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While unfunded federal mandates are nothing new, many residents and town officials protest paying to address our stormwater problems."About 10 years ago, the federal government required states to tackle the problem but did not provide a budget. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency has cut more than $600 million in the last two years from the money that states count on to finance improvements required by law." "Before we drink water from rivers, lake and wells, we have to make it safe and tasty. Taking out stormwater pollutants like sediment, oil, fertilizer, pet poop and pesticides are just the first step. Even “healthy” water can be cloudy, taste “funny” or - in the case of algae blooms – have a bad odor. Part of every water bill reflects some costs paid for stormwater." "If your drinking water comes from a lake, the lake may hold less water now than when it was built. Sediment, stormwater’s No. 1 ingredient, erodes from construction sites, agricultural areas and even overburdened streams. A 1987 World Bank study found reservoirs around the world are losing one percent of capacity each year. A 1988 U.S. study estimated that annual depleted storage costs are $2 billion. North Carolina’s Lake Lure receives 40,000 tons of sediment per year, and anecdotal reports of silted-in coves and docks come from across the state. Dredging is not cheap and in times of drought, even small percentages of lost capacity can be crucial. It’s something to think about the next time you see a failing silt fence, isn’t it?" "Making stormwater costs a separate line item doesn’t make them higher, but it does make them more apparent. Next time someone complains about the ‘new’ stormwater bill, tell him we’ve been paying all along. The only difference is that we have finally started to count the costs." If we want water quality to improve we most all pay! For more
informatio see "Who
Pays for Stormwater".
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