Stormwater Management FAQs
What is the Stormwater Management Program and why is it important to Holly Springs?
Stormwater runoff is water from precipitation that isn’t absorbed into the ground. It runs off of impervious surfaces such as rooftops and driveways, often into the nearest creek, pond or lake, including Bass Lake, Sunset Lake and Harris Lake. This runoff isn’t treated before entering the body of water and can pick up and carry pollutants including oil and pesticides. Furthermore, the town’s stormwater program is aimed at reducing flooding to protect infrastructure, such as roadways, water and sewer lines, and properties.
How is funding for stormwater management used?
Stormwater Managment funding ensures pollution prevention, proper drainage, and flood control, and it mitigates flooding and damage to public and private property.
The program's work improves parts of the town that are dealing with aging infrastructure. Much of our community has drainage systems that are nearly 30 years old. Necessary repairs decrease the likelihood of flooding and damage to property and roads. This is especially important since Holly Springs has been receiving more rainfall and more severe storms over the past few years.
How is the fee calculated?
While residents pay a flat fee of $5.20 per month, businesses pay a fee directly related to how much impervious surface they occupy.
Impervious surfaces are those that allow little or no stormwater infiltration into the ground. When rainwater washes over impervious surfaces such as rooftops, parking lots and roads, it collects and carries pollutants that flow into waterways, and can also contribute to flooding issues.
Fees for businesses are assessed through a best practices approach known as Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU), which establishes a fair and equitable fee across small and large businesses based on their stormwater runoff impact.
| Rate Structure | Single family residential property | Non-single family residence with 8,000sf impervious area | Non-single family residence with 40,000sf impervious area | Non-single family residence with 100,000sf impervious area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Fee: | $5.20 | $15.60 | $72.80 | $182 |
| Sample: gas station | Sample: bank | Sample: large store and parking lot |
How does billing work?
For residential properties:
- The fee appears as a new charge on each monthly water bill.
For non-residential properties:
- If you have a water meter, the fee appears as a new charge on each monthly water bill.
- If you share a meter with other businesses, a total fee for all businesses sharing the meter appears on each monthly water bill.
- If you do not have - or share - a water meter for your property, you receive a stand-alone new monthly Stormwater Program Management bill.
- If you own or lease more than one business or property, you may receive multiple bills - one for each business or property.
- If you own a property that contains no impervious area, you will not be charged a fee.
Do other municipalities charge Stormwater fees and how does Holly Springs compare?
Many communities charge Stormwater Management Program fees in a similar manner to Holly Springs. Staff analyzed various communities of our size across the state to help determine best practices and approaches for the town’s stormwater program.