Regional study finds a regional stormwater utility is feasible but needs local champions
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Summary
A CROG feasibility study found a regional stormwater utility is legally and technically feasible and could generate stable funding for MS4 compliance and capital work, but leaders said political support and local champions would be essential for implementation.
A regional feasibility study presented to the Capital Region Council of Governments Transportation Committee concluded a regional stormwater utility is feasible but would require strong local political champions to succeed.
Heidi Samoka, principal planner at COG and project manager for the study, told the committee the consultant evaluated technical, legal and administrative criteria and found “yes” for feasibility in most categories; political feasibility scored yellow because the model requires sustained local buy‑in. She said the analysis included deeper cost and compliance reviews for Bloomfield, Hartford, Rocky Hill and West Hartford and a separate earlier analysis for New Britain, noting spending on stormwater operations and capital varies widely across towns.
Sunny Carrizales, an environmental planner at COG who assisted the study, explained how a utility could be billed using Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs): in the study’s example a single‑family home represented one ERU and would pay a modest monthly fee (a modeled range of a few dollars in some towns to nearly $30 in West Hartford under full‑cost scenarios); large commercial parcels would be billed on the basis of impervious area.
The presenters outlined two regional approaches: an administrative model that centralizes billing while returning most revenue to municipalities (minus administration fees), and a full regional utility that pools a share of revenue for larger cross‑boundary capital projects and centralized services. Samoka and Carrizales said the latter model delivered economies of scale and had precedent in other states.
Key study findings the presenters highlighted were that many towns are only modestly compliant with MS4 requirements now and that a dedicated, non‑lapsing funding source would help meet future permit obligations and capital needs. Samoka said the report recommends additional outreach and notes caveats allowing municipalities to opt out or seek reaffirmation in some circumstances.
The committee asked technical questions about how drainage or transportation project costs were counted in the consultant’s fiscal snapshots; Samoka said staff would check back with the consultant on those accounting details. The study will be presented to the policy board next month, and staff said they plan town‑level briefings and the possible creation of a stormwater subcommittee to pursue next steps.
The feasibility study and slide deck are posted to CROG’s web materials; staff asked members to share the findings with their chief elected officials if their town might consider participating.
