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Stormwater Management

Hanover Borough has completed the process of

forming a Stormwater Authority. This shift in
organizational structure, will create a single entity Why did the Borough of Hanover form a
in the Borough tasked with the implementation
Stormwater Authority?
of the Borough’s Stormwater Management
Program. Operating much like a Sewer or Water The Borough has obligations from PA DEP to fulfill
Authority would, the Authority will be staffed with certain water quality requirements as part of its
appointed council and community members and MS4 Permit (which is an EPA mandate). Further, the
will have a separate budget, funded by the Borough has a growing need to proactively address
collection of a utility fee (starting in early 2019). capital improvement projects regarding miles of
The fee will be based on the overall program costs aged storm sewer piping and systems that are at,
and will be equitably distributed using the amount or past, their intended design life. Previously, costs
of impervious area on a property. The Authority will for these items were pulled from a “reserve” fund
provide stormwater services to include but not be as needed. This is not a sustainable or equitable
limited to maintenance and improvements to the approach to funding stormwater. As such, the
Borough’s storm sewer system, compliance with Borough is legally enabled by the state to form an
the Borough’s mandated PA DEP MS4 permit and Authority and address stormwater needs much like
community engagement on stormwater matters a sewer authority does for sanitary sewer program
and projects. costs and needs.

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How will the fee be used? Will I receive separate bills for each parcel
of land I own?
The fee will be placed into a dedicated (enterprise)
fund that can ONLY be used by the Authority Possibly. Adjacent parcels, under common
for the municipality’s stormwater program for ownership of a primary parcel, will be grouped as
maintenance, management, and improvement of much as possible to consolidate the number of bills
the Borough’s infrastructure and runoff reduction generated. For those individuals or entities owning
projects. This is a specific requirement of the law various (improved) parcels, each will have their own
that allows the Borough to form an Authority and billing. All fees will be distributed through a water
collect the fee. Collected funds are invested back and sewer bill, or on a stand-alone bill if the parcel
into the Borough as a community to not only meet is not currently serviced with water. For properties
obligations, but to improve water quality and with multiple water meters on a single parcel,
ensure clean, safe waterways for future generations. the billing will be reported on only one of those
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If I rent/lease and don’t “own” property, am If I was required to implement a stormwater
I still assessed a fee by the Authority? facility to capture runoff, am I still charged
the same amount, if anything?
Yes. Although you do not own property, the
residence you reside in will be assessed a fee. The Yes. You will be charged the same. The facility you
landlord (or owner) could potentially divide this installed was to meet other legal obligations of the
bill and disperse it amongst tenants (if more than Borough for stormwater, related to improvement of
one). We recommend you proactively engage your the land. The Borough was required by PADEP to
landlord regarding the impact of the new charges, update the Stormwater Management Ordinance in
and review your rental agreement for further 2015, to expand water quality controls. The fee is
information on your obligations. based on an average impervious coverage for
residential class while actual individual coverage

was calculated for any other use (beside single
family residential). The fee includes other services
as well, such as street sweeping, inlet and pipe
maintenance, infrastructure improvements to
Don’t my taxes pay for this already? address flooding problems, etc. A credit program
No. In the past, stormwater has been paid is anticipated to be discussed in the future to
reactively out of the general fund, most recently in potentially reduce your fee.
2017 through the use of “reserve” funds
(intended for emergency and unforeseen costs).

With federal and state mandates and increasing
system operation costs, these reserves are not
sustainable. An increase in taxes was evaluated,
however the "value" of a property is not as accurate
I’m tax exempt; do I still have to pay?
of a benchmark for contribution to stormwater as
the use of impervious coverage is. Also, tax funding Yes. In order for the Authority’s fee structure to be
would exempt certain non-taxable properties that “equitable”, it is only appropriate that everyone
contribute stormwater runoff to the Borough’s contributes. This is not a tax. This is a utility fee for
system. Street sweeping and leaf collection costs program costs, similar to the way in which a water
that are currently subsidized by residential refuse and/or sewer bill charges for your usage to pay for
service charges will be shifting to the Stormwater system maintenance and updates. Since it is not
Authority. For all residential three-can refuse technically or cost feasible to physically measure
service accounts, there will be a decrease of $3.00 the amount of runoff, the stormwater utility fee is
per quarter ($12 annually) in your refuse billing. based on the degree of impervious coverage on

your property, (which is directly related to runoff,)
to determine your charges.

Why do we need to manage stormwater and

polluted runoff?
Aside from a large number of legal obligations,
managing stormwater aims to improve water
If you have any questions or would like additional
quality and reduce/slow the volume of runoff.
information, please feel free to contact the
Stormwater does not receive any treatment before
Borough at;
going directly into our local waterways. The
pollutants picked up along the way (grit, animal Website:
waste, oils, etc.) adversely affect wildlife and Email:
human health and safety. Excess runoff also causes
Phone: 717.637.3877
flooding and erosion.