really wish you would take into account that local governments aren't looking to get more money for no reason. But I'm sure you have decades of experience.

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Stormwater

Submitted by Sailon on Fri, 01/27/2006 - 9:01am.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling, do something before the big bad feds fine us and stop our money from coming!
Name one problem the government says we have (not local groups looking for work) and I'll go unstop the drain. You people get caught up in something to do to fill up your time, like attend meetings and spend my money.

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Stormwater

Submitted by Sailon on Fri, 01/27/2006 - 9:00am.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling, do something before the big bad feds fine us and stop our money from coming!
Name one problem the government says we have (not local groups looking for work) and I'll go unstop the drain. You people get caught up in something to do to fill up your time, like attend meetings and spend my money.

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Highgreen109 - Say ???

Submitted by Fayetteresident on Thu, 01/26/2006 - 10:00pm.

Again, please don't try to be an expert on every subject...just comment on things you at least have some knowledge of to keep from sounding so ignorant. Sorry to be so blunt, but your senseless ramblings are becoming anoying...

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RE: Say???

Submitted by PTC Guy on Thu, 02/02/2006 - 2:39pm.

On Stormwater alone Highgreen 109 does not have a clue about reality.

I am not going to repeat the realities. Just make simple statement.

There are over 9 million dollars of needed repair BECAUSE the present system does not work and has not been successful. BECAUSE no matter what the good intentions monies set aside for these repairs in the general fund get used for other things.

It is a joke to say otherwise. All I have to do is go out my back door and walk a stormwater ditch near my home that was not correctly installed 19 years ago and has never been fixed since because it expensive. Any maybe because it is a bit complex to fix.

And if that is not enough go out during heavy rain to the street. Whoa! Take that back! Might get in trouble with the water flooding over the road into the neighboring community's homes. Or might get hit by one of the cars hydro surfing on the road.

And don't even try to get the point across to him that these things wear out. CMP has a life of 20 to 25 years. And how much PTC is not that age or older? Hmmmm?

Nope, reality is not fun on this issue. But it is reality.

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