Overview

The City of Roswell is facing an increasing and complex set of challenges as our stormwater drainage and control system ages and the City continues to expand and prosper. Stormwater runoff and the effects it is having on our aging infrastructure are a growing concern for the City. Maintaining and improving this system is imperative if we are to prevent flooding, guard against property damage and protect the economic development and quality of life of our citizens.

The City of Roswell has utilized a stormwater utility fee since 2011 to finance the replacement and repair of the City’s aging stormwater infrastructure. This stormwater utility fee can be found on a parcel owner’s monthly sanitation/utility bill.

Quick Links

• What is Stormwater
• What is a Stormwater Utility?
• Stormwater Utility Master Plan
• Stormwater Utility Fee Structure
• Stormwater Services
• Frequently Asked Questions

Stormwater runoff is the water that flows from rooftops, sidewalks, parking lots, streets, driveways, yards and other surfaces into our creeks and streams. Most people don’t think about stormwater unless they are driving through flooded streets or experiencing flooding in their yards. Stormwater runoff also contributes to other problems that are less obvious than flooded streets. Stormwater becomes a problem when it runs off “impervious” or hardened surfaces and picks up pollutants such as fertilizers from yards, pet waste, oils, and pesticides and carries them to the nearest stream or lake, degrading the water quality.

About Clean Water Regulations

The Clean Water Act of 1972 requires local governments to implement stormwater management programs in order to prevent harmful pollutants from degrading our waterways. These regulations, combined with State stormwater regulations, an aging infrastructure and the deferral of needed capital projects, has resulted in local governments like Roswell developing and implementing comprehensive stormwater management programs.

What does the Stormwater Management Program accomplish?

The City of Roswell is improving water quality, addressing water quantity and managing the drainage infrastructure through the Stormwater Management Program.

Specific measures the City must manage and address include:

• Public education and involvement;
• Illicit discharge detection and elimination;
• Construction site runoff control and post-construction runoff control;
• Litter control,
• Floodplain management;
• Watershed planning;
• Water quality monitoring;
• Drainage systems operation and maintenance;
• Capital improvement program planning.

The goals of the City’s Stormwater Management Program include:

• Complying with State and Federal regulations;
• Keeping major roadways passable in heavy storm events and avoiding flooding of homes and businesses;
• Keeping streams healthy for human consumption and wildlife;
• Replacing aging infrastructure; and
• Performing necessary routine maintenance of infrastructure.

A stormwater utility is a method of generating the required funds to cover the expense of operating the City of Roswell’s Stormwater Management program. The fee paid is based on the amount of impervious surface area on each developed property in the City. Impervious surfaces are those areas that prevent rainfall from infiltrating into the ground. Examples of typical impervious surfaces found on most properties include rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, patios, parking lots, storage sheds, etc. Those properties with less impervious surface will pay less than properties with larger impervious areas.

Stormwater Utility Master Plan

Available for download below - broadband connection recommended

• Stormwater Utility Master Plan (February 2019)
  • Stormwater Utility Master Plan: Tables
  • Stormwater Utility Master Plan: Figures
  • Stormwater Utility Master Plan: Appendix

Stormwater Utility Fee Calculations

The City has developed a rate schedule to ensure equity is reflected in the bills. All residential customers will be divided into four classes based on the amount of impervious surface area on their property. The current Stormwater Utility fees are available on the Utility Billing page.

Additional information

• Most homes in Roswell fall within the second tier on the chart.
• Commercial properties will receive a bill based on their actual impervious surface area.

Storm Drainage System

The storm drainage system is a network of pipes, open ditches, and other structures that collect and transport stormwater runoff to the nearest stream or lake. The City of Roswell has an Extent of Service (EOS) that describes the components of the storm drainage system maintained by the City.

Inspections

Typical inspections for a resident of the City could include drainage easement, detention / retention pond, and stream inspections.

Drainage System Investigator

The City of Roswell Stormwater Management Program employs a Drainage System Investigator whose responsibilities include inspection of the public storm drainage system for proper function and regulatory compliance, including:

• Initiating a work order for the Operations and Maintenance crew to complete when deficiencies are found. This work order list is currently backlogged approximately nine months
• Responding to citizen inquiries to determine the cause and possible remedy to drainage problems

To contact the Drainage System Investigator, please call 770-594-6258.