Stormwater includes rainwater runoff, snow melt, or other waters that do not soak into the ground.  It flows from rooftops, over paved areas (impervious surfaces), bare soil, and through sloped lawns and greenspace.  As it flows, stormwater picks up and carries soil, pet manure, salt, fertilizers, pesticides, grease and oils, leaves, litter and other pollution sources. Eventually, this water makes it into streams, rivers, and lakes with everything it picked up along the way. These materials can be harmful to the water quality of these water bodies. Stormwater drains and ditches along the roadside are meant to control the flow of stormwater and keep it from picking up too many harmful materials. Most properties contribute to stormwater runoff and everyone benefits from improved stormwater management and water quality!

 Impervious surfaces are hard surfaces (such as rooftops, streets, parking lots, driveways, patios, asphalt, concrete, compacted gravel, and other paved areas).  When stormwater hits an impervious surface, it runs off and does not soak into the ground.

A stormwater utility is a fair, equitable, and stable way to collect revenue to pay for these compliance costs.  A stormwater utility will provide a dedicated revenue source for stormwater management. A fee is charged to property owners in order to ensure continued use and upkeep of stormwater management systems.  A fee is charged to all property owners with impervious surfaces no matter their tax status due to their potential contribution to stormwater pollution.

The fees will be used to pay for new stormwater control measures, retrofits to existing systems, identifying land conservation opportunities and assisting landowners with implementing measures that will reduce stormwater runoff.  They will fund the compliance measures of the State's Nutrient Management Strategies and protect Durham County’s waterways.