Introduction | Water Efficient Landscaping | Protecting our Waterways | Stormwater Billing Brochure (pdf file) | Links to Useful Sites | Billing Questions? | Contact Us | ONLINE UTILITY FEE PAYMENTS
Upper Arlington's Stormwater SystemStormwater Bill Questions?Phone: 614-583-5280 Or click here to email us. ONLINE UTILITY FEE PAYMENT - Click here for direct access to online payment for: – Solid Waste Annual Service Fee; – Annual Stormwater fee; and – Neighborhood Lighting Utility fee (applies to limited areas of UA south of Lane Avenue). Stormwater Issue at Your Home? Phone: 614-583-5360 Report Stormwater Pollution to the City If the incident you are reporting involves an act of dumping, throwing or pouring any item or substance (other than fresh water) into a stream, ditch, creek or City sewer, please call the City's Police Dispatcher at 614-583-5400. If the incident you are reporting involves sediment (muddy water) from a construction site, call the Engineering Division at 614-583-5360, or complete an online email form by clicking here. Facts About Your Annual Stormwater Utility Maintenance Fee Click here to download brochure Stormwater fees are sent to households at the beginning of each year. Stormwater management is a significant issue facing all municipalities due to the flooding, liability, and maintenance problems that can result from a major storm. In 1991, the City of Upper Arlington developed a comprehensive plan designed to resolve existing stormwater issues and to plan and implement cost-effective solutions as future needs arose. To fund this plan, the City initiated a stormwater management utility. The unusual levels of rainfall experienced in Central Ohio in recent years, has periodically caused our community’s streams and waterways to swell to concerning levels. Many residents living along waterways have contacted the City commenting that they have never before seen these creeks and streams rise so high so quickly, and wondering what has changed and what might be done to minimize the risks of flooding. While recent record levels of rainfall are no doubt contributing factors, the urbanization of Upper Arlington and Central Ohio as a whole also play a role. Rainwater that falls on natural landscapes is absorbed more readily into the ground, and any runoff tends to flow more slowly over land. In contrast, impervious surfaces such as pavement and rooftops produce five times more runoff than a similar-sized area of woodland. This runoff reaches creeks and streams at a higher speed and volume, which results in the rapid rise of water levels. In an effort to address this, the City’s zoning code sets limitations on how much area of a given property can be developed, requiring that the remainder of the site be landscaped or undeveloped. Larger, commercial developments are required to provide stormwater controls that limit the rate of runoff to pre-development conditions. The City also inspects and maintains the flow-handling capability of its culverts on a quarterly basis, removing any restrictions that might reduce stream capacity. The Effects on Water Quality A side effect of urbanization and increased rainwater runoff, is the pollution of our waterways. Increased storm flows carry a mixture of items with them, including sediment from construction sites, road salts, pesticides and nutrients from lawns and gardens, oils and toxic chemicals from motor vehicles, even higher water temperatures from streets and rooftops. All these items and more can be harmful to the health of aquatic life, foul drinking water supplies, and make recreational areas unsafe and unpleasant. Homeowners can help minimize these issues and their cumulative effect on our waterways: • Consider porous pavement materials for driveways and sidewalks. • Install native vegetation in your landscaping or increase mulched areas versus high maintenance grass lawns. • Use fertilizers sparingly or not at all. • Sweep driveways to clean them instead of hosing them down. • Check your cars for any fluid leaks. • Use car wash facilities where the detergent and water runoff goes into the sanitary sewer system. • Pick up after pets. • Use, store and dispose of chemicals properly. For details on how you can help protect our natural waterways, please call Jim Palmer at 583-5360. Engineering Division Public Services Department City of Upper Arlington 3600 Tremont Road Upper Arlington, OH 43221 Phone: 614-583-5360 www.ua-ohio.net |
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