To help meet increasing demands for managing stormwater runoff in Wellesley, beginning July 1, 2024, certain property owners will see a new stormwater fee on their monthly utility bills.
The federal government has imposed stricter requirements for Town drainage systems that are intended to reduce the amount of pollution to local waterways because of stormwater runoff. As a result, after holding a series of public outreach presentations, in 2023 Wellesley's Annual Town Meeting approved the creation of a new Stormwater Utility Enterprise Fund.
Structured like Wellesley’s existing water, sewer, and electric utilities, the stormwater utility will provide dedicated funds to manage the increased permitting costs more equitably. Starting in July, certain property owners with existing water, sewer, or electric accounts will see the new stormwater fee as a line item on their existing monthly bills. Owners without existing accounts will receive a new monthly bill.
Read the Stormwater Utility Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Fees are calculated using a base unit known as Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) that is determined by the amount of impervious area of all single-family residential parcels. Impervious areas are hard surfaces like walkways, pools, rooftops, and other areas with pavement or cement that don’t allow water to penetrate the soil.
See the Stormwater Utility Fee schedule.
To learn more about how billing is determined for your property, click on the Stormwater Utility Fee property map and enter your address.
Stormwater Credit Policy
To help property owners offset this new fee, the Department of Public Works (DPW) has developed a credit policy where you can receive a discount on your bill if you follow best management practices (BMPs) such as adding infiltration basins, porous pavement, and bioretention basis.
These practices help filter stormwater and reduce demand on Town drainage systems. Property owners can submit a credit application by contacting the DPW at dpw@wellesleyma.gov
To learn more about this new utility fee, visit the DPW Stormwater Management webpages.