Radnor Township

Stormwater Program and Funding Implementation Project

What is Stormwater?
Stormwater is rainwater and melted snow that runs off streets, lawns, and other sites. When stormwater is absorbed into the ground, it is filtered and ultimately replenishes aquifers or flows into streams and rivers. In developed areas, however, impervious surfaces such as pavement and roofs prevent precipitation from naturally soaking into the ground. Instead, the water runs rapidly into storm drains, sewer systems, and drainage ditches and can cause: Downstream flooding Stream bank erosion Reduced water quality Habitat destruction Changes in the flow rate of a stream Infrastructure damage Contaminated streams and rivers
Source: US Environmental Protection Agency

Did You Know

Radnor has over 57 miles of storm system pipe and over 1,500 inlets? Some of this system is over 70 years old and beyond its expected design life of 50 years. Much of our infrastructure was installed prior to modern codes and design guidance. As a result, portions of the system are under-sized by todays standards. Radnor sweeps 100 miles of Township streets 3 times per year? Sweeping removes sediment and debris that would otherwise discharge to the Gulph, Ithan and Little Darby Creeks, helping to protect water quality. Water quality practices count towards Radnors efforts to comply with the Townships stormwater permit requirements under the federal Clean Water Act. Radnor collects leaves from residences across the Township? Collecting leaves prevents them from blocking inlets and from increasing nutrient loading, protecting the water quality of local streams and maintaining system capacity. Leaves are returned as mulch for use by residents and Radnors park system.

One out of every five stream miles in Radnor is impaired? Of Radnors approximately 28 miles of stream, just over 6 miles have been designated as impaired by Pennsylvanias Department of Environmental Protection, including Gulph Creek and the upper reaches of Little Darby Creek.

What are Radnors Stormwater Challenges?

Like many Pennsylvania communities, Radnor is faced with a range of stormwater management challenges from increasing federal and state regulation to aging and undersized infrastructure. Depending on where you live in Radnor you may or may not have been directly impacted by these events, but you likely know someone who has been. Some of the stormwater challenges the Township is currently facing include: Increased occurrence of flooding. Infrastructure installed prior to modern standards, or not at all. Storm sewer which is beyond its expected design life. $10M backlog of known stormwater-related capital improvement projects and no dedicated capital budget to fund these projects. Additional regulatory responsibilities for the Townships Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requirements under the federal Clean Water Act. Limited Public Works staff. As the stormwater system has aged, funding for maintenance and rehabilitation has not kept pace. Since revenue to support the program comes from property taxes, stormwater must compete with other Township funding needs. In addition, only taxable properties contribute to funding stormwater management. As a result, Radnor Township is evaluating an alternative approach to fund much-needed enhancements to the Townships current stormwater program which will allow better service Township-wide. An additional $2M is estimated to be needed on an annual basis to begin to address these long-term challenges.
August 1, 2013

Current Level of Stormwater Investment

Total program cost $1.56M

Radnor TownshipStormwater Program and Funding Implementation Project

What Solutions are being Considered by Radnor?

The Board of Commissioners appointed a Stormwater Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC), made up of citizens from across the community, to provide the Township with input on developing an enhanced stormwater program and evaluating a dedicated funding approach. To begin to address Radnors stormwater challenges, the proposed program would, on average, provide an additional $1.2M for Capital Improvements, $550k for Operation and Maintenance Activities and $120k for Compliance and Asset Management related activities per year.
All developed Single Family Residential (SFR) parcels will be assigned to one of the following Tiers based upon lot size and billed as follows:

Tier (Lot Square Footage) 0 to 7,000 7,000 to 20,000 20,000 to 43,560* >43,560*

Billing Units 1 2 3 4

*Note: 1 Acre = 43,560 square feet All developed Non-Single Family Residential (NSFR) parcels will be billed for stormwater at a rate of one billing unit per 1,500 square feet of impervious area.

The costs for enhanced stormwater services could be distributed across the community by using a fee structure based upon an analysis of impervious cover throughout the Township. The rate structure initially recommended by the SAC (see Table), would place single-family residential properties into four tiers based upon lot size, with billing units assigned based upon a sampling of impervious surfaces within each tier. Non-single family residential properties (such as commercial properties, institutions, and apartment buildings) would be billed per 1,500 square feet of impervious area on their parcel. Without a dedicated fee, the Township need to raise taxes to address stormwater problems. The SAC recommended the Township move to an impervious area based billing system for all parcels in the future following the initial implementation of the stormwater fee. To provide this information the Township will need to gather new updated data including aerial photography that captures the areas of impervious surface in the Township. With this approach, all property owners would be billed based upon the impervious surface on their specific property. The data and effort required for this approach are included in the recommended program plan, and could be completed in the next 1 to 2 years. Based on one model of the program of services and level of funding currently under consideration, ratepayers could expect to pay approximately $56 per billing unit annually, based upon their assigned tier. However, the final rate has not yet been determined.

What Activities Would be Funded by a Dedicated Stormwater Fee?

Capital Improvements projects focused on system upgrades in support of flood mitigation and water quality protection. Increased inspections of new and existing stormwater management features to ensure proper operation. Proactive infrastructure maintenance, including inspection, cleaning, and rehabilitation of pipes, inlets, ditches, and culverts. Watershed planning to help identify which projects are most effective meeting Township infrastructure management, water quality, and flood mitigation goals.

How Can I Learn More?

The stormwater program and proposed funding approach will be discussed at the regular scheduled Board of Commissioners Meetings on: August 12th beginning at 7pm August 26th beginning at 7pm In addition, the Radnor League of Women Voters is hosting a series of public information meetings on the following dates: Thursday, August 29th from 79pm Thursday, September 12th from 13pm & 79pm These meetings will include a presentation on the stormwater program funding study as well offer the public the opportunity to ask questions and provide comment on the proposed program and funding method. You are invited to attend the public meetings and presentations at the Township Building at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne. Additional information on stormwater management is available at www.radnor.org.

If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact: Stephen F. Norcini, PE Director of Public Works Radnor Township 610 688-5600 ext. 156 Or email: stormwater@radnor.org

Radnor Township TownshipStormwater Program and Funding Implementation Project

August 1, 2013