In recent years, the city of Richmond Hill has focused attention on establishing a Comprehensive Water Management Master Plan. The primary mission of this plan is to promote the long-term efficient use of Georgia’s water resources within the city. This plan includes a watershed assessment, protection plan and ordinance, stormwater management, water quality testing annually, wastewater initiatives, an educational program, water reclamation through a purple pipe program, water conservation program, and a non-point source pollution program (NPSP). Many of the components have been successfully completed or are currently underway, except for the development of a stormwater utility and ordinance.
Like many communities, Richmond Hill is facing a series of regulations that require the city to improve water quality. The city intends to improve the quality of stormwater – water that flows off hard surfaces into city drainage systems – before it is discharged into local rivers or streams. The goal of the Stormwater Utility Operation is to recommend and adopt a funding mechanism that allows the city of Richmond Hill to implement a stormwater management program meeting the community’s needs for flood control, water quality protection, and surface water resource management.
Stormwater (generally rainwater that flows into city drains) often contains dirt, chemicals, and other toxins that, if left untreated, reduce oxygen levels that fish need to survive, may cause erosion of lands which threatens to potentially damage businesses and residences and other facilities, may create environmental damage to local rivers, streams and other bodies of water. Moreover, if flows are not controlled, local flooding problems can occur.
The city of Richmond Hill intends to develop a stormwater utility ordinance/management plan, establish a stormwater utility, educate residents, and provide a public awareness campaign. The proposed stormwater utility will create a dedicated funding source to manage and treat stormwater, as well as undertake capital projects, to provide stormwater education programs, encourage public awareness, reduce local flooding, and improve the water quality in local bodies of water. To select and implement the most appropriate funding approach will require clear definition of the capital and operational revenue requirements, available funding sources, and the corresponding funding bases from which to generate the revenue.