Stormwater Utility Enterprise Fund

The Town of Wellesley is considering a Stormwater Utility Enterprise Fund similar to Wellesley’s existing water, sewer, and electric utilities, to more equitably distribute the necessary expenses that are required to meet increasing demands associated with the Town’s stormwater management program. Wellesley is facing federal requirements to reduce the amount of pollution from stormwater runoff discharging to waterways, including substantial phosphorous reduction requirements of runoff into the Charles River. Consequently, the Town must increase investment in stormwater infrastructure management to meet permit obligations.

The purpose of the federal requirements is to reduce the amount of pollution from stormwater runoff discharging into waterways. Wellesley is in the Charles River Watershed and is required to substantially reduce phosphorous runoff into the Charles River. As a result, the Town must increase its investment in stormwater infrastructure management to meet these requirements.

Our current method of paying for these investments is from funding received through taxes. Under a Stormwater Utility Enterprise Fund we propose, instead, to charge a fee to all non-municipal properties including those owned by tax-exempt, non-profit and state agencies. The stormwater fee would be based on the amount of impervious surface on each property such as parking lots, driveways, and buildings, which all contribute to stormwater runoff.

Advantages of a Stormwater Utility Fee include:

Sustainable – dedicated, stable revenue source
Equitable – distributed to all non-municipal property owners and based on stormwater impact vs. property value
Flexible – Enterprise will fund all aspects of the stormwater management program
Credit policy – Part of the stormwater utility development can include a credit policy. This credit policy can create a financial incentive for stormwater improvements on private property.

The fees collected will be used to comply with permit requirements, maintain and replace drainage infrastructure for flood prevention, and to protect waterbodies from harmful stormwater pollutants. The proposed Stormwater Utility Enterprise Fund will also provide credits and rebates as incentives for efforts that help improve the quality of runoff into our waterways.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers an enterprise fund to be a best practice to promote and maintain long-term financial sustainability for stormwater activities. For Wellesley, we believe that a Stormwater Utility Enterprise Fund is a practical and more equitable way to fund and distribute the costs of this important program.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

As we conducted our outreach, several questions were commonly asked by Town Officials and property owners. In preparation for this Spring's Town Meeting, we have developed this list of Frequently Asked Questions for your reference. For a printable version, click here.

Fee Schedule

Wellesley is developing the framework of a potential Stormwater Utility Fee. Prior to adoption of a stormwater fee schedule, a Stormwater Enterprise Fund will be proposed at the Annual Town Meeting in Spring 2023. We believe that a Stormwater Utility Enterprise Fund is a practical and more equitable way to fund and distribute the costs and is a best practice to promote and maintain the long-term financial sustainability of the stormwater program. Below is a sample fee schedule that would be voted by officials if Town Meeting votes to adopt the Stormwater Utility Enterprise Fund.

Stormwater Property Viewer

The Wellesley DPW has created a property viewer for the public to find out Stormwater Utility Fee information for addresses in Wellesley. Click the image below to open and search for your address.

Presentations & Outreach

Previous Outreach

11/09/2021 - Board of Public Works presentation video: link here
11/09/2021 - Board of Public Works presentation slides: link here
12/08/2021 - Advisory Committee presentation video: link here
12/09/2021 - Planning Board presentation video: link here
12/20/2021 - Select Board presentation video: link here
01/11/2022 - Board of Public Works Discussion video: link here
01/14/2022 - Climate Action Committee presentation video: link here
02/08/2022 - Board of Public Works Discussion: link here
03/03/2022 - Natural Resources Commission presentation video: link here
07/12/2022 - Board of Public Works Discussion video: link here
08/23/2022 - Stakeholder Outreach Series - Educational Institutions Virtual Meeting
09/20/2022 - Stakeholder Outreach Series - Landowners Virtual Meeting
09/27/2022 - Select Board Update video: link here
11/02/2022 - Stakeholder Outreach Series - Town Department Heads - Internal Meeting
11/15/2022 - Board of Public Works Discussion video: link here
12/13/2022 - Board of Public Works Discussion video: link here
12/20/2022 - Select Board Update video: link here
01/18/2023 - Advisory Committee Meeting video: link here

Additional Information and Examples

Stormwater Utilities Throughout New England

Communities throughout New England have developed Stormwater Utilities to fund stormwater management goals and/or MS4 Permit Requirements. The graphic below demonstrates Stormwater Utilities adopted in the Northeast as of 2022.