Creating an Equitable Stormwater Utility in the City of Chester, PA

The City of Chester (City) is located about 20 miles south of Philadelphia, PA. Once a booming industrial/manufacturing hub, the City has been experiencing an economic downturn and significant environmental justice issues since the 1960s. With the City's ongoing economic challenges, stormwater infrastructure within the City was ignored for a long time. Through the initiatives of key City officials, and under the guidance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), The Stormwater Authority of the City of Chester (SAC) was formed in October 2016. This paper summarizes the transformational tale of the SAC since its inception in 2016, and the progress made through various projects planned and implemented to achieve a functioning stormwater management infrastructure system. To kick-start their stormwater management program, SAC partnered with Corvias LLC and HDR, to provide program management and engineering and construction support services, respectively. The short-term goals of the partnership were to establish a source of revenue through a Stormwater Utility Fee Program; identify and prioritize stormwater infrastructure repair, retrofit, and upgrade needs; evaluate greening and water quality improvement opportunities through green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), spur local workforce development, establish stormwater education opportunities, and begin outreach to the community. Through multiple projects summarized in the following sections, SAC continues to achieve its targets and goals.

PROJECTS EXECUTED
Since 2016, The project team has assisted SAC in the formulation and execution of projects geared towards achieving the above-stated goals. The funding for the projects was secured from EPA and PENNVEST State Revolving Fund (SRF) in form of loans and grants ($40 Million). -Project and GSI Feasibility Evaluation The team identified 400 sites within the city with potential for green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) opportunities that were then scored and ranked based on criteria such as program goals, community benefits, project feasibility, and site suitability. This led to the construction of bioretention basins and bioswales at a local school and community park. Additionally, there is a larger stormwater management facility including a detention basin and active controls awaiting construction that originated as a result of this evaluation. -Stormwater Rate Study A stormwater utility rate model was created to analyze the customer classes and growth rate for each. A rate for SAC was then established based on an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) model. A stormwater handbook was created to outline the basis of the billing rates. -Catch Basin Retrofit Program This program was created due to the lack of information available to the SAC after acquiring the city's stormwater system. The program included cleaning, inspection, condition assessment, and repair or replacement of existing assets. Once condition issues were addressed, water quality devices such as insert filters were implemented in the structures. Additionally, a GIS database was created to capture the locations of these structures as well as the captured data. -Comprehensive Infrastructure Project The City of Chester has combined and separate sewer systems, with the majority being combined sewers. To reduce the wet-weather load on the combined sewer, which in turn would reduce the intensity of the combined sewer overflows (CSO), multiple areas were identified for creation of separate storm systems and outfalls. Under this project, eleven separate systems and seven outfalls were designed and installed covering a total of 72 acres.

PROJECT OUTCOMES
-Revenue Generation The implementation of the stormwater utility fees has enabled SAC to generate dedicated funds for the maintenance of the storm sewer infrastructure. After multiple iterations, SAC now has a functional stormwater utility fee collection and reporting system in place. -Stormwater System Database Through survey and condition assessments completed as part of the Catch Basin Retrofit Program, the SAC has a GIS database of their system that is accessible via a mobile application. This provides the SAC maintenance crew the ability to track and schedule inspections and maintenance work as well as document the work completed through photos and written logs. -Functional System The cleaning of clogged catch basins, and repair and replacement of broken pipes and catch basins completed as part of the Catch Basin Retrofit Program has resulted in a functional storm system in Chester. The minimal flooding issues reported by residents, even during high-intensity rainfall events is a testimony to this. -Water Quality Improvements The insert filters and hoods installed in many catch basins have been a key first line of defense to keep sediment, trash, and pollutants out of the receiving waterbodies in Chester. Additionally, bioretention basins, porous panels, storm trees, and storm bumpouts implemented by SAC contribute significantly to capturing the pollutants from the first flush before entering the storm sewer systems. -Reduced Flooding and Community Greening Components of the Catch Basin Retrofit and MS4 projects were aimed to minimize localized flooding reported by the community. The remediation measures taken have addressed the majority of the known flooding issues in the City. -Reduction of Combined Sewer Contribution The installation of new MS4 systems in eleven locations within the City with 72 acres of contributing drainage area has resulted in managed direct discharge to the receiving water bodies. -Local Workforce Development and Employment A minimum local resident participation requirement of 15% was included in all construction contracts. Workshops intended for local contractors to understand the functionality and maintenance procedures for the GSI types installed in the City were held to expand local skill sets.

CONCLUSION
Stormwater management can be a complex and expensive endeavor, especially for communities facing financial hardships. Struggling communities seldom find themselves being reactive in the management of stormwater infrastructure. However, with strong partnerships, newly formed stormwater utilities can flourish and benefit the community they are serving. Depending on their needs, communities should be willing to explore alternate partnership models to meet engineering, project management, and financial needs. Attendees of this presentation will gain an understanding of the complexities of starting a utility from the ground up and learn that it takes a programmatic approach to begin a successful operation. They will leave with ideas for how to target system wide activities in a phased approach. Additionally, they will learn how having program managers guiding these activities can create consistency and clear vision for a program with many different activities and projects in progress.