Article content
Last week, Windsor council unanimously approved changes to how the city calculates its stormwater fee charged property owners.
In a move Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said is “all about equity and fairness,” those whose properties have more hard surfaces that limit rainwater absorption will pay more.
Here’s what you need to know about the city’s new fee plan:
Advertisement 2
Article content
WHO WILL THE STORMWATER FEE APPLY TO?
The fee will be applied to all residential, multi-residential and non-residential properties in Windsor.
The four local school boards and the John McGivney Children’s Centre are legally exempted from billing, and undeveloped property and vacant land with less than 10 per cent impermeable coverage are also exempt.
WHEN WILL THE PLAN BEGIN?
The new stormwater fees plan will be applied beginning Jan. 1, 2025. The stormwater fees will be charged monthly appear on your Enwin utilities bill.
All stormwater fees collected will be used to enhance Windsor’s stormwater sewer system.
HOW WILL IT BE APPLIED?
Fees are based on the number of square metres of impervious surface on a given site. Impervious coverings prevent stormwater from naturally seeping into the ground, with those flows instead ending up in the city’s sewer system.
The plan is designed to put a more realistic price on stormwater runoff.
Currently, residential owners pay 55 per cent of the sewer surcharge fees even though their properties only represent 44 per cent of the impervious area in the city.
Advertisement 3
Article content
Under the new plan, the residential share drops to 44 per cent, with multi-residential and non-residential — which account for 56 per cent of impervious areas — to cover 56 per cent of the total surcharge.
WHO IS LIKELY TO PAY MORE OR LESS?
The city forecasts every homeowner will likely see a decrease in their overall water bill.
Also expected to pay less are manufacturers with high water usage and institutions with medium to high water usage.
Those expected to pay more are manufacturers with low water usage, retailers with low water usage and parking lot owners and logistics/storage operations with low water usage.
Parking lots with no water usage will be subject to a new fee.
WHAT ARE THE STORM FEE RATES?
Multi-residential and non-residential lots will be billed at $1.26 per square metre.
Residential properties will be placed into three tiers based on their impermeable coverage — small, medium and large.
The measurements for each lot size are 25.5 to 175 square metres (small); 176 to 200 square metres (medium); and 300-plus square metres (large).
A small lot is assigned a value of .8, medium 1.0 and large 1.2.
Advertisement 4
Article content
That rate assigned to each tier will be multiplied by a billing unit, which has the value of $338.
It’s estimated half of residential lots in the city will fall into the medium category.
EXAMPLES OF AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL SEWER BILLS
Under the new plan, the city estimates the combined annual bill in 2025 for storm and sanitary sewer charges for the average Windsor residence will be:
Tier 1 — a reduction of $73, to $775; Tier II — a reduction of $39, to $893; Tier III — a reduction of $6, to $1,011.
WHAT ARE IMPERVIOUS COVERINGS?
Impervious surfaces are hard coverings or compacted ground that prevent or impede groundwater from seeping naturally into the ground.
Examples of impervious coverings are: buildings, driveways, roofs of buildings, sidewalks, parking lots, patios, compacted ground (gravel) or other stockpiles.
Swimming pools are not considered impervious as they serve as retention ponds during heavy precipitation.
HOW WILL IMPERVIOUS COVERINGS BE CALCULATED?
The city has used aerial imagery to calculate the amount of coverage of every lot and site in the municipality.
Advertisement 5
Article content
MULTI-YEAR PHASE-IN
The city estimates the stormwater system will need an increase in revenues of $15.9 million over the next five years based on its master plan.
The new fee structure will be phased in over five years and the annual increase will be determined at budget time by city council based on priorities and the system’s needs.
HOW MUCH DOES THE CITY SPEND ANNUALLY ON ITS SEWER SYSTEM?
In 2024, the City of Windsor budgeted $46 million towards stormwater sewers and $58.7 million on sanitary sewers. For 2025, the city is targeting $52.7 million for stormwater and $62.7 million for sanitary sewers.
The city’s sewer system measures approximately 1,800 kilometres.
RESIDENTIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
The city will offer new and enhanced programs to encourage voluntary actions by residential property owners to make changes to reduce/manage runoff water.
Basement flooding protection is being increased to $3,500 from $2,800.
Sanitary sewer private drain connection (PDC) replacement increases to $4,000 (from $2,000) for private sewer replacement outside the mandatory downspout disconnect area.
Advertisement 6
Article content
The culvert rehabilitation subsidy program increases to $1,000 for culverts up to 18-inch diameter (from $500); $2,000 for 18- to 48-inch diameter culverts (from $1,000); $3,000 for culverts over 48-inch diameter (from $2,000); and $7,500 for bridges (from $5,000).
A rain barrel program has been added and offers a rebate of up to $120 (limit one rain barrel per property owner) on a rain barrel that is purchased by a residential property owner at their discretion.
The rain barrel must have a minimum volume of 132 litres.
The city is also introducing a tree program with each residential property owner entitled to a tree (limit one tree per property owner) for planting on their private property. Trees will be supplied by the Parks Department.
The Enhanced Water Rate Assistance Program (WRAP) will provide up to $250 in assistance to qualifying households.
Recommended from Editorial
CREDIT POLICY FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL
There is a direct discharge credit of up to 50 per cent for properties that directly discharge their stormwater into the Detroit River or Lake St. Clair.
Property owners would be required to provide proof (including but not limited to stormwater management reports, CCTV video of the adjacent sewer system, servicing drawings, grading plans etc.) that their property drains directly to the watercourse without a connection to a municipal sewer.
Twitter.com/winstarwaddell
Article content
