(Continued from Part 2)

Philadelphia Stormwater Management Guidance

How to Alleviate the Philadelphia Stormwater Management Service Charge

Although the City has a process for appealing the PWD determined fee, the most effective means of reducing the SWMS Charge is through disconnecting impervious areas.  This is by done directing runoff from rooftops and paved areas to natural vegetated areas in order to allow the runoff to soak into the ground.  For those impervious areas that cannot be disconnected, PWD prefers the volume from the first inch of rainfall over the impervious surface be infiltrated.  If soil testing demonstrates infiltration is not feasible, then the first inch of rainfall must be collected and treated in a stormwater facility.

 Recommended Stormwater Management Practices

There are many stormwater management practices available to alleviate the Philadelphia Stormwater Service Charge.  The choice of which practice(s) to implement depends on the unique characteristics of each site.  The depth to water table or to bedrock is often one of the most important determinates.  It is the intention of Springtown Consulting, LLC to choose the most cost effective solution by weighing the costs of the Stormwater Practice against the future SWMS Charges.  The following Stormwater Practices are ranked in order of cost effectiveness (least to most expensive; based on cubic foot of storage):

Stormwater Practice

Wet Ponds

Constructed Wetlands

Pavement Removal,

Vegetated Swales

Subsurface Stone Beds

Trees Planted near Pavement

Rain Gardens

Subsurf. Stone Beds with Conc. Arches

Porous Pavements

Rainwater Reuse / Cisterns

Flow Through Planters

Vegetated Roofs

Why you should choose Springtown Consulting, LLC

Springtown Consulting, LLC will design a cost effective Stormwater Management Practice in order to maximize the reduction in your SWMS Charge.

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS: Often a cost effective solution to the SWMS Charge can designed and installed with a payback period ranging from 5- to 8-years.

Springtown Consulting, LLC will meet with you, free of charge, to discuss your proposed project.  We will listen to your needs and describe the options available.  Prospective clients are provided with an assessment of the project’s feasibility.

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(Continued from Part 1)

Philadelphia Stormwater Management Guidance

Using aerial photography and tax map records, the Philadelphia Water Department has calculated the SWMS Charge for every non-residential property in the City.  When the SWMS Charge is fully implemented in July 2013, the Gross Area (GA) charge will be $0.528 per 500 square feet of parcel area and the Impervious Area (IA) charge will be $4.169 per 500 square feet of impervious surface plus a flat $2.65 monthly fee for billing and collection.  For instance a 3-acre property with 2-acres of impervious coverage will pay an annual SWMS Charge of $10,403.80 in 2014.  Assuming each use has the same number of employees, large properties with significant impervious coverage will be impacted far more than parcels with skyscrapers.

Stay tuned for PART 3: How to Alleviate the Philadelphia Stormwater Management Service Charge

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Philadelphia Stormwater Management Guidance

What is The Philadelphia Stormwater Management Service Charge?

Effective July 1, 2010, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) switched from a meter based charge to one based on a parcel’s area and characteristics.  This new Stormwater Management Service (SWMS) Charge applies to non-residential, commercial, and condominium properties.  Property owners will now pay fees based on the amount of impervious coverage and gross lot area.  The vast majority of the future SWMS Charge will be derived from the existing impervious coverage on a property.  Impervious coverage includes pavement, roofs, patio, and other non-permeable surfaces.  The Stormwater Management Service Charge will be phased in over four (4) year period with the full charge becoming effective in July 2013.

PART 2: The Impact of the Philadelphia Stormwater Service Charge

The post Philadelphia Stormwater Management Guidance Part 1 appeared first on Springtown Consulting, LLC.

Springtown Consulting recently participated in several community days in upper Bucks County.  Springtown Consulting believes that an important part of being a small business is  actively supporting the local  community.

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