Stormwater Utility Fees: A Tool for Addressing Green Infrastructure and Climate Adaption

There are many opinions surrounding Stormwater Utility Fees (SUFs). Nowadays, it is not only an environmental question, it also becomes a political interest question. The fact is that something pressing must be done about it, because Stormwater Management Programs (SMP) don't have enough money to execute and maintain their programs as it is.
The municipalities in the United States need to build a revenue for the SMP. A solution to this would be to implement the SUFs. It needs to be implemented equitably, and carefully, explaining to payers what they are actually paying. In addition, the program must teach people how important this fee is, and show that they are paying for better quality water. When the city has more runoff, it consequently has more pollution and more diseases as well.
This fee will prevent floods, erosion and even dead zones in water streams. It will create a safe budget to invest in SMP straight away and also in the future anticipating and planning for climate change implications.The execution of SUFs must be clear enough to everybody; It need be able to answer questions such as, How will the municipalities measure every rooftop and impervious surface in the City? How much will effort cost? Can people know if their property was measured correctly? As a result, the municipalities will have greater confidence in the population and it is one of our major goal, make the community trust the SUFs.