Most BSB bills reflect charges for two different services: sanitary sewer and storm water. The storm water fee supports projects to reduce sewer overflow and water pollution caused by rainwater runoff.
Storm water runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, pavement, rooftops and parking lots prevent storm water from naturally soaking into the ground.
Storm water is a leading cause of waterway pollution.
When it rains, contaminants such as oil, salt, litter, soil, fertilizer, chemicals, debris, dirt and pesticides are washed into nearby storm drains. Most of these drains empty directly into the streams and rivers that we use for fishing, swimming, boating and recreating.
BSB, at the direction of local leaders and with the help of citizen focus groups, developed a Regional Storm Water Management Program in 2007 to comply with US Environmental Protection Agency storm water regulations, operate and maintain the public storm sewer systems and protect our waterways from polluted storm water runoff.
The storm water fee applies to all properties, including schools, churches and local governments located within BSB’s storm water service area, regardless of whether or not they receive sanitary sewer service from BSB.
**EFFECTIVE JULY 1 2008, STORMWATER FEES FOR NON-SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ARE BASED ON IMPERVIOUS AREA ON THE PROPERTY**
Stormwater Utility fees are collected and utilized to operate and maintain the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) within the Beckley Urban Watershed and fund federally mandated environmental compliance programs.
Stormwater utility fees are added to the monthly bill of existing sanitary sewer customers within the MS4 area. For stormwater utility customers that are not existing BSB sanitary sewer customers, stormwater fees are billed quarterly.