Stormwater Utility

Proposed Stormwater Utility

The City of Reno proposes to amend the Reno Municipal Code, Title 12, Chapter 12.17, a Stormwater Utility fee. Feedback from businesses is provided through a Business Impact Statement (BIS) process.

Since July 2018, the city has worked with its consultant to evaluate an alternative rate structure and program elements for the establishment of a Stormwater Utility.

The general components of the proposed program are as follows:

A stormwater utility monthly fee of $9.80/ERU per month beginning January 1, 2025. (Please see the parcel viewer section below for details for property ERUs)
The rate would be tied to the Western Region Urban Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) to maintain a consistent funding source that will not degrade or require repeated council ordinance changes to keep up with inflation.
A crediting program will allow for an education credit and a community Stormwater Management Credit for regional stormwater benefits. Airport runways, taxiways, and aprons associated with the National Transportation System would be excluded from fees. The program would also include a Low-Income Assistance program.
The resulting rate would allow the City to meet its stormwater program goals, fund stormwater M&O, and provide the funding necessary to complete the $470.6 million CIP within 32 years.

The Raftelis Feasibility Study, revised December 2023 proposed ordinance, Raftelis Rate Structure and Financial Plan Implementation Update, and December 2023 Business Impact Statement are available for viewing at:

Listen: "We Are Community" radio show - July 14, 2022

Welcome to the City of Reno’s stormwater utility webpage. The City of Reno is progressing with our Stormwater Utility implementation project. The proposed Stormwater Utility would collect fees to provide a dedicated funding source committed exclusively to maintaining and improving stormwater and flood reduction infrastructure. The main reasons so many cities across the country implement stormwater utilities are to:

prevent flooding
protect water quality
maintain, replace or repair aging infrastructure
avoid costly emergency responses

Many structures that protect our city from these stormwater threats are non-existent, aging, or damaged, and we need a long term solution. The solution is a more dependable source of funding to improve our system of storm drains, culverts, flood control and water-quality structures that would improve the overall health and safety of Reno residents. This funding source will enable a proactive approach that will save money in the long run, compared to reactive emergency responses.

We are proposing a stormwater utility fee that, if approved, would provide dedicated funding for repairs and improvements to our stormwater system that have been identified over the last 30 years, but have not been implemented due to lack of funding sources. View our Capital Projects List.

The City evaluated the 2022 funding utilized for our current stormwater program that includes maintenance and operations, staffing and minor capital improvement projects. Currently, only 8%, or approximately $3.65 per month for multi-family residence and $4.46 per month per single-family residence of the sewer fee is used to support our current stormwater program. This amount is insufficient to ensure the City does not continue to increase its backlog of deferred improvements and instead can make targeted investments to prevent future flooding and maintain water quality in our streams and rivers.

If the City continues with its current funding plan, this problem will only get worse given continual aging of infrastructure along with the increased intensity and frequency of storms our region is experiencing. During a recent storm event in October, 2021, nearly three inches of rain fell in Reno over a two-day period — shattering the previous record by over an inch! In fact, Reno has a long history of flooding.

Residents who live in and businesses who own property in Reno would contribute to the utility. The amount would depend on whether you are a resident or business and on the amount of impervious surfaces on your property and its impact on the stormwater system. In other words, the more hard surfaces on a parcel that does not absorb water, the more stormwater runoff a property contributes.

But before we determine how to pay for the needed infrastructure, we want to hear from you! For residents, please provide feedback under the General Feedback link.

Parcel Viewer

The Reno Stormwater Parcel Viewer is a tool to help residents and businesses determine how many stormwater billing units are associated with the impervious surface area, or hard surfaces on their property.

Single-family residential customers will be charged a standard rate fee, regardless of the size of the parcel and property. See link below for details.

Businesses, apartments, and properties other than single-family residences will be able to see the measured amount of impervious area on their properties, and from this determine how many Equivalent Residential Units* the property consists of.

*One Equivalent Residential Unit = 3500 sqft of impervious surface.

Information on how to use the Parcel Viewer

What is Stormwater?

What is a stormwater utility?

Many local governments are faced with growing stormwater infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation needs. A stormwater utility is a funding strategy similar to a sewer utility. Essentially, customers pay a fee to convey stormwater away from their property.

Stormwater Utilities are common throughout the United States, and exist in several municipalities in Nevada. Carson City, City of Sparks, Washoe County, and Southern Nevada municipalities are some examples of existing stormwater utilities. The City of Reno is evaluating the potential implementation of a stormwater utility to collect a new fee from properties to provide for engineering, construction and maintenance of flood improvements and drainage infrastructure.

A dedicated stormwater fee ensures the City has a sufficient and stable revenue source to effectively implement and manage its stormwater and flood control program needs.

How is stormwater management currently funded by the city?

How much will this cost?

The fee will be derived from methods commonly used in stormwater utilities that spread costs among property owners in a way that reflects each properties contribution to the stormwater system. This fee structure will more closely reflect each property’s demand on the City’s stormwater program, and will better ensure the city has a sufficient and stable revenue to effectively implement its stormwater and flood control programs.

For residential properties: the fee will most likely be a tiered flat rate dependent on the area of hard (impervious) surfaces. For residential property, the stormwater utility fee is proposed at $9.80 per month. Some areas that have built regional infrastructure that provides benefits beyond just their community can also see a slightly reduced fee.
For businesses: the fee will be based on the amount of impervious surface the property has, and will be according to the number of equivalent residential units the property occupies. A crediting program is being investigated for businesses that implement measures to reduce impervious area.
For more information on your property, check out the parcel viewer.

These fee structures have not been adopted yet, and are dependent on public outreach to property owners, and Council approval. The public process may influence the final fees and fee structure. If implemented, the fee will be a new line item called Stormwater Utility Fee on the sewer bill.

When will the new fee be implemented?

This will be determined through the Reno City Council and public engagement stakeholder process. If adopted by Council, the new Stormwater Utility fee is currently planned to be included in your Sewer bill. Currently, it is proposed to start collection in January of 2025, allowing property owners and businesses to prepare and budget these new fees.

Timeline of implementing a stormwater utility

How does the fee related to the Truckee River Flood Project?

The Truckee River Flood Management Authority’s Truckee River Flood Project is dedicated to reducing flooding along three segments of the Truckee River: downtown Reno, the Truckee Meadows and Lower Truckee. This benefits downtown and much of southeast Reno, including the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and industrial development south of the Truckee River in Sparks. The new stormwater utility fee is a broader measure intended to fund infrastructure and water quality projects throughout the City of Reno.

Previous Reno City Council actions

December 13, 2023: Council voted to establish a Stormwater Enterprise Fund, approved the Business Impact Statement, and directed staff to explore options regarding a monthly fee for property owners to fund stormwater related capital improvement projects.
December 14, 2022: Presentation, discussion, and potential direction to staff regarding the Stormwater Utility proposed rates and program elements.
January 27, 2021: Council presentation, discussion, and approval of the proposed Public Outreach and Communications Plan for Implementation of the City of Reno Stormwater Utility.
August 26, 2020: Council approved an Agreement with Raftelis Financial Consultants in the amount of $865,406 for implementation of a City of Reno Stormwater Utility.
July 30, 2020: Council directed staff bring an Agreement for implementation of a City of Reno Stormwater Utility for Council’s consideration at a future meeting.
March 13, 2019: Keith Readling, Vice President of Raftelis, presented findings from the Stormwater Utility Implementation phase, including possible methods and rates.
July 25, 2018: Council approved an Agreement with Raftelis for $125,760 to conduct a feasibility study for formation of a stormwater utility for the City of Reno.

What we're saying

Stormwater - Curated tweets by CityofReno

News

"Stormwater utility fees proposed by City (This Is Reno)" - January 27, 2023
"What is a stormwater utility and why does Reno need one?" (Reno Gazette Journal) - January 19, 2023
"City of Reno Advocating for New Stormwater Utility Fee" (KTVN) - January 10, 2023
"Sandbags and sand available around Washoe County" (KTVN) - December 30, 2022
"Historical flooding sign installed at Wingfield Park" (KOLO) - May 20, 2022
"High water marker put in place at Wingfield Park in downtown Reno" (KRNV) - May 20, 2022
"City of Reno and partners unveil 'High Water Mark' commemorative wayfinding sign" (KTVN) - May 20, 2022
"Proposed new fee would address backlog of stormwater projects in Reno" (RGJ) - October 9, 2021
"Reno seeks $440 million for aging stormwater system" (KOLO) - October 5, 2021
"Proposed Fee For Flood Prevention Infrastructure" (KTVN) - August 10, 2021
"City of Reno seeking public input on new stormwater utility fee proposal" (KRNV) - August 10, 2021

Our news

Seasonal Algae Blooms at Virginia Lake

People and pets should avoid all contact with the water, still safe to recreate around the Lake

Post Date:09/13/2024

The City of Reno is experiencing seasonal algae blooms at Virginia Lake, a common occurrence during late summer and early fall. For the next two months, people and pets should avoid direct contact with the water until the algae bloom clears up.

Algae blooms happen when water levels are lower, there are higher levels of nutrients like phosphorus, and the water doesn’t circulate well.

"Algae blooms are a normal part of the seasonal cycle in some lakes," said Chris Holman, Senior Civil Engineer at the City of Reno. "Although the water may look different, these blooms are natural and temporary, and they will go away as the weather cools."

The algae can produce harmful toxins called cyanotoxins. If people or pets swallow the water or come into contact with it, they could get sick. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that humans exposed to these toxins might experience stomach pain, headaches, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and coughing. Pets are also at risk if they drink the water or lick algae off their fur after swimming.

City staff have been coordinating water quality sampling efforts with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) as part of the NDEP Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) program. This program identifies advisory levels based on the concentrations of toxins associated with algal blooms found in waterbodies throughout the State. The most recent water test showed that Virginia Lake has enough cyanotoxins to trigger a warning under the HAB Advisory.

What You Can and Cannot Do:

You can still walk, jog, or enjoy the area around Virginia Lake.
You cannot swim in the water or let your pets drink or enter the lake.

The City has posted warning signs in English and Spanish around the lake. The algae bloom will disappear on its own as the weather cools. When the algae bloom disappears, the City will remove the signs.

For more information about algae blooms, visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website. The Office of State Epidemiology has also created a Harmful Algae Bloom dashboard.

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